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Next Up: Underhill
Next Up: Underhill

Barnet v Grimsby Preview

By: Kevin Dolan
Date: 04/12/2006

AFTER a 10 day break, Grimsby Town make the trip to Underhill to take on fellow strugglers Barnet, aiming to build on the victory against Accrington.

Home > 2006-2007 Season > Previews > Barnet (a)


The Opposition

Overview
Barnet were first promoted to the football league in 1991 and despite proving themselves to be competent at this level, were narrowly relegated back to the Conference in 2001. A number of big name managers including Ray Clemence, Alan Mullery, Peter Shreeves and Martin Allen have all tried their luck in the last 10 years, but it wasn’t until the appointment of Paul Fairclough (left) that the club started making progress again.

Fairclough took over towards the end of the 2003/04 season, steering them to the play offs, but losing to Shrewsbury in the semi finals. However, they did go one better the next season, comfortably winning the Conference by 12 points. The Bees also started last season well, topping the table in August, before a run of 11 games without a win signalled a season of fighting relegation. Crucially Barnet kept themselves above the relegation zone all throughout the season and 16 points from their last 10 games saw them finish 18th, 5 points clear of relegated Oxford. After such a struggle last season and with ongoing financial and ground problems, The Bees are again one of the favourites for the drop.

The Team
Barnet currently lie in 19th place in League 2, one point ahead of Town. Their season has fluctuated in peaks and troughs so far and a five match unbeaten run in September was followed by three points from a possible 21. The Bees have won four of their last five games and defeat to Bristol Rovers in their last league outing ended a run of three successive league wins. On Saturday they recorded a hugely impressive 4-1 win against Northampton (after trailing at half time) to advance to the third round of the FA Cup. Their home league form reads won 3, drawn 3, lost 3 and on paper their defence looks the problem having conceded 14 goals in four consecutive home matches earlier in the season, including a 5-0 humbling from Lincoln.

Top scorer is Tresor Kandol with 13 goals, but he has recently joined Leeds on loan with a view to a permanent move. Ex-Mariner Paul Warhurst made Barnet his 15th club in the summer, but is likely to be on the bench. Other experienced players at the club are ex-Gillingham player manager Andy Hessenthaler (left) and captain Ian Hendon who has played for 9 league teams. Guilano Grazioli scored 29 goals in the promotion season, but has struggled with injury since.

Key Player
Luckily for Town, Barnet have key players missing for one reason or another, with half of their first choice 11 unavailable. Despite a very successful loan spell at Carlisle, Brazilian Magno Vieira (left) was released by Wigan in 2005 and passport problems stopped him signing for the Cumbrians. He then took a year out of football before joining Barnet in the summer. He has four goals so far this season including one against Northampton at the weekend.

Recent Form

TownBarnet
WAccrington(h)2-0
LNorthampton(h)0-2 (FAC)
DWycombe(a)1-1
DNorthampton(a)0-0 (FAC)
LMK Dons(h)1-3
Currently 21st in League Two.
WNorthampton(h)4-1 (FAC)
LBristol R(a)0-2
WRochdale(h)3-2
WGainsborough(a)3-1 (FAC)
WHartlepool(a)1-0
Currently 19th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownBarnet
Peter Bore5
Gary Jones5
Kandol11
Hendon5

Team News

TownBarnet

  • Paul Bolland is struggling with a bruised foot suffered in the Accrington game.

  • John McDermott and Isaiah Rankin should both be fit for selection after shaking off knocks.
  • Ian Hendon is suspended for 1 game after his fifth booking of the season on Saturday.

  • Andy Hessenthaler missed the Northampton game with a calf injury and is again likely to miss out, whilst midfielder Dean Sinclair is also doubtful with a hamstring injury.
  • Probable Teams

    TownBarnet
    1Phil Barnes
    20Gary Croft
    5Nick Fenton
    6Justin Whittle
    3Tom Newey
    17Peter Till
    4Gary Harkins
    11Anthony Pulis
    23Nick Hegarty
    19Gary Jones
    14Martin Paterson
    18Lee Harrison
    17Joe Devera
    14Ismail Yakubu
    3Simon King
    5Adam Gross
    23Barry Cogan
    TBAAdam Birchall
    2Nick Bailey
    20Jason Puncheon
    21Magno Vieira
    7Liam Hatch

    Subs

    TownBarnet
    13Robert Murray
    2John McDermott
    16Danny Boshell
    22Danny North
    12Isaiah Rankin
    1Ross Flitney
    19Nicky Nicolau
    16Paul Warhurst
    11Richard Graham
    6Anthony Charles

    Head to Head

    Last season was the first time The Mariners played Barnet and so far Town have a 100% record without conceding a goal.

    P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 4 A 0

    Barnet Head-to-Head (not on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Town’s first ever trip to Underhill came at the start of last season when on-loan Calvin Andrew scored his only goal for the club seconds after half time to give The Mariners a 1-0 victory.

    Barnet0 - 1Grimsby
      Andrew 46

    Barnet Team: Tynan, Hendon (Damien Batt, 81), King, Charles, Gross (Roache, 86), Strevens (Hatch, 66), Bailey, Lee, Sinclair, Graham, Grazioli
    Subs (not used): Flitney, Bowditch

    Grimsby Team: Mildenhall, Whittle, Ramsden (Croft, 73), Jones, McDermott, Kalala, Bolland (sent off 88), Parkinson, Newey (Andrew, 45), Reddy (Gritton, 45), Jones
    Subs: (not used) Downey, Barwick

    Attendance: 2,447  Report

    Prediction

    Barnet 1-2 Town

    Reader's POMs

    Directions

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