Stuart McCall has won praise for coming to terms with life in League Two.

Eddie Johnson scored for the second successive City game last night to salvage a 1-1 home draw against Barnet.

The point was enough to move McCall's men up a place to ninth - their highest position since September - and experienced Bees boss Paul Fairclough believes that is proof his rookie opposite number is learning the management ropes.

Fairclough said: "Stuart McCall has to be commended for the way he has pulled the season round. He is learning about the players at this level and has slowly got to grips with it."

City had fallen behind to Adam Birchall's strike midway through the first half, scoring from the rebound after Anthony Thomas blasted against the woodwork.

McCall admitted: "If that first shot goes in then you've got to say it's a great goal. But we were so sloppy to react when it came off the bar.

"That lifted them and we went into our shells a little bit but I told the players at half-time that there would be chances for us. It was that sort of game and very open.

"Scott Loach had too much to do from our point of view but he showed what a good keeper he is. But we kept at it and I quite enjoyed the second half; I felt we deserved the point.

"We put a heck of a lot into it on Saturday and I thought we might struggle a bit later on but we came stronger and kept going. I thought we showed a lot of good energy and we had a couple of chances near the end to have won it."

Barry Conlon went closest but saw his later header saved by Lee Harrison.

Willy Topp, who came on as a second-half substitute, will have his calf operation next Wednesday. The specialist has given the Chilean the all-clear to continue playing until the surgery and he will again be involved at Brentford.

City will also have leading scorer Peter Thorne available for the weekend trip to London.

Thorne has missed the last two games with a niggle in his hip and McCall said: "We just wanted to make sure it cleared up."

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