Barnet boss Martin Allen insists his team have still got a chance of avoiding relegation after their 1-0 home win over Forest Green Rovers.

The Bees have been written off by many but climbed off the bottom of League Two after a vital victory on Saturday.

Barnet are four points off safety with only four games left but Allen still believes the side can pull off a great escape.

Allen told the club website: “We managed to hang on, bag three points and we’ve still got a chance.

“Everyone thinks Barnet are down but credit to the players. It’s nobody else but the players. They deserve the credit. They did the job by blocking shots and crosses. The keeper didn’t really have a great deal to do even though we were under pressure.”

Barnet came into the game off the back of a desperate 4-1 defeat at Stevenage which was a huge blow to their survival hopes.

But the Bees responded with a tense victory over Forest Green at the Hive to move within four points of their opponents.

A lively start by the hosts almost saw them lead through Shaq Coulthirst and Nana Kyei but visiting goalkeeper Bradley Collins denied them.

Barnet’s positivity was rewarded at the end of the first half with the breakthrough.

Coulthirst played in Alex Nicholls and he fired home the opener from the edge of the area.

The visitors improved in the second half and put Barnet under pressure.

Reuben Reid went close a couple of times but failed to find the target.

Farrend Rawson almost salvaged a draw from his header but the Bees held on for a crucial result.

Allen said: “It was well earned. It was hard work. They threw everything at us in the second half with the wind and playing down the slope.

“It was good win of course but after last weekend when we played at Stevenage in the local derby and didn’t play well at all, the response from the players was fantastic.”

He added: “Credit has to go to the players and the supporters in a precarious position with Barnet bottom of the league.

“After that disappointing performance it was good for the supporters and great for the players.

“After that Stevenage game we took a real beating. It’s been a tough week and now we just have to take stock and get back to work.”

Allen only returned for his fifth spell in charge of the Bees last month.

He replaced Graham Westley and is the club’s fourth manager of the campaign.

Barnet have four games to avoid the drop and face a huge clash on Saturday at Grimsby Town.

The Bees are five points behind their opponents and a win will be a major boost to their survival hopes.