Martin Allen hailed Barnet's second half performance as Barnet beat promotion chasing Plymouth by a goal to nil.

Andy Yiadom scored the only goal of the game in a contest that was marred by serious injuries to Jordan Forster and Ryan Brunt in the first half.

And Allen was delighted with the belief his side showed after half-time.

He said: “I thought the performance as okay in the first half. They played well and I don't think we made our mark on the game.

“At half-time I encouraged our players to show some more self belief, tenacity and more courage.

“We've got 14 players in our squad plus four youth team players. We're changing it game after game and everyone keeps doing well. The second half was up there with the best.”

The first half was a scrappy affair that saw two long stoppages for injuries.

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Forster, who is on loan from Scottish side Hibernian, went off with a broken jaw after colliding into the advertising hoardings.

Brunt, meanwhile, has suffered suspected cruciate ligament damage after going down later on in the half, which led to the referee Gavin Ward adding 14 minutes of stoppage time.

The events, though, cast a shadow on the entire 90 minutes with players from both sides affected by the injuries.

Allen explained: “I think we were all affected by it. As passionate as I am and the will to win that I've got.

“I didn't enjoy seeing Forster down at the far side. It was scary. I didn't enjoy it at all. There's more important things than football in my life.

“I always want people to go home safe and well. I'll be checking that he's okay. I've spoken to Ryan Brunt to make sure he's all right.”

The second half was similar to the first with neither side creating many openings until John Akinde presented Yiadom with a chance, which the midfielder took with aplomb.

Knee injury: Ryan Brunt

Allen added: “You don't get many chances against good teams. It isn't two-bob football – this is good stuff.

“We've not conceded many chances or goals. The key is to find people to unlock doors, be good at set plays.

“To get that winning goal made the tactical move to move Yids into the midfield worked for us tonight.”

It marks two wins at home against sides challenging at the top of the division, sandwiching a 2-2 draw at promotion chasing Accrington and Allen is delighted how far his side have come.

He said: “It was nearly two years ago and we were playing Halifax and it was a 4-0 defeat and it could have been 12-0.

“From that day onwards we've changed. We had more changes in early January, late December We're evolving as a group. We've got young players coming through.

“We're all moving forward. It was a robbery at Accrington. I thought we were good value for that win.”

Barnet's next challenge is to maintain the momentum when they host relegation threatened Hartlepool on Saturday.