Barnet’s 4-0 win on Tuesday night condemns Bristol Rovers to a miserable club record ninth consecutive league defeat.
The Bees ended their six-game winless run, Adam Senior headed them in front from Ryan Glover’s cross on the 15th minute, before Nnamdi Ofoborh doubled the lead with a long-range strike on the half hour mark.
Later on in the second half, Mark Shelton converted a penalty after being fouled (78′), then Callum Stead completed the thrashing from close range (89′).
The result leaves Barnet 11ith in the League Two table with 28 points from 19 games played, while bristol Rovers are 22nd with 17 points from the same amount of games played, and 1 point above the drop zone.
Darrell Clarke said, as per the club website: “It was a diabolical performance. I can only apologise yet again to our supporters, who came in their numbers to watch that. I can only apologise, it was diabolical. I’ve got nothing positive to say. There were no leaders out there, no nothing. It was diabolical.”
On how big a job is it to turn this around now: “It’s a big job, it’s a massive job, it always has been. It’s getting worse, it’s getting harder, but my obituary has been written a few times at this football club. I’ll keep fighting on. I certainly don’t want to leave it in the state that it’s in at the minute. So, I’ll keep fighting on. The fans know what I am. I’m hurting, and I need to gather my thoughts.”
On if the players hurting as much as he is: “They better be. For me, talk is cheap; it’s all about actions and in the last eight or nine weeks, we have been awful, to be honest with you. Then you’re looking for characters and enough men and enough leaders in the group, and I don’t see it. I don’t see anywhere near enough of that, and we’ve got to find it from somewhere because it’s very painful at the minute.”
On nine straight defeats, the worst run of form in the league in the club’s history and how much of a stain on the players’ CVs: “It’s a disgrace on my CV, and the people I feel most for are our supporters. They know what I think about this club and how much I care about this club, and I’m not producing for them at the minute.
“The run is a shocking run. I don’t think we deserve nine defeats. If I am honest with you, I think there are a few performances in there that have been good, but nowhere near the standard and level we need at this football club, that is for sure. I’m not going to say too much after the game other than an apology.”
Asked if he feels he can turn things around: “I am not a quitter. Everybody knows me. Listen, I took this club into non-league, and I have no intentions of doing that again. I am not a quitter, and if I can, I’ll change things around in January, massively and do what needs to be done and in the summer. I have always been honest with the assessment, and to be honest with you, not a lot has changed my mind in eight or nine weeks.
“I keep giving players opportunities, they are not taking those opportunities, and I think the club is too big for some of them at the minute. I think one or two players we signed in the summer are not producing, so there is a lot of work to be done, and a lot of things are needed. I am always up for the fight; the fans know that.”
On saying the club is too big for them is a strong criticism, and if they’ve got to take that on the chin: “I don’t care if they don’t take it on the chin; it’s facts. Talk is always cheap, but when I look out there and look for characteristics and men, I don’t see enough men out there. I don’t see enough players representing the club the way it should be represented, and I know how it should be represented.
“So, I have to do something about that. I have tried that. Arms around them, double days, triple sessions, bits and pieces. I have to keep working on and doing that until we can make the changes in January and then the summer, because it’s nowhere near good enough.
A message for the concerned fans: “Of course they are going to be, I’m concerned. Everyone should be concerned, but we have got another game on Saturday, a derby game, and I’ve got to make sure that I’ve got a team there that’s going to do the club proud because in recent weeks, we certainly haven’t done that.”
Barnet boss Dean Brennan said: “I’ve liked our performances in the six games as we played on the front foot, but what we managed to do, crucially, was get a second goal before half time. I thought we should have been four up.
“Our substitutes made a huge impact and having that strength in depth with key players back makes a big difference.
“Being two goals up is the most dangerous scoreline in football, so it was important we put the game to bed.
“We’ve worked a lot on our finishing. The harder you work, the luckier you get. Nik Tavares was amazing – he’s my Rolls-Royce at the back.”
On Britt Assombalonga: “His quality and know-how made a huge difference. The bench we had today shows where the squad is at. Performance levels have been high and if we stick to those standards, we’ll win more than we lose.”
He added: “We changed system in the second half to stay on top and attack their backline. Mark Shelton missed his last penalty, but he had the courage to take it again and score. He’s been brilliant for us. Now we have to step up again and improve the goal difference.”
🗣️ I thought first-half we could’ve been 7 or 8 up!”
Dean Brennan reacts to tonight’s 4-0 win over Bristol Rovers!
Sign up to a free BFC TV account to catch his post-match thoughts. 👇https://t.co/QcmkUI5JHa#BarnetFC🐝 pic.twitter.com/TiItXw64QK
— Barnet FC 🐝 (@BarnetFC) December 9, 2025
Here’ show fans reacted as Barnet’s 4-0 win condemns Bristol Rovers to a club record ninth consecutive league defeat…
@SteveTheScout1: Shocking from the players. I don’t deny DC loves the club he does but he has to take a lot of the blame for recent results, his formations, team selections and substitutions has also cost us points. Loaning out Hutchinson to a league rival was also criminal.
@BRFCClive101: Hearts saying Darrell, heads saying no. Unfortunately his time is up.
@SumsUpOurSeason: Stop playing 5 at the back, don’t allow Mola and Taylor anywhere near the starting 11 and things may start improving slowly
@LP15393: If the ownership group had a clue about Football they would have sacked him after that Tranmere performance but they don’t care. This is exactly why it has got worse. Tactics haven’t changed, players aren’t arsed. No leadership or accountability. Sack the lot top to bottom
@MrRic_Hard: Sacking DC makes no sense to me! Any new gaffer will need time to look over the “Players” already here b4 deciding they ain’t good enough. Injuries haven’t helped. The hoofball with Cavegn as target man must stop, that’s on DC, but the individual lazy errors are killing us.
@planetding: why is he still here? should have gone after the Cheltenham game, but instead of facing the fans and dragging the players onto the coach, went for a drink upstairs.
@GasOnTour: It pains me to say it but I can no longer back DC. A club record 9 successive defeats, 24 goals conceded & just 3 scored. We’ve reached the point where things can’t get any worse & I therefore think he has to go. We need to give a new manager time to assess the squad before Jan.
@TomWarren1883: Every post match I listen to I come away from it thinking he’ll turn it around, then the next match comes and we are shite again. Pains me to say it but I think your time is up king 🥺 #UTG
@TheExiledRobin: Salah should listen to this. This is the true definition of throwing players under the bus
@Bristoldelboy2: The most boring uninspiring coach in the football league, 15 players he brought in, no style of play, no set formation, no patterns of play, no intensity. No wonder the players arent playing for you. 9 games losing!!! and fans still saying owners fault. Wow
@tosellesandback: Yep, this will really help get the players onside. Another manager with a parting gift. Football has become so toxic. It’s league 2. Thinks he’s in the EPL. #BRFC
@Bristoliang1en: I think that is sadly it for DC, but who is going to turn this shit into anything half decent? The Lord God himself couldn’t work miracles on these fucking losers. DC, you will always be a Gas legend, though. #AlSaeedsOut
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