Barnet opened up a commanding nine-point lead at the top of the National League after a ruthless 4-0 battering of Rochdale.
The Bees found themselves two goals to the good before half-time through strikes from Callum Stead and Rhys Browne, before Dominic Telford and Ryan Glover sealed the points for the visitors.
Manager Dean Brennan told the club website: “We wanted to start on the front foot. We wanted to make entries, and we wanted to be physical against them. We’re a very physical side.
"Even though we have a lot of possession, and we dominate, we make a lot of contacts with the opposition. I think we’re the highest-pressing team in the division in the opposition’s half.
“No disrespect to Rochdale. I think their entries and physicality are something they lack. They’re a very technical side and very crafty with their play. They’re coached extremely well, but I don’t think their pitch helps them whatsoever. Especially the way they want to play.”
The win leaves Brennan’s side as clear favourites for the National League title, having extended their unbeaten run to 19 games since losing at York City at the end of October.
And Brennan pointed to the players’ mentality as a key reason for the Bees’ outstanding form.
He added: "I just think it’s the mentality of the group. Browne missed a great chance against York early in the game - that can affect the team. That can affect the performance.
“Today, we’ve had a stonewall penalty [not given]. We’ve had a trip at 1-0 as well where Stead’s gone in, Hogan’s touched the back of him, and it’s a red card because it’s outside the box and he’s just tripped Stead.
"That can affect the team. You can go on about the referee and all those excuses, not our players. Mentality, focused.
“They’re adhering to the standards they’ve set all season, and that’s from the first day of pre-season. I always say it - when you get a group of players that go to the line, you can create that togetherness, and they’ve done that from the first day of pre-season.
“They’ve got to continue to do that. We’ve set our points target, and that’s what we’re going to try to achieve."
Having further stretched the lead at the top of the table, Brennan had a very clear message for the fans who might be getting excited already.
“I can only affect how we play and what we do, how I set up my team. That’s my focus,” he explained.
“The players are prepared to do their job. They’re prepared to go to the line for each other and have each other’s backs. We’ve just got to stay focused one game at a time.
“For our supporters, it’s great. They’ll get to open their apps and all that. The main thing is that from early May, we have to stay there.
“We cannot be faltering, and we cannot be dropping our guard.”
Barnet’s chase for National League glory and promotion to the EFL continues this weekend when they travel to Oldham Athletic.
