More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Ebbsfleet boss Kevin Watson felt their 5-2 defeat at Barnet on Tuesday night was a reality check.
The Fleet had suffered just one defeat in eight games in all competitions but they conceded five for the first time this season to fall to the foot of the National League.
Watson said: “We were poor first half. I had a right go at them because we are so much better than that.
“We started the second half well and got a great equaliser. They had four shots second half, including the penalty, and three of them went in.
“A little bit of a reality check for all of us in terms of we’ve been doing well. But for me that was disappointing to say the least.
“It’s a kick up the backside. As a team we’ve conceded far too many goals. Yet again we score two goals away from home and come away with nothing. It can’t happen.
“(It's) decision-making all around the pitch and game management. We got back to 2-2, were arguably the better team, (we should) ease back into the game for another five minutes, stay on top of the game and that happens too often.
"That’s game management and mentality.
“With the ball I very rarely have any qualms with us, we’re scoring two a game but you cannot have to score three goals to win a football match continuously.”
Watson refused to make excuses with his limited squad options – and felt it looked like his team that had got back from Barrow just before 5am on Sunday instead of Barnet.
“I’m not going to hide behind the fact that we had only 16 fit players, that’s not an excuse – you only need 11 on the pitch,” he added.
“We had adequate subs to come on. I’m not going to use that as an excuse whatsoever.
“I know Darren Currie (Barnet manager) very well and Barnet got home from Barrow at quarter to five on Sunday morning because their lad had a head injury and they sat in hospital with him until 10pm. It looked like we’d been in Barrow.
“I will take it on the chin, like these boys will, if there’s a reaction on Saturday.”
