Swindon Town 0 Bury 1

My piece from the morning paper

Steven Schumacher dented the promotion hopes of rudderless Swindon and gave Bury hope of survival.

Swindon were pressing for promotion before manager Paolo Di Canio quit one week ago, but they looked clueless against a team that had only won once in the previous SEVENTEEN outings and were in deep trouble in the drop zone.

Super skipper Schumacher struck his tenth of the season in the 21st minute.

Full back Joe Skarz whipped in a ball from the left and midfielder Schumacher flicked the ball past exposed keeper Wes Foderingham from four yards.

The Robins only threatened Trevor Carson's goal in a late three minute spell as Bury mounted a gutsy rear guard action.

In the 79th minute substitute Luke Rooney fired a 30 yard free kick straight at the stopper.

Andy Williams then supplied a cross and co-striker James Collins saw Carson brilliantly beat away his bullet header from six yards.

And in the  substitute Adam Rooney tried a cheeky overhead kick from fourteen yards, but Carson was again equal to it.

In injury time Schumacher came close to grabbing his second when his 30 yard free kick needed tipping over the bar by Foderingham.

Following last week's takeover at the County Ground, new Chairman Jed McCrory announced he would hold talks with interim player-managers Tommy Miller and Darren Ward today (Wednesday) about their future roles at the club.

Both men started the game with youth team coach and former Hereford boss Jamie Pitman organising things from the dugout, but their team mates did nothing to improve their chances of a permanent deal - and neither did the jeers from the fans.

Bury manager Kevin Blackwell described his players as 'garbage' after losing the reverse fixture 1-0 in September and they did everything they could to lose that tag.

In the eighteenth minute winger Nicky Ajose saw a shot blocked in the box and right back David Worrall fired the rebound just wide from 25 yards.

And three minutes after Schumacher's opener fellow midfielder Mark Carrington fired a volley over the bar from the same distance.

Blackwell was delighted with the win despite the fact his side are still in a relegation scrap. He said:

"It was a big win today. They were up at the top of the table and so fair play to our players.

"It frustrates me because they have shown they can do it. I'm proud of the lads, they deserved everything they got tonight.

"We only had four on the bench again, but I told the players that I only need eleven if they play like that."

Miller is meeting with fellow interim player-manager Ward and Chairman Jed McCrory to discuss the vacancy, but said:

"Darren and I are helping the club out at the moment. Maybe it needs a new voice though. Someone from the outside coming in."

And Miller was furious with his team and blasted:

"It was rubbish throughout the side - and I include myself in that. We weren't at the races and you wouldn't have thought that the top of the league was at stake.

"There was a lack of everything. There was no urgency, no fight and you wouldn't have thought we were top of the league.

"The lads say they want promotion, but they have to show it. We got what we deserved and that was nothing." 

Bristol City 5 Barnsley 3

Sean O'Driscoll has given his players the freedom to dig themselves out of a relegation hole - and they are responding.

City have won the last four home games to turn Ashton Gate into a fortress and dragged themselves off the foot of the table to within three points of safety.

Manager O'Driscoll took on the West Country outfit in mid-January after snubbing an approach from Barnsley after Keith Hill was sacked and it looks as if the former Nottingham Forest boss may have made the right choice.

O'Driscoll's predecessor Derek McInnes managed only six wins in 28 outings before getting the boot, but City are now playing with a new-found sense of self-belief as the new manager's methods kick in.

And O'Driscoll was delighted to score five goals from set pieces before revealing that he never asks his players to practice them. He said:

"I'm really pleased - especially as we don't work on them.

"We have worked on the premise that movement kills defenders and we concentrate on having good movement in the box. We have some people who can put quality balls into the danger area but, other than that, we play it off the cuff.

"That makes it difficult for opposition defenders, because they can't say 'Bristol City do this, this and this'.

"It makes us less predictable, but the principle behind it is that, if we put the ball in an area and our movement is good, then we give ourselves a chance. We have four people who move and one that we call the maverick, who can do whatever he wants. We try and drag people out of spaces."

O'Driscoll reserved special praise for two-goal man of the match Jon Stead. He said:

"Jon's an articulate footballer who has an opinion and sees the bigger picture. He led the line well and got his reward. The players have said they believe they can be successful and all I've said is: don't just say it, show it."

