SOUTHEND United boss Kevin Maher felt the decision not to send off Barnet defender Sam Beard was pivotal in his side’s 1-0 defeat to the Bees on Friday night.

Beard was shown just a yellow card after bringing down Henry Sandat on the edge of the penalty area in the first half at Roots Hall.

But Maher was certain Beard should have been dismissed when the game was still goalless.

“There’s a big moment in the first half and it’s a sending off, I don’t know what he’s thinking,” said Maher.

“We’ve watched it back, the referee will tell you the laws of the game and whatever he thinks but it’s a stonewall red card.

“You’ve got to get the big decisions right and we talk about them all the time, officials that aren’t good enough.”

With 11 men still on the pitch, Barnet bagged all three points with Idris Kanu scoring the only goal of the game just past the hour mark.

But Maher thought his side worked hard enough to avoid defeat.

“The performance didn’t warrant that,” said Maher.

“The players on the pitch gave everything and showed great quality at times on a difficult pitch.

“We just needed the first goal and the game’s different if we get it.”

However, the Shrimpers remain short of options in attack with Jake Hyde, Rhys Murphy, Harry Cardwell and Dan Mooney all injured.

And Maher feels the injury list is starting to take its toll.

“Henry Sandat did brilliantly and Callum Powell worked his socks off but look what’s in the treatment room at the minute, it’s killing us and it’s been that way all season because we need more goals on the pitch,” said Maher.

“This is a top of the table clash and what you can’t do is cut corners but we’re having to do that a lot.

“We played ever so well tonight, we just didn’t have the cutting edge to open them up.”