Barker bemoans poor first half performance (From The Argus)

Barker bemoans poor first half performance

5:59pm Saturday 6th October 2012 in Sport By Steve Hollis

Jonathan Forte goes for goal at Griffin Park

Crawley boss Richie Barker admitted Reds were well below par in the first half as they went down 2-1 at Brentford.

Clayton Donaldson put the Bees in the lead after 23 minutes and Reds could have been further behind but for a series of fine saves from Paul Jones.

Crawley improved after the interval and got back on level terms through Nicky Adams but Donaldson pounced on a mistake by Jones with 14 minutes to go to inflict a first away league defeat on Reds in five games.

Barker said: "We probably got out of the game what the first half performance deserved - nothing. The second half performance was much better but we wasted 45 minutes.

"Sometimes if you are going to be successful you have to take something when you are not at your best and we almost did."

Barker also defended goalkeeper Jones after he needlessly raced off his line to allow Donaldson to score the winning goal.

Barker said: "It was a mistake but without him we could have been three or four down by then anyway. He kept us in the game."