Kevin Maher, the manager of Southend United, has expressed his disappointment following the team’s 2-0 loss to Barnet. This defeat was characterized by an early goal from Reece Hall-Johnson and a second-half penalty from Harry Pritchard, securing the victory for Barnet at Roots Hall.

In response to the result, Maher stated, “We are bitterly disappointed to lose the game.” He acknowledged that the team started off slowly and nervously, attributing this to the occasion at hand. Despite the unfortunate deflection that led to Barnet’s first goal, Maher highlighted the team’s improvement as the game progressed, with various attempts to score that unfortunately did not materialize.

He also expressed optimism about the team’s performance, noting that Southend United was aggressively pressing the opponents, who are currently positioned third in the league. Maher praised the opponents for their defensive efforts, acknowledging that they constantly changed their tactics and altered their lineup to protect their goal.

While Maher was encouraged by certain aspects of the game, he raised concerns about critical refereeing decisions, including a disallowed goal by Henry Sandat that he believed was wrongly ruled offside. Despite this, Maher did not contest the penalty awarded to Barnet when goalkeeper Collin Andeng Ndi challenged Nicke Kabamba for the ball. He admitted, “I think it probably is a penalty,” and acknowledged that his goalkeeper did not need to intervene in that situation.

Overall, Maher emphasized the need to strengthen the team’s attack and finish off scoring opportunities. He also appreciated the team’s efforts, expressing his belief that they are in a good position despite the recent defeat.

It is evident from Maher’s comments that he remains committed to improving the team’s performance and is focused on rectifying the areas that need development. While the defeat was disappointing, he is determined to address the team’s shortcomings and work towards better results in future matches.