Tonight Barnet entertain local Hertfordshire rivals, Stevenage in the first ever football league meeting between the two sides. Stevenage were promoted from the Blue Square premier last season and have done quite well in their first season in League Two under manager, Graham Westley.
Stevenage are currently lying 10th, just two points off of the play off positions and have won two, drawn three and lost two on their travels so far so they come to Underhill in good shape and their fans will be confident of claiming local bragging rights tonight.
Barnet have yet another addition to the squad in the shape of former Stevenage winger, Craig Dobson who has also had a previous spell at Underhill during or Conference winning season. However, Dobson is likely to start on the bench, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Mark Stimson makes a change at the back where Joe Devera’s form at right back this season has been very indifferent. George Francomb could move to right back with and Devera either move across to centre back or drop to the bench.
In midfield, Rossi Jarvis could start in place of former Stevenage man, Mark Hughes after impressing in the second half at Shrewsbury and this could mean a place in the starting line up for Mauro Vilhete alongside Kevin Gallen with Stimson going for two up front at home. The Barnet Side this evening could look a bit like this:
Cole
Francomb Devera Uddin (or Kamdjo) Parkes
Marshall Jarvis Southam Byrne
Gallen Vilhete
Barnet have no new injury problems, thank heavens, and Steve Kabba and Grant Basey could return for the FA Cup tie at home to Charlton on Saturday. Stevenage may have striker, Ben May available to make his first start for the club tonight.
The defeat at Shrewsbury, coupled with other results, has seen the Bees slide to the bottom of the table and they desperately need a win tonight to start climbing up the table to safety. Performances have generally been quite good at home, but silly mistakes and some naivety have cost the team points, something the club cannot afford to continue happening. A good performance in the second half at the Prostar Stadium at the weekend was ruined by two awful defensive mistakes in the first half that gave the side too much to do to rectify the situation.
The Bees have won three out of the last five league matches at home but have also lost games against Rotherham and Bradford City which, in reality, they could have won or at least got something out of. Barnet have a habit of winning one game at home and then losing the next but with the club’s, and Stimson’s, dreadful away form, Barnet cannot afford to be that inconsistent at home and will be looking to get back to back wins at home for the first time this season.