Skipper Liam Fontaine, 27, scored the Robins second goal - his first in three years - and urged his team mates to take their form into away games. He said:

"It has been a frustrating time for the fans at Ashton Gate this season, but we have changed all that over the last month. Now we have to try and reproduce these kind of performances on the road."

Stead, 29, opened the scoring and added a third before saying:

"The lads are fighting for the club and it's a pleasure to be out on the field when we're working like that. We're keeping ourselves in the running and sucking other teams in."

Fontaine's central defensive partner Lewin Nyatanga added City's fourth, but Barnsley's three subs kept the Tykes fighting.

Chris O'Grady pulled one back - despite some frantic goal line defending - before striker Steven Davies restored City's four goal advantage.

But Tomasz Cywka and Jason Scotland added two late strikes to turn the game into a real thriller.

Barnsley now sit one place above the drop zone and boss David Flitcroft took his squad to Spain yesterday to recharge their batteries before they resume their own relegation scrap and take on Premier League champions Manchester City in the FA Cup. He said:

"I have to say, I didn't see that result coming. It's been game after game for five weeks now and it has finally caught up with us.

"Jon Stead and Steven Davies dominated us for large periods of the game. four goals from set pieces has thrown me and surprised me. It was a capitulation from a set piece point of view."

Keeper Tom Heaton had settled City nerves with several great first half saves.

Tunnicliffe was the first to sting Heaton's palms when he fired in a twenty yard shot.

And Stoke loanee wing-back Delap and central defender Martin Cranie both saw the stopper beat their goal bound efforts away.

My piece from this morning's paper

... and yesterday's clipping

Bristol Rovers 1 Rotherham United 2

Kayode Odejayi silenced the boo-boys to help move Rotherham into an automatic promotion spot.

Former Bristol City trainee Odejayi shrugged off goading from the Rovers faithful to drill in a ten yard shot on the hour after keeper Steve Mildenhall had beaten away Alex Revell's strike.

Two minutes later Odejayi had a hand in sealing a revenge win for Rotherham who were beaten by Rovers on their home patch only four weeks ago.

Winger Lee Frecklington added the second when he blasted in substitute Odejayi's pass from ten yards.

Joe Anyinsah set up a tense finish in the 80th minute when he fired home his fourth of the campaign from a tight angle, but Rotherham stood firm to move to third place in the table.

I've seen quite a bit of Rovers in recent weeks and Anyinsah typifies boss John Ward's work ethic.

While Anyinsah admitted he would have preferred the win, the goal at least is some sort of reward for a player who - in my opinion - runs his heart out for the team in every game.

Rotherham boss Steve Evans was pleased with the win that moved his team into the automatic promotion places, but was also impressed with Rovers recent revival and said:

"The statistics don't lie. Rovers have drawn one and won five of their last six games. It as a tough night for us, but other than a special goal from Bristol Rovers we haven't had a save to make.

What a job John is doing. The players will climb Ben Nevis for him. I don't gamble myself, but my wife might have a little dabble on them to get promoted next season."

Rovers manager John Ward remained positive after watching his side lose only their second game in the ten since he returned for a second spell in charge. He said:

"We played a team that's expected to be in the top three if not win the league and we ran them close. I can't fault the effort of my team. We had a good go.

"There are hearts on sleeves in the team and they represented the club in a good way. Their commitment is unquestionable and that's what we'll take forward."

My clipping from this morning's paper

Bristol Rovers 1 Wycombe Wanderers 0

Ryan Brunt ditched a cushy job as Premier League reserve to get his career on track.

Striker Brunt, 19, scored his second goal in five starts after signing a transfer window deal from Stoke and then revealed he decided not to be a bit part player after chatting to his former boss. 

Winger Joe Anyinsah crossed from the right and the ball was half-cleared to Brunt on the edge of the box who volleyed in his second goal since joining Rovers from Stoke in the transfer window.

Brunt then said:

"It's all very well being associated with a Premier League side, but if you're not going to play for four years, it's four years wasted as far as I'm concerned.

Tony Pulis sat down with me and said playing games was the best thing for me and he's right. It's better than sitting on the bench anywhere else. It was time for me to move on and make a name for myself and I haven't regretted coming here."

Rovers have now only lost one game in nine since John Ward returned for a second spell in charge and the manager was equally impressed with Brunt and his defence. He said:

"Ryan's a 19-year-old who plays as though he is 29. He's now scored twice for me and won a couple of penalties in five appearances, so I'm delighted with him.

