Match Preview | Barnet (H)

Gavin Cowan takes charge of Salop for the first time today when we welcome Barnet to the Croud Meadow. 

Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s opposition ahead of the match.

Key Players:

New signing Kabongo Tshimanga made an immediate impact for Barnet on his debut last Saturday, with the former Chesterfield man bagging a brace against Oldham in a 3-2 win.

He will look to build on the four league goals he scored for Crawley in the first half of the season.

Midfielder Mark Shelton, in his second season at the club, has proven to be a dangerous asset in attack, scoring six times for The Bees so far this season, including the winner in their midweek win over Tranmere.

Defender Adam Senior, signed from Halifax in the summer, has proven to be one of Dean Brennan’s best signings this year. The former AFC Telford loanee has been one of League Two’s deadliest defenders this season, scoring five times.

The Bees also have plenty of experience on the bench, with 33-year-old Brit Assombolonga often used as an attacking threat late in matches.

The Manager:

Dean Brennan is one of the longest-serving managers in League Two, having taken over at Barnet in September 2021.

After guiding The Bees to the play-offs in his first two seasons, he secured the National League title last year, bringing the club back into the Football League after a seven-year hiatus.

Form:

Barnet is one of the league’s form teams at the moment. The Bees have won four of their last five matches, though only one of those wins has come on the road. They come into the game after securing back-to-back home wins against Oldham and Tranmere in the last week.

Dean Brennan will be hoping the club have an outside chance at the play-offs, with the team currently five points behind seventh-placed Swindon.

Head-to-Head Record:

Saturday’s game will be our 27th encounter with Barnet since the club arrived in the Football League in 1992. Our first victory over The Bees was a 1-0 win at Gay Meadow in March 1993, with the London team failing to secure a win over us for our first five encounters.

Overall, Barnet have defeated us five times, while we have won 10 and 11 have ended in a draw. We are unbeaten against Barnet in our last ten encounters, and have won six of our last seven matches.