ASSISTANT-BOSS Geoff Horsfield slammed the "cowardly" nature of Port Vale's dreadful 2-0 home defeat against Barnet this afternoon.

Horsfield couldn't hide his anger after Vale's lacklustre display gifted victory to a Barnet side that had lost their previous 10 away league games.

The Bees secured a rare win on their travels thanks to a brace from striker John O'Flynn.

Horsfield said: "I thought we were very poor and I think, not to use too strong a word, that some of us, as players, were cowards today.

"I don't think we stood up to them but all credit to Barnet because they were better than us.

"They won more balls in the air, won more second balls and had more desire.

"We didn't have enough desire."

Horsfield fielded questions from the media as "disappointed" Vale boss Micky Adams skipped his first post-match press conference this season.

This afternoon's defeat came on the back of Vale's 2-1 home defeat by Chesterfield and last weekend's 2-1 victory at Torquay.

"We were flat from the beginning and started poorly like we did in our last two games," added Horsfield who revealed Vale's squad will be hauled into training tomorrow.

"It's just not good enough and we've told the players that in no uncertain terms.

"You can always look at your performance as a player and you may not have played to the best of your ability.

"But you can give 110 per cent effort and a few of the lads in that changing room just didn't do that.

"If I knew the answer to why that happened, I'd be managing England.

"It's difficult because we know the players can play a lot better and have more desire than that but they didn't show it today."