Barnet Manager Condemns Actions Of National League Defender

Barnet manager Dean Brennan has condemned the actions of Southend United defender Gus Scott-Morriss during Boxing Day’s meeting between the two sides in his post-match interview (quotes via Echo News). 

The defender was involved in an altercation with Barnet’s Idris Kanu, which led to the Bees man receiving a yellow card and subsequently substituted at half-time during Barnet’s 2-0 victory against Southend United to maintain their place inside the top three of the National League.

During a thrilling first half at Roots Hall, Barnet were 1-0 ahead at the time of the incident, courtesy of Reece Hall-Johnson’s fourth-minute goal. However, Kanu believed he was stamped on by the defender which went unpunished moments before the Bees man was booked for an aerial challenge on the same player.

With tension getting heated, Scott-Morriss was accused of attempting to make the incident more sinister than it was, with the hope that Kanu was shown a straight red card, boosting Southend’s chances of gaining an equaliser. Kanu was replaced at the break by former Southend United defender Ben Coker.

However, this didn’t happen and the Bees went on to double their lead after Harry Pritchard converted a 78th-minute penalty after Southend goalkeeper Collin Andeng-Ndi brought down Nicke Kabamba in the penalty area.

The result saw Barnet maintain their third-placed spot in the National League, sitting six points ahead of Solihull Moors whilst Southend United dropped to 15th, sitting 11 points off the play-off places and ruining their first home match since the club’s takeover update was confirmed.

During his post-match interview, manager Dean Brennan was vocal regarding the Kanu booking by stating…

“We heard there was a stamp on Idris in the game and he’s reacted off the back of that and the lad’s poor.

“I don’t like diving. He’s rolling around like he’s elbowed him and he hasn’t elbowed him at all. We’ve got the live feed from TNT we’re watching ourselves and it’s frustrating. I hate diving, It’s the worst most, disgusting thing in the game.

“Scott-Morriss is a really good player to be fair to him and he’s better than that. I don’t really want to comment on their players but I thought it was poor trying to get Idris sent off. In the end I have to take him off at half-time.”

Writer’s View

Barnet and Southend United are set to meet again on Saturday in the reverse fixture at the Hive Stadium, where tensions between the two sides are likely to increase following the Boxing Day fixture and subsequent social media discussions.

Regarding the incident, Brennan holds the right to defend his player but throwing around accusations is a bolder move, although due to not seeing the incident, I cannot comment on whether his comments are warranted or false.