Conor Hourihane said he ‘hated’ Barnsley’s performance after 25 minutes in their 4-3 loss at Leyton Orient which they had led 3-1.
The Reds went 2-0 up early then responded to the hosts’ first but conceded three times between 68 and 74 minutes.
Hourihane, who had been made permanent head coach earlier in the day, told the Chronicle: “If you want one game to sum up the season it would be that. I thought we were outstanding for 25 minutes, had control in their half, scored good goals and played really good stuff.
“I have said to them that after 25 minutes, I hated the game and how the team played. It wasn’t a team I want to resemble.
“We didn’t string passes together. We told them before the game Orient were good on transition. We created loads of transitions but couldn’t keep the ball. We couldn’t deal with their pace at the top of the pitch. Overall I am just really disappointed.
“It was really poor to concede those three goals so quickly. The lads lost their way which was disappointing.”
On the defensive errors for the home goals, Hourihane said: “It’s costing us a lot of points but we’re working hard on the training pitch. I would love a clean sheet more than anything. It’s one of the big things I want to do. We scored three goals and the attacking play at times was brilliant, but we got nothing from the game.”
Stephen Humphrys’ brace put the Reds 2-0 up. He said: “It’s gutting to lose. We didn’t have anything to play for but it’s about putting your foot in the door for next season and showing Conor what you’ve got. We let ourselves down in the second half.
“I think they (Orient) got a telling off at half-time and started playing good long passes to Charlie Kelman who is lethal. If you can’t deal with the long balls, you get punished.
“Fans have travelled a long way and spent a lot of money so to not get at least a point is really disappointing.”
On his goals, Humphrys said: “The first one I didn’t know much about it, I just turned around saw the ball and tried to get something on it. Jon Russell wasn’t happy because he wanted to claim it but I am not having another one took off my after Birmingham at home. For the second one I knew how big a head Robbo (Marc Roberts) has got so I got myself in the box and fortune favours the brave.”
