Gaz: We missed our flair players (From Bucks Free Press)

Gaz: We missed our flair players

10:16am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Sport By Andy Carswell

GARETH Ainsworth said Wanderers would have caused Barnet more problems last night if his first choice attackers had been available.

Suspension ruled out Jo Kuffour and injury left Bruno Andrade on the sidelines and ensured Dean Morgan had to be substituted before half time.

Ainsworth admitted after last night's goalless draw that striker Matt McClure and winger Joel Grant weren't fully fit, and that hindered their attacking prowess.

But overall the Blues' caretaker boss, who brought himself back into the starting line-up as one of four enforced changes, was happy to take a point and delighted with a second clean sheet in three games.

He said: "Our front four didn't fire tonight as they have been doing and that's been one of our big plusses lately.

"Matt McClure's not 100 per cent fit, we lost Jo Kuffour and Bruno Andrade was injured, and we had a 39-year-old on the wing as well so it wasn't set out to be a high tempo attacking four.

"The front four have been so good together, they've caused a lot of problems to teams. We probably missed the pace and flair those four have got together.

"Dean Morgan was struggling from the start. He didn't say anything but he wasn't himself tonight. I don't know if he was carrying [an injury] or whether he was tired but it looked like he wasn't the Dean Morgan we've seen for the last four weeks.

"I can understand that. The lads have given me everything in every game so you pick up little niggles."

Ainsworth said Saturday's energy-sapping ordeal at Port Vale, where Wanderers had to play the entire second half with ten men, was a factor in their below-par attacking performance against the bottom of the table Bees.

He said: "Without a shadow of a doubt - biggest pitch in the league, ten men. Barnet had an extra day's recovery - all those factors come into it.

"We didn't string too many passes together first half. We got sucked into trying to get forward too early. At half time I got into the boys and we started passing.

"I was very disappointed first half. It went back to my first game at Dagenham, there seemed to be a bit of panic. We passed it a lot better second half."

Two of Ainsworth's changes came at the back as Dave Winfield and Anthony Stewart replaced Leon Johnson and Danny Foster, and the caretaker manager was pleased with their impact.

He said: "Dave Winfield came in and did a fantastic job. Anthony Stewart as well, he's a great defender.

"I'm really pleased they have taken on the tactics of defending and it's paying dividends.

"We must have had nine or ten chances to their one, we just couldn't hit the target tonight, which is something we'll have to work on for Saturday. We restricted Barnet to one shot the whole game, which Nikki Bull saved.

"We are happier because we've stopped the rot. We've turned it but we want to win our home games."