MATCH PREVIEW: Shrewsbury Town

Tomorrow (Saturday), Barnet entertain Shrewsbury Town at Underhill in a League Two match. On Tuesday night, Barnet were unlucky to go out in the Carling Cup to Watford, while the Shrews went out on penalties to Ipswich Town having drawn 3-3. The Shrews goals came from former Aldershot striker, Jake Robinson, Dave Hibbert and Shane Cansdell-Sherriff.

Last Saturday, while the Bees lost at Lincoln, Shrewsbury defeated League Two newcomers, Burton Albion 3-1 at home with goals from Robinson, Hibbert and WBA loannee, Joss Labadie.

Jake Robinson has made a fine start for the Shrews having scored in both matches so far following his move from Brighton where he was released at the end of last season. Robinson is well known to most Barnet fans from Conference days when he had a long loan spell at Aldershot, as he did last season.

The summer has seen a number of new arrivals as well as Robinson. One of the most impressive is striker, Nathan Elder from Brentford. Elder's goals helped the other Bees win the League Two championship last season. Also arrived is the experienced former Oldham and Peterborough defender, Dean Holden, keeper, Chris Neal from Preston, the experienced former Mansfield and Bristol Rovers midfield player, Craig Disley as well as New Zealand international striker, Kris Bright and Labadie on loan from WBA.

The biggest departure from the club in the summer was leading scorer, Grant Holt who ha only joined in the summer of 2008 fro £170,000 from Nottingham Forest. He scored 20 league goals last term but has now moved to League One club, Norwich City for a rumoured £400,000.

Since Shrewsbury came up from the Conference in 2004, their fortunes have been mixed. In their first season back in the league, 2004/05, they finished 21^st, just two place off relegation though they were 11 points clear. In 2005/06, they fared rather better finishing 10^th just 5 points off the play-offs. The following year they finished 7^th but failed to win the play-offs, a feat they repeated last season. In between, in 2007/08, they finished a lowly 18^th.

Shrewsbury will be looking to go one further this season and are one of the favourites for automatic promotion but they will have to make sure that Grant Holt's goals are replaced, though Jake Robinson has made a good start.

Last season, both matches between the Bees and Shrewsbury ended as draws with barnet having been 2-0 up at Shrewsbury through two John O'Flynn goals before the Shrews fought back to draw 2-2. The match at Underhill ended goalless.

Gary Breen should be back in contention for the match against Shrewsbury and manager, Ian Hendon will have to decide on whether or not to recall him in place of either Ismail Yakubu or Daniel Leach. Joe Devera is also pushing to get his right back spot back from Ryan O'Neill who has impressed since joining the Bees. Hendon will also be thinking of pairing Paul Furlong up front with Jake Hyde after the former Swindon striker impressed on Tuesday Night. Albert Jarrett or Yannick Bolasie may have to be satisfied with a place on the bench tomorrow.

Shrewsbury do not appear to have any injury problems and midfield player, Steve Leslie is available after suspension.

Barnet need to start getting amongst the goals and will be looking to start clocking up some league points, but I think that they may have to wait a little longer for a win and I am predicting a 1-1 draw.