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I must lift players - players must lift fans

Paul Cook says it's his job to lift the players after the defeat at Barnet - and the players' job to give the fans a boost.

Supporters were grim-faced after a below-par display at Barnet left the Blues having taken just one point out of six from away games against sides many expected them to beat.

Cook told The News: ‘We have hit a bit of a blip, it’s a really poor time for us in the season. My job now is to manage. The reason I was brought to the club was to manage, the reason other managers have been sacked is it’s a difficult job.

‘We tried our best to play the game the way I like the game to be played and unfortunately never created enough clear-cut chances. You know you are going to be put under pressure coming to Barnet.

‘It is something we had spoken about and we felt if we saw the game out with the physicality we might open them up eventually. They showed great intent to put us under pressure.

‘You could see yourselves with long throws and physicality and fighting and scrapping, we had to be brave on the ball and play more football. It took us until half-time to make the players believe in themselves to do that. We totally dominated the second half without really looking like scoring.

‘You expect Kal to put that chance away with his left foot, maybe that would have given everyone a lift but unfortunately it hasn’t. We don’t want to come off at the end and be given abuse by our own fans — that is not what the game is about. We want to send our fans home happy.

‘Unfortunately we didn’t and I can understand their disappointment. I have no issues with it but sometimes criticism must be constructive. The reality is I have to lift the players for Saturday and the players have to lift the supporters.’

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