Barnet boss Dean Brennan admits their FA Cup second-round tie at Newport County is a welcome distraction this weekend.

Bees head to Rodney Parade on the back of a four-game losing run in the National League.

Their most recent reverse came in the derby at Wealdstone last Saturday, when the hosts snatched a 3-2 victory in the 98th minute.

And Brennan is hoping his side can embrace the switch to knockout action against League Two side Newport.

"We've got a nice break now with the FA Cup, a break from the league campaign, so hopefully we can get ourselves into the next round," he told the club website.

"I think we need it now, the way the last two weeks have gone [in the league].

"We've conceded way too many goals, simple as that. Teams that concede goals just don't have success.

"For some reason it has just crept into our game. It happened at Chesterfield, four the other night [against Oldham] and three tonight which is really disappointing.

That's how quick football can change.

"I'm always a big believer in keeping your guard up. The main thing is we stick together and move onto the next game. We do have to sort out the issues we've got at the minute."

Jerome Okimo tapped in from close range to put the Bees in front after 13 minutes at Grosvenor Vale, but Jack Cook quickly got Stones back on level terms with a well-struck half volley.

Nicke Kabamba restored Barnet's lead before the half-hour mark, heading his 14th goal of the season, only to see Cook strike for a second time early in the second half.

Both sides had chances in the final quarter, with Wealdstone's Max Kretzschmar hitting the crossbar, before Charlie Barker converted a cross from Ashley Charles to snatch victory in front of a crowd of 2,515.

"Apart from Gateshead last week, who beat us [2-0] and beat us well, the other games have been much tighter," added Brennan.

"The scoreline suggests today 3-2 was a tight game, they scored late in injury time. I'm a bit aggrieved at the decision the referee made [for the second goal] but at the end of the day we all make mistakes.

"We had enough chances, better, clearer chances. I know they hit the crossbar late and scored late, but I'm just really disappointed."

Bees are 90 minutes away from a place alongside Premier League clubs in the FA Cup third-round draw and host Maidstone United in the FA Trophy on Saturday week (December 9), before returning to league action against Dagenham & Redbridge three days later.

"The main thing is to keep trying to improve every day. That's what we try to do," added Brennan.

"This division is relentless, it's ruthless, there's no easy games.

"We're still in a great position, there's a long, long, long way to go, another five months, maybe six months of football.

"Lets just keep going one game at a time and see where it takes us."