Barnet travel to Accrington Stanley this weekend, still harbouring hopes of retaining their football league status after their 2-2 draw with Oxford United on Easter Monday. With two matches left to play, the Bees remain in 23rd place, a point adrift of Northampton Town, who have a superior goal difference, two pints behind Lincoln City and three behind Hereford United. Bottom club, Stockport County are already relegated barring a miracle, being six points adrift of Northampton and an inferior goal difference to the tune of 35 goals.
Following last Saturday’s stunning 4-2 win a t Gillingham, Graz will have been disappointed with the team twice giving the lead away on Monday following goals by Clovis Kamdjo and Mark Hughes, but ill be able to call on Oxford loanees, Jack Midson and Sam Deering who missed Monday’s game at Underhill as they could not play against their parent club. Deering, in particular was missed, Glen Southam proving a poor replacement for the exciting young midfield player who has highly impressed the Barnet fans, while Midson should prove a much better attacking foil for Izale McLeod than Charlie Taylor. The Bees’ away form has improved immensely since the departure of Mark Stimson with wins at Bradford City, Hereford, Burton and Gillingham and, while a win over Accrington tomorrow is a big ask it is no bigger than that achieved at the Priestfield Stadium last Saturday. Accrington have one of the best homes records in the division having only lost three league games at home this season, so Barnet will have to be at their best if they are to bring back a vital three points back from their travels. However, there was bad news for Grazioli this week with Steve Kabba out for the rest of the season, but Jude Sterling should be fit to resume against Accrington, though the Bees’ boss may stick with Clovis Kamdjo after a fine performance on Monday against Oxford. The Barnet side should look something like this;
Walker
Sterling Leach Devera Parkes
Deering Byrne Hughes Marshall
Midson McLeod
Northampton Town, without a league win since the first day of February are at home to Barnet rivals and promotion challengers, Stevenage; Lincoln City, with just two points from the last 9 matches, travel to Oxford United and Hereford are at home to Bradford. By Saturday evening it is possible that Barnet might have been relegated but it is also possible that staying up will, at last, be in our own