 Although the blame for the Spartans’ second defeat at Naupactus lay primarily on the inexperience of their sailors, Cnemus’ willingness to retreat to Corinth rather than re-engage the Athenians cemented the Spartans’ perception that he was lacking in energy as a leader.Therefore, although it is not explicitly known why Cnemus and Brasidas agreed to the Megarian plan, some scholars have speculated that neither man was eager to return to Sparta without having gained at least one victory.Crossing from Corinth to Megara, the Spartans planned to launch forty ships and take the Athenians by surprise.