Mansell: "Barnet are feeling the pressure"

Lee Mansell believes Vanarama Conference pacesetters Barnet could be for the first time starting to feel the pressure of leading the pack.

Martin Allen's long-time leaders have seen their lead at the summit cut to a measly five points after suffering back-to-back defeats at the hands of Lincoln and Grimsby Town.

Second-placed Rovers are at the head of a title-chasing pack, which also includes Macclesfield Town, Grimsby Town and Eastleigh.

Mansell said:

"A few teams are starting to close that gap at the top of the table and maybe Barnet are starting to feel the pressure of that. We don't feel any particular pressure on us other than that we have had to deal with since the start of the season. The expectation has been there for us to get promoted back to the Football League at the first attempt and I think that slowly and surely we have started to handle that pressure a bit better. Of course, we'd love to be top of the league, but, right now, our only aim is to remain in contention. We have got ourselves in a great position and it could be one hell of an exciting run in for everybody at the club."


Rovers missed an opportunity to shorten the gap on leaders Barnet to three points when they were held to a goalless draw at Woking on Saturday.
Mansell said:

"We are a little bit miffed about the game and why we didn't quite get going. The failure to win is always worsened ten times when you know that you've effectively missed an opportunity because results have gone you way elsewhere. We were a bit downcast but we'll take a point and keep chipping away at it over the next few weeks. After dominating some of our recent games and creating a lot of chances, we had to show a different side to ourselves. It was a tight pitch and Woking played a high line, so there wasn't too much time to get the ball down and play. We have certainly learned to adapt better in those situations and if we know it is going to be hard to win a game we are very much aware of how to go about our business to make sure we don't lose it. Being able to grind out a point in situations such as that could become invaluable towards the end of the season when the pressure is on and the games become a bit tighter."


An early exit from the FA Trophy has left Rovers with a free weekend for the second time in three weeks. They do not return to action until they go to Dartford on January 31, and Mansell added:
"The free weekend kills us a little bit because it has been a bit stop-start lately. I won't be looking at my phone every five minutes wondering what Barnet are doing, but I'm sure that I will have one eye across what is going on at some point over the afternoon."
Story from the Post.

 

Barnet hare definitely having a wobble.
Most teams at the top do at some point - it's going to depend how long it goes on for.
You have to keep doing what you are doing

 

Up The Hammers!

 

Bit of a "no lose" game to be honest - just one to enjoy

 

Yep, nothing to lose. I wont be surprised if you win though to be honest!

 

If we have won more of those games instead of drawing them when Barnet drew /lost, we would be right up behind them now

 

There are always the 'If we had done this' or 'if they had done that' during the course of a football season and it is all pretty much irrelevant really, points and goal difference on the board are what count and that's what will determine who finishes top of the pile, looking currently at the table and if Barnet continue their 'wobble' it could get very interesting indeed with anyone of four or five teams in with a real chance of the coveted automatic spot, it's going to be an exciting four months or so !

 

It's going right to the wire... should be great...