"My players were throwing bodies in the way of the ball in injury time and I enjoyed seeing that because it showed the spirit we have in the side.

"We had to dig in and protect our lead, which made it more like an away victory, but that made me all the more delighted with my players.  It showed the spirit in the team is alive and well. We defended very strongly and that' one area of my team selection that's been consistent."

Brunt, 19, could have opened the scoring in the seventh minute when winger Fabian Broghammer linked up with him from the left, but the hit man miscued a shot from the edge of the box.

But Brunt's goal did stir Rovers into a little life and midfielder Oliver Norburn tried a cheeky lob from ten yards inside his own half that had keeper Jordan Archer back-peddling to claim under the bar.

And Brunt had another chance four minutes after the break when he sent a twenty yard shot wide after being teed up again by Broghammer.

Wycombe came close in the 82nd minute when substitute Matt Spring and former Rovers striker Jo Kuffour failed to connect with midfielder Michael Harriman's cross from only one yard out.

The Chairboys have now lost two on the bounce following a run that took them from relegation candidates to an outside chance of the play-offs and player-manager Gareth Ainsworth said:

"Our lads are gutted not to get something, but we'll be back - no problem.

"I am a big admirer of John Ward, who is one of football's gentlemen, and he has them well organised and difficult to beat.

"That's where we were a few weeks ago and that's where we have to get back to. I think probably six weeks ago, we would have won it."

My piece from this morning's paper

And yesterday's edition

Who'd be a football manager?

I felt for Oxford manager Chris Wilder last night after the defeat against Fleetwood.

He correctly identified a marked lack of confidence in some of his players and that must be a major worry with the club only nine points above the drop zone and teams below them like Bristol Rovers, York and Saturday's opponents Plymouth, managing to pick up points.

Oxford are currently on their worst run since September and have only managed one draw in the last five games. Fortunately there are several sides below them showing poor form as well - so they might just dodge the relegation bullet.

According to Wilder, he is down to "eighteen bodies", but he seems at a loss to understand why "the boys can't replicate what they do in training" come match day.

And with your own fans jeering you at both half time and full time, their collective fragile confidence is bound to be dented further.

A good example of this low sense of self belief (correctly picked up on by Wilder)  came last night in the first period when fans' favourite Alfie Potter lost two men, drifted in from the right, gave himself room with a dip of the shoulder and then ... laid the ball off to Deane Smalley when he should have fired in a shot from just inside the box with only the keeper to beat.

Striker Smalley looked as surprised as everyone else in the stadium as the unexpected pass flew across his eye line. Potter's body language gave him away. He knew he should have taken a punt.

Wilder now has several problems. 

First he needs to get the team back into winning ways. Easier said than done, but they've done it once before this season and so it is possible. Of course this time they have little to play for as the play-offs are a distant dream. Too many teams above them have too big a head start.

He also needs to get the fans back on his side.

I've always felt that it's a strange situation at Oxford as Wilder never seems to be too far away from being slagged off by a large proportion of the fans ... even when they're winning! 

This is a man who tries (and has succeeded in the past) to put on a good football show for the supporters and who also managed them back into the Football League after several years in the wilderness of the Conference.

It won't have escaped the notice of the directors last night that only 5,000 people turned up and - on current form - people aren't going to rush to the turnstiles to invest their 'hard earned'.

And if he wants his lads to 'play' their way out their current predicament, he needs to provide them with a decent pitch to do it on - and that just isn't going to happen.

Apparently London Welsh - the rugby club sharing the Kassam Stadium - were training on the pitch this week. Whose decision was it to allow that? Surely both codes would benefit from leaving the pitch for match days and training elsewhere? Especially given the weather we've been having. 

Wilder would be well within his rights to blame the pitch, the players and the lack of depth in the squad, but I fear that his future may lie elsewhere if Oxford lose on Saturday.

The boardroom may just decide that the squad have enough in their locker to stay up, but that a new face at this stage would give the players a lift and - more importantly for them - bring back the punters for the final home games of the season and whet their appetite for the next campaign.

If this is to happen, I for one would wish Wilder all the best for the future. I think that he has proved himself to be a good manager with the potential to become a better one. There's no doubt that the experience will have taught him a lot about the job and himself.

Despite the jeers - and with fans being fickle animals - I think he will ultimately be looked back on fondly by the U's faithful for giving them league football again. But at the moment a change might be as good for him as it appears it might be for them.

