“When you’re 4-2 down to Whitley at the end of the game, you’ve lost, it’s that simple. We had plenty of chances to score goals and fluffed them.

“It’s the same old story. At the end of the day when a team travels down here with two lines and we’ve virtually got a full bench, then the chances are you think you can outwork them and get a win in the third period because they’ve got coach legs, but it was not to be.

“We’re a player or two missing, someone around the net who can finish. If I get another goal scorer on board then we’ll be quids in.
“But the lads are all committed to working hard to staying in this league and I’m sure that the results will turn our way.”

Darren was, however, pleased that his side spent less time in the penalty box than in recent weeks, hinting that his team now realise how important it is to keep a full compliment of players on the ice.

Looking ahead to next weekend’s grudge match with Coventry, Darren is aware of the threat that the ENL Blaze will possess, but believes if his Barons play at their potential then they can cause an upset.

“We cut the penalties down tonight and they (Warriors) started to take a few, but we need to work on our powerplay – We didn’t take advantage.

“As I have said before, we can’t play five-on-four hockey so we’ve got to keep five guys out there, it’s that simple, and it made the difference that we cut our penalties down today.

“Coventry aren’t doing as well as they normally are this season, but we’ll go there and give it our best and try to cause an upset.

“At the end of the day, it’s our first season in this league and it’s going to be a big learning curve for everyone involved.

“We’ll be going there without Erik Bakalar who is one of our main scorers, but we will put ourselves about and see what we can do and hopefully someone will step up and put a few in.”

Whitley Warriors and Trafford Metros inflicted the Barons seventh and eighth defeats of the season at the weekend, but Darren has cited his team’s luck in front of goal as the key factor to the lack of positive results.

He was also disappointed that despite all of the pressure against Whitley, his Barons couldn’t outscore a weakened and short-benched Warriors side and suggested that he may be short of a natural goal scorer on his roster to help push the team to the next level.

“I can’t ask anymore from my lads at the minute.” He said. “They’re turning up at training and skating hard and working hard, we just need a bit of luck on our side.

“It seems to be the story of the last six or seven games. We’re not three or four goals worse than these teams; we just haven’t taken our chances. We outwork these teams and we’re doing the right things but we’re just not putting the puck in the net and obviously that’s what wins games, not outworking your opponent.