Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s National League clash between Barnet and Forest Green Rovers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Barnet will attempt to record a second straight victory when they play host to Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the visitors will be looking to continue their unbeaten start after taking four points from the first two matches of the National League season.
Match preview
© Imago
Barnet are competing in the fifth tier for the seventh consecutive season after experiencing playoff disappointment last term.
They may have finished in second spot, but Barnet’s promotion bid came to an abrupt end with a 4-0 home defeat in the playoff semi-final against Solihull Moors.
The Bees experienced more disappointment in the opening game of the new season as they fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat in their away meeting with Halifax Town.
However, Dean Brennan‘s side managed to produce a positive response in Saturday’s away game against Ebbsfleet United, with Callum Stead netting a brace to fire his side to a 2-1 victory.
Barnet will now turn their focus to their first competitive outing at the Hive this season, and they will be looking to repeat the success of last term when they collected 52 points from 23 matches to end the campaign with the second-best home record in the division.
After suffering back-to-back relegations, Forest Green are featuring in their first National League campaign since 2016-17.
Steve Cotterill, who took over the reins in January, is tasked with securing an immediate return to the Football League in his first full season and his first experience as a National League manager.
The Forest Green boss will be content with the start his side have made to the new season after his team play out a 3-3 draw with Aldershot before thrashing Boston United at the weekend.
Christian Doidge and Liam Sercombe scored two goals apiece to fire Forest Green to a comprehensive 4-0 win in Saturday’s away fixture.
They will now turn their focus to Tuesday’s away trip, with the visitors looking to replicate the 3-1 victory they recorded in their most recent National League meeting with Barnet in March