Dean Brennan ‘proud’ of Barnet display in draw with MK Dons

Barnet boss Dean Brennan was proud of his side’s display against MK Dons despite surrendering a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at The Hive.

Adam Senior’s towering header put the Bees ahead, with Mark Shelton doubling the lead from the spot within 28 minutes.

The Dons pulled one back before half-time when Jack Sanders converted a well-worked corner and they equalised against the run of play when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing capitalised on a failure to clear in the Barnet box.

Brennan said: “We always knew MK Dons had the quality to punish us. Realistically, we should have been four goals up.

“Our quality in both boxes isn’t quite there yet. They’ve got amazing players who probably shouldn’t be at this level. I’m proud of how my players performed in the first 40 minutes when we were completely in control.

“We were delighted with our play on the floor by keeping possession, pressing high and tackling in their half. I felt we should have scored more.

“An old coach of mine used to say two-nil is the most dangerous scoreline and they got the vital goal just before half-time. After that, the focus had to be on staying strong because playing against top sides, they smell weakness and take it.

“The level of performance wasn’t the issue and it was about managing the next phase of the game.”

MK Dons head coach Paul Warne felt a draw was a fair result after his side recovered from a poor first-half display.

He said: “Happy with the point. We didn’t start well, didn’t stop crosses, didn’t compete in duels, and lacked the cutting edge.

“We nearly won it but we can’t afford starts like that. Our second goal was excellent and showed what the team can do but we didn’t deserve all three points. Both of their wing-backs had more impact in the final third than ours.”

Warne was full of praise for Callum Paterson, adding: “When he came on, we had a focal point up top. For 10 to 15 minutes after the second goal, it was virtually all us but we lacked the cutting edge to get into the final third.”

On Mendez-Laing’s goal, he said: “He was in the right place at the right time – the ball was going in and he finished it.

“We need to pick up points away from home and avoid back-to-back defeats. The dressing room is disappointed but if you want to win, you have to hear hard truths.”