Gary Breen to make Bees debut at Darlington

Barnet travel this weekend to Darlington looking for their first win since the 4-3 away win at Rotherham in October. Barnet are currently 20^th in the table, while Darlington are 6^th just two points below Shrewsbury in 3^rd place. On loan strikers, Richie Foran and Billy Clarke have been among the goals for Darlo as has another on loan striker well known to Bees fans, Liam Hatch. Hatch, much loved in his time at Underhill, has scored 5 goals in 12 league games since his move from Peterborough on loan and has recovered his injury in the FA Cup match at Droylesden, when it was at first feared that Liam had broken his neck.

Darlington have been on a relatively poor run themselves, having taken just one point from their last three league matches. Last Saturday, they lost 1-0 at Morecambe and the previous Saturday, they surprisingly lost 2-1 at home to Chester. They also recently went out to Blue Square North club, Droylesden in the FA Cup 1^st round and lost to Rotherham in midweek, on penalties, in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

Darlington will be without centre back, Alan White who is serving a one match ban after receiving five yellow cards, while striker Pawal Abbott is a long term injury absentee.

The Bees, meanwhile, will have taken heart from their promising 2-2 draw last weekend at home to Gillingham and will be hoping to build on that performance at Darlington and in the other two Christmas matches at home to Aldershot and away at Bournemouth. Barnet will be missing Joe Devera who has been out injured since the FA Cup match at home to Rochdale. However, Devera, who was voted supporters' player of the year, last season, should be fit for the Boxing Day encounter with Aldershot.

French centre-back, Jeremy de Magalhaes needs a cartilage operation and could be out for up to six weeks. His place in the centre of defence will be taken by new player-coach, Gary Breen. The former Wolves and Republic of Ireland centre-back is expected to make his Barnet debut at Darlington. Meanwhile, Abu Ogogo returns at right back after missing the Gillingham match through suspension and having signed on loan from Arsenal for another month. Also back from suspension is left back, Kenny Gillet. Michael Townsend has had his loan deal from Cheltenham Town extended to January 17^th, while Nicky Nicolau has signed a new contract until the end of the season.

Barnet's back four at Darlington could see three changes from the Gillingham game with Ogogo and Gillet replacing Yakubu and Nicolau and Breen replacing the injured de Magalhaes. Michael Townsend is likely to keep his place at centre-back. Manager, Paul Fairclough will have to decide if he keeps Michael Leary and Max Porter in the centre of midfield after both players impressed last Saturday. This would mean leaving player of the month for November, Neal Bishop out again after he was rested last Saturday. Barnet's side at Darlington is likely to be; Beckwith; Ogogo, Breen, Townsend, Gillet; Adomah, Leary, Porter, Deverdics; Birchall, O'Flynn. Subs: Kadoch, Nicolau, Bishop, Medley, Akurang. Former captain, Ismail Yakubu may not even make the substitutes bench.