"Unacceptable" - Ian Hendon was forced to use the word again as an unbeaten run of eight games ended with a poor down-to-earth performance by Barnet that gave high riding Rotherham United a deserved 3-0 win at the Don Valley Stadium.
Or, to put it another way, the Bees manager said in the post-match inquest: "We didn't get off the bus" ... and he called the squad in for Sunday morning training and a de-briefing. The Bees dropped from fourth to eighth in the League 2 table.
Hendon said that skipper-for-the day Mark Hughes and Paul Furlong, just days before his 41st birthday, were the only two players who could "hold their heads up high". The rest could worry about retaining their places.
Hughes took the armband as Micah Hyde was sent home before the team travelled North on Saturday morning with an abscess that enlarged his face.
Hendon had been planning to play Hyde and Gary Breen - not ready after his long injury lay-off - for their experience. He hopes both will be available for the game against Dagenham and Redbridge on Tuesday evening.
The Ronnie Moore factor had, as feared, an impact on the game. Newly appointed manager Moore was introduced to the 3,823 crowd before the start and given an ovation. His new charges, obviously out to impress the new boss, were a goal to the good inside five minutes through leaden-foooted Barnet defending and, apart from a brief spell of Barnet possession and attacking just before Rotherham's second goal, rarely looked like being caught.
Typical of the malaise in the Bees' ranks was that three corners - "they are scoring opportunities", said manager Hendon - were put behind. The crowd cheered ironically when one landed in the penalty area late on leaving Hendon to comment:"It was justifiable. It hurts me when we practice set plays. I don't like them having a go at us in mickey-taking fashion".
Steve Thornber, who signed off as Rotherham's caretaker manager before Moore takes over on Monday, said: "It was there to see today, Barnet came and I think they thought they were going to roll us over". There was no evidence before or during the game to justify this statement ... he perhaps got it more right when he said that the home tactic to stop the ball going wide to the Barnet wingers helped the Rotherham win.
All in all, a let down for the 141 travelling Bees' fans.
Footnote: Luke Medley, who has scored two goals in 11 appearances on a six months loan to Woking, has NOT returned to Barnet. His short term deal means that he can only play for Woking until January.
Dennis Signy