And so who will replace him? Has Michael Duberry got his coaching badges? Does Gary Waddock need a job?

Oxford United 1 Fleetwood Town 2

Ryan Crowther helped put the Cod Army in the play-off spots and leave Oxford all at sea.

Crowther scored in the 28th minute to set up a third win in four unbeaten games for Fleetwood.

Striker David Ball picked out Crowther who drilled in unmarked from fourteen yards.

Full back Junior Brown added the second in the 55th minute when he stooped to nod in from three yards after winger Dean Howell had headed the ball across the face of goal.

Liam Davis fired in a consolation from 30 yards in the 89th minute, but Oxford have now picked up only one point in five games as they slip towards a relegation scrap and the pressure mounts on boss Chris Wilder.

Fleetwood boss Graham Alexander was happy with the resuslt, but revealed that winger Ryan Crowther had taken a bad knock after setting up the win. He said:

"We've sent him off to hospital with concussion. It's a precaution and we just want to do right for him.

"I've got to be pleased as it was a very tough game for us. I thought the lads showed so much heart and courage in what they wanted to achieve. We've got goals in the team and showed that.

"We have to take one small step at a time and that's what we did tonight. There were a lot of hard working and committed performances. Hopefully the pretty stuff will come."

Wilder heard his team jeered off at both half time and at the final whistle. He said:

"It's been a difficult evening for all of us and it's not a good run we're on. Yet again we're hurting because we've missed chances.

"It's plain and obvious to see that some of the boys are lacking confidence. We've only got eighteen bodies and have to find the answer as they're not replicating their form in training and they need to do that. I've got to believe in them and the players have to be man enough to take things on themselves."

My clipping from this morning's paper

Bristol City 2 Nottingham Forest 0

Marvin Elliott shrugged off jet lag and a touch of altitude sickness to leave his boss on a high.

Elliott returned from helping Jamaica to a valuable World Cup qualification point in Mexico City only 24 hours before kick off.

But all eyes were on manager Sean O'Driscoll who was sacked by Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi after a Boxing Day win against Leeds and despite leaving the club comfortably in the hunt for promotion.

City chief O'Driscoll has notched up three wins in five games since moving to Ashton Gate and he pointedly stared up twice at Al Hasawi in the Director's box during the closing stages as the Kuwaiti businessman's players rapidly ran out of ideas.

O'Driscoll refused to gloat, but made no secret of the bad blood that now exists between the pair and said:

"Forest have their own problems. They have a fantastic club, a fantastic support-base and fantastic players. What they need now is fantastic owners.

"When you leave a team one point off the play-offs, you would be disappointed if you got ****ged off. If I'd left them a point off relegation, I would have expected criticism.

"I had a good relationship with the players and I had a good relationship with the supporters. Unfortunately, I did not have a good relationship with the owners."

Midfielder Elliott, 28, nodded in City's second in the 62nd minute twelve minutes after striker Steven Davies had opened the scoring with a deflected shot. Elliott then revealed:

"It was an important game for Jamaica and I'm really glad I went and feel humble that I played, but it was a long way. It was not just the travelling that took a toll, I also experienced being at altitude for the first time in my life.

"When I first trained out in Mexico City last Monday, I could not believe what was going on. I was struggling to catch my breath and it felt really weird. I'd never experienced anything like it before and it took me a couple of days to acclimatise and get used to it.

"I had to play 90 minutes and then catch the flight back, by which stage the time difference was kicking in for me. But I managed to sleep on the plane until about ninety minutes before we landed at Heathrow."

Al Hasawi replaced O'Driscoll with Alex McGleish, but the former Aston Villa manager quit last week and Billy Davies returned for a second stint at the club.

Forest winger Billy Sharp found the net three minutes into the second half, but was ruled offside after keeper Tom Heaton had done well to save a twelve yard strike from Dexter Blackstock.

Both teams should have scored before the break.

Keeper Karl Darlow did well to shut out City twice in the first half hour by getting down to beat away low shots from Davies and co-striker Jon Stead.

At the other end Blackstock should have claimed a first half hatful.

In the fourth minute Blackstock failed to connect from only two yards and then scuffed two shots inside the box before heading unchallenged off the top of Heaton's bar.

In the 39th minute Forest skipper Danny Collins did well to snuff out Stead's low cross with Davies poised to score from close in.

