This afternoon sees the latest version of a ‘must have win’ game at Underhill with Crewe Alexandra today’s visitors. The Bees’ stunning, and unexpected, 4-1 win at Burton Albion last Saturday, following on from the bravely won point the previous week against runaway leaders, Chesterfield, has renewed hopes that Barnet, still three points away from safety, can yet avoid dropping out of the football league in May. But there is still a huge task to be undertaken if league football is to be played at Underhill next August with Barnet needing to win at least three out of their last six matches to have any chance of staying up and probably needing to gain as many as 12 points from their last 6 matches to ensure league safety.
Since the return of Martin Allen though, it cannot be denied that there is a fresh buzz around Underhill and that he has given the fans at least some hope for the future. Even if relegation should still be the fate that awaits the club, the prospect of Allen and Guiliano Grazioli remaining at the club in the longer term would give more hope to many fans that life in the Blue Square Premier may not be as bleak as it had promised just a few weeks ago. Sadly, if Barnet do go down the thoughts are likely to be the ‘what if’ variety with many Bees’ fans. What if Allen had arrived earlier? What if he had been appointed last summer rather than Mark Stimson?
Returning to this afternoon’s match, it would appear that one change from the Burton game will be forced on Allen, as Mark Hughes will miss the game because of suspension, having collected too many yellow cards; perhaps not a surprise to the Underhill faithful. Allen will have to choose from a plethora of midfield players with either club captain, Glen Southam or Sam Cox likely to get the nod.
Otherwise, the team, much more buoyant after the last two games, is likely to be unchanged as Barnet look to win two league games in a row for the first time since the autumn of 2009. This will, clearly, not be easily against a talented side that thumped Cheltenham 8-1 last Saturday and are still looking at gaining a possible play-off place this season. Crewe are currently still 7 points off of the play-offs and anything but a win for them would leave their promotion chances looking extremely remote so this afternoon’s game is important for both sides. Crewe’s early season away form was good with only two defeats on their travels in 11 games. However, they have not won away since early in January and have lost all of their last 9 away league matches which will give the Bees hope that they can take all three points from today’s match.
Meanwhile, relegation rivals, Hereford were deducted 3 points for playing an ineligible player in their win over Torquay United earlier in the season. They are now 21st in the table, five points ahead of Barnet having played the same number of games. The Bulls have a very hard game this afternoon at home to leaders, Chesterfield who are moving ever closer to ensuring League One football next season. Burton travel to Morecambe, who are still not clear of the relegation struggle themselves, Northampton, without a win since Gary Johnson’s appointment are at home to promotion contenders, Bury, while bottom of the table, Stockport County face another promotion challenger in Stevenage. It will be very interesting indeed to see how the bottom of League Two looks at 5pm. A win for Barnet and defeat for Burton could see the Bees out of the bottom two for the first time in weeks. Let’s all hope so. Come on you Bees!!!
