Barnet will be looking to make it three consecutive wins in the National League when they host relegation-threatened Torquay United on Saturday afternoon.

The Hive Stadium faithful have seen their side climb into the top seven after a promising run of results, whereas United fans have seen their team concede five times in each of their last two matches in all competitions.

Match preview

After two seasons of poor finishes in the National League, Barnet are performing like promotion candidates this campaign as they look to end a five-year association with the fifth tier.

The Bees have won their last three matches in all competitions, the most recent of those being a 1-0 victory over Chelmsford City which secured a second-round FA Cup tie against Accrington Stanley next weekend.

League matters have been going just as well for the London-based club, having achieved back-to-back away wins against Altrincham and Oldham Athletic, firing themselves into the playoff positions with a two-point gap to eighth-placed Boreham Wood.

Dean Brennan's men have conceded just once in their last three league matches, a vast improvement from a run at the start of October which saw them allow 15 goals past them in three extraordinary fifth-tier fixtures.

Included in that spell was a 7-5 loss away at promotion-chasing Wrexham, a game that will go down as one of the greatest at this level and one of the most entertaining in Barnet's history despite them being on the losing side that day.

Supporters of Torquay United have not been starved of goals in recent matches, but unfortunately for them the majority have been fired in by their opposition as they look set to battle for fifth-tier safety this season.

United have conceded four or more goals on seven occasions so far this season, with the most recent of those coming in a 5-0 thumping at Pride Park against Derby County in an FA Cup first-round replay.

Just three days earlier Gary Johnson's men were smashed 5-1 at home to Chesterfield, a result which left them 23rd in the National League with a mere 14 points from their opening 19 clashes.

Torquay will have to improve on their attacking numbers away from Devon if they are to earn a rare three points on Saturday, having only managed four goals in nine away outings so far this season, with fellow-strugglers Oldham being the only team to score fewer goals on their travels.

Team News

Barnet are likely to name a similar starting XI to the one that defeated Chelmsford in the FA Cup on Monday night, with Idris Kanu looking to find the net for the third game running in all competitions.

One player that will be unable to feature on Saturday will be suspended defender Sam Woods, who received a straight red card for a very late challenge in the second half at Chelmsford last time out.

Torquay midfielder Kieron Evans is available for selection after his rib injury and has trained over the past week, whereas fellow Welshman Scott Smith has been told he needs to be patient as the amount of loan players permitted in a matchday squad continues to hinder his ability to be part of the acton in the National League.

Dean Moxey was not quite ready to appear off the bench for United at Pride Park in the week, but could play a part at Barnet on Saturday with the 36-year-old's experience vital in a youthful Torquay side.

Barnet possible starting lineup:
Walker; Wynter, Collinge, Okimo, Beard; Pritchard, Gorman, Flanagan; Kanu, Kabamba, De Havilland

Torquay United possible starting lineup:
Halstead; Donnellan, Ness, Ellis, Crowe; De Silva, Lapslie, Hall, Wearne; Goodwin, Jarvis

We say: Barnet 3-0 Torquay United

Barnet are looking good to finish this season in the playoffs and a home assignment against Torquay seems like the perfect game to win convincingly in front of the home faithful.

United have been conceding at an alarming rate over the past month and need to address those defensive issues in order to give themselves a chance of staying in the National League this year.

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Written by
Carter White

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