Forest have slipped to mid-table since O'Driscoll's departure, but Davies chose to miss the game and caretaker manager Rob Kelly said:

"The biggest job for Billy will be to sort out the team's inconsistency because that has been our main weakness.

"By looking at it coldly and dispassionately from the outside, I am sure he will be able to come up with some ideas. Those of us close to the players know there is no problem with their level of commitment."

Kelly revealed Davies had been in touch. He said:

"He told me to wish the players good luck and said he would see everyone on Monday. He'll watch the game and get a copy of it." 

My clipping from this morning's paper

Cheltenham Town 1 Bristol Rovers 1

Oliver Norburn scored a sensational last gasp goal to mug a point off Cheltenham.

Midfielder Norburn let rip with a 35 yard scorcher for his second of the campaign in the 95th minute that left keeper Scott Brown grasping at thin air.

Shaun Harrad had scored his second goal in two games to put the Robins ahead in first half injury time.

Hot shot Harrad has now scored eight goals in nineteen league starts since joining on a season long loan from Bury and he grabbed his latest in first half injury time.

Winger Kaid Mohamed's low shot from the edge of the box was blocked by Tom Parkes and Harrad pounced on the loose ball to drill home from twelve yards.

Cheltenham came close to opening the scoring in the 25th minute, but former Rovers defender Steve Elliott saw his header nodded off the line by full back Michael Smith.

Former Cheltenham manager John Ward was delighted with Oliver Norburn after the midfielder's long range cracker snatched a point.

Ward has seen Rovers lose only one game in seven since returning for a second stint as boss in December and he gushed:

"It was an absolutely fantastic goal. One that could grace any level of the game. A great strike. I'm going to need heart tablets with finishes like that.

I know I'm biased, but I felt we deserved something from the game and it's a point against a side I think will get automatic promotion."

Stunned Robins chief Mark Yates groaned:

"The players will have to pick me up at the moment.

Rovers deserved a point, but shouldn't have got it the way they did. I'm shell shocked." 

P45s

I've just been asked to cover the Cheltenham/Bristol Rovers game tomorrow night and while, on the face of it, Mark Yates and John Ward may seem to being excellent jobs at their respective clubs, they should be warned of my presence. I seem to be putting the 'mockers' on managers!

I have been to games recently featuring Bristol City and Oldham and within 24 hours both managers - Derek McInnes and now Paul Dickov - have been seeking new employment.

Just in case they can't remember my face and so they can avoid me tomorrow evening, I've posted a picture below:

I'm looking forward to the game tomorrow as it should be a cracker.

Cheltenham edged back into the League Two promotion places following their win against Torquay at Whaddon Road on Saturday

Meanwhile, Rovers have lost only one of the six games since Ward returned for a second stint as manager and they have won four of the others.

I was at the Mem on Friday night for the first time since they beat Torquay themselves back in October, but they then picked up only four points in eleven games which resulted in Mark McGhee losing his job.

But on Friday they looked the part.

Back in August I tipped Rovers to go up this season and couldn't help but feel I might have been right for a change if they had played for each other as much as they did when they dismantled Edgar Davids' Barnet team three days ago.

Yates has introduced several new faces at Cheltenham during the transfer window and, apparently, they slotted in well on Saturday.

As a side issue, it will be interesting to see what role Marlon Pack has to play in the run in after his move to Swindon was called off when the Wiltshire club realised that Paolo di Canio had already spent more then his allowed budget. I don't often defend Directors, but to be fair to the group at the County Ground, it must have been bloody difficult keeping track of the Italian's numerous deals during the past eighteen months or so.

Pack is one of the best footballers in League Two and if he is surplus to Cheltenham's requirements, I'm sure he could find a Championship outfit ready to take him on in the summer. It might well work out better for him in the long run, but I just hope he and everyone else at the club can shrug off last week's goings-on and his skill is used to sign off with a promotion medal.

Paul Dickov resigns

Paul Dickov finally quit as Oldham boss yesterday following yet another league defeat.

The club have only picked up one point in nine games, but still managed to dump Liverpool out of the FA Cup and set up a fifth round tie against Everton.

The Latics issued a club statement on Sunday morning stating that Dickov had "been disappointed at the level of commitment and performances and feels that a change is needed if the club is to survive in League One."

And Dickov was less than impressed after watching his team throw away a one goal lead following loan striker Lee Barnard's 19th minute header. 

James Baxendale levelled for Walsall just before the break and Jamie Paterson sealed a Saddlers' win with a second half break. Dickov groaned:

"I am gutted because I desperately wanted to get a result.

"Over the course of the game, we were nowhere near good enough. Overall it is disappointing because I saw a lot of desire and passion last week and I didn’t get that today.

"We didn’t win the Liverpool game because we had better players. We won it because we wanted it more. You cannot do it for one game and not the next three. Every time they go out on to the pitch must mean something for their careers. Otherwise it will be gone before they know it.

"I told the players we are in a right battle, a right scrap at the bottom and you have to be man enough and to stand up, roll up your sleeves and take the flak. And more importantly go out on to the pitch and give absolutely everything you can.

"We started the game well, did the right things with and without the ball, got our noses in front and then stopped doing them."

Dickov signed Barnard just before the day before the transfer deadline closed until the end of the season and the Southampton hit man said:

"We've got two big games coming up against Yeovil and MK Dons before we face Everton and we're looking for six points.

We're hurting at the moment, but we've got great players in the team and some good quality - we can put things right."

Walsall 3 Oldham Athletic 1

The following report was written on Sunday morning - shortly before Oldham boss Paul Dickov resigned:

Jamie Paterson's brace showed just how much the Walsall kids are growing up.

Paterson, 21, stunned Oldham with a pair in the second half after fellow winger James Baxendale had dragged the Saddlers back into the game with a superb solo goal five minutes before the break. He then said:

"A few of us have been in a relegation fight for a couple of years, but you can see that we're enjoying our football now. It's all coming together nicely.

"You learn a lot when you're at the bottom of the league and you're only nineteen. You certainly don't want to be there again. But that's part of football and the earlier you learn that, the better."

Oldham have only picked up one point in nine games, but debutant loan Lee Barnard opened the scoring in the 19th minute when he nodded in from eight yards.

Southampton striker Barnard, 28, signed for the rest of the season and is available for the club's FA Cup fifth round clash with Everton. He revealed:

"I watched the boys beat Liverpool in the Cup and I was impressed with how hard they worked for each other. So when I was asked to join the club the day before deadline day, I didn't hesitate and there's no doubt that that performance had a bearing on my decision."

But Latics boss Paul Dickov's future is in doubt following the poor league run and he said:

"As a manager defeats put you under pressure, but I shall roll up my sleeves and do everything I can to get out of this mess."

Saddlers manager Dean Smith watched his side notch up their seventh victory in nine outings, but suffered a sixteen game run without a win earlier in the season and backed Dickov. He said:

"He's a good guy and a good manager. If he's given the chance he'll turn it around - definitely." 

From Sunday's paper

This morning's clipping

Bristol Rovers 2 Barnet 1

Ryan Brunt mugged Barnet with a dramatic last gasp winner to lift Rovers out of the drop zone.

Stoke loanee striker Brunt scored his first goal on his home debut in the 93rd minute following a transfer window move.

Substitute Danny Woodards saw his low 20yard shot blocked, but Brunt pounced to drill in the loose ball from twelve yards on the right side of the box.

German-born winger Fabian Broghammer opened the scoring in the 78th minute with his third goal of the campaign.

Full back Lee Brown stormed forward from half way before crossing to Broghammer who took the ball past central defender David Stephens before slotting in from an acute angle.

Harry Crawford had gone from zero to hero late on in his full debut following a move last week from non-league Dartford.

Striker Crawford missed a sitter from six yards in the 88th minute, but then looked to have earned his side a point two minutes later when he prodded home his first goal for the club from close in..

Rovers have picked up thirteen points in six outings since John Ward returned in December for a second spell as manager and they have now climbed to 19th place - the highest they have been since the first day of the season. He joked:

"The Chairman's just offered me a ten year contract! I'm a really happy man and totally delighted we've won it. When I left my last job I was going to pack it in, but this is such a fantastic feeling.

We had to be exceptionally patient. They were two very good sides who don't deserve to be where they are in the table."

Barnet are now only one point clear of the relegation places themselves and disappointed Head Coach Edgar Davids said:

"If you saw the whole match, we definitely deserved a point. Sometimes you make silly mistakes and it's going to cost you. We dominated for spells and I was really proud. If you make slight errors - even at this level - you're going to get punished."