Mark Cooper takes aim at Notts County players after Barnet defeat

Notts County manager Mark Cooper pulled no punches in criticising his players after they slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Barnet on Tuesday night.

County led at half-time through Jon Stead's early penalty, but capitulated after the break as John Akinde's penalty levelled it before goals from Mark Randall and Andy Yiadom.

Cooper was left thoroughly unimpressed.

"I think you know with the group of players we've got, if any real pressure comes they're going to cave in," he said on the club's website.

"I love being a players' manager, but sometimes you have to speak the truth. I've said to them, 'You've got two managers the sack already, the same group of players, and you're not getting me out'.

"We play three or four games and we look okay and get a decent run of results but then it becomes too much and we can't sustain it. Maybe once we got safe mathematically, maybe we downed tools a bit, and said 'I've got a good contract on good money for next year, I'm going to put my feet up and just get to the end of the season without getting injured'."

Cooper admitted his own future remains uncertain, but promised if he is around next season, no player will be guaranteed their future at the club regardless of contract situations.

"If you want to put a squad of good players together the main ingredient is good characters and you have to do a lot of homework," he said. "That's what we've got to do."

Cooper said he had been given a points target in order to get the job for next year but added: "If you'd asked me after the Hartlepool game I'd say we'd do it easy, but if you asked me tonight I'm not so certain."