Barnet interim manager Paul Fairclough admits Chesterfield were 'superb'

The Spireites won the reverse fixture back in December six-nil and it could have been the same scoreline again had they taken their chances.

James Rowe’s men could have been ahead after 30 seconds and they had opportunities to notch three or four goals in the opening minutes.

The pressure told and Tom Whelan slotted the first on 10 minutes after a great assist by Jack Clarke and Adi Yussuf followed in Akwasi Asante’s spilled free-kick from the edge of the box just after the break.

The Blues kept creating and Asante was unlucky to see his effort hit the post and bounce back out.

Fairlcough admitted that the Bees ‘did not get near’ Chesterfield as they ran out comfortable winners.

“We came up against a very good team and I knew that,” he said.

“They were slick, they kept possession of the ball and they looked as if they had done that for a long time together.

“They popped it about, their pressurising, they were winning the ball back all over the pitch.

“I have said to their manager that it is a superb performance, and I don’t like saying that.

“We found it very hard to even get near them and when we did get near them and we did gain possession of the ball, we gave it away far too easy.

“Let’s be honest, it could have been two or three very early on in the game.

“By hook or by crook we got to half-time (at just one-nil down) but then we gave a free-kick away immediately (in the second half).”

He added: “I am disappointed because everyone had hope over the last couple of days and they have taken a big step back today.

“I don’t think any of them deliberately meant to go out and perform like that, I just felt the opposition were that much better than us.

“Bluntly, they have got better individuals than us. That is the bottom line. They were better individually than us in many, many areas.

“I am really upset for the supporters.”