The Paul Mullin column

IT'S about time we started using the 'F' word more at home .... 'F' for Fortress!

We showed what we're capable of on our own patch against Northwich the other week, and there's no reason why similar feats can't be achieved numerous times over the course of the season.

It doesn't matter who we are playing - it's just important to give you a bit more breathing space when you come back from an away game with anything less than a win.

Our home form has been a bit patchy, whereas, in the past, it's been a major asset. So we need to get back to the form we showed at the Interlink Express Stadium last year.

As for last week, Barnet are the best team we've played this term by far. They got the ball down and passed it well, however, I think 3-0 flattered them slightly.

They just seemed to get the rub of the green and the first goal was a big help to them because we'd done well in keeping them at bay.

Ian Craney scored just after half-time and I could see no reason why it should have been disallowed. It was a baffling offside decision because he ran from behind me. And when Barnet went straight to the other end and scored it was like a dagger in our heart.

There were times when we looked very dangerous going forward and, chance for chance, I thought it was a pretty even game. It was just unfortunate that they were able to take their chances.

But, although it was disappointing to lose, the lads weren't overly downbeat because there were plenty of positives to take out of the game.

It wasn't on the scale of the Scarborough or Stevenage defeats where we let ourselves down. We put Barnet under the cosh for large parts of the game, and if we can do that to a team that's running away at the top of the Conference at the moment, that's got to be a good thing.

Consistency is important to us as well, and that's something else we haven't managed to really achieve yet this season.

We've had good performances against Bradford, Morecambe earlier in the season, away at York and at home to Northwich - all really good positive performances - but we've never really carried that through for any period of time. And, particularly now we're a professional club, that's got to change.

It must be frustrating for the staff because they don't know what they're going to get from the team they put on the pitch. Although we're not lacking for effort, sometimes that endeavour's a little bit misguided.

We need to string a run of results together to make sure we stay in the mix until Christmas and beyond.

We're due to have a good run. Fifth place in the worst we want to finish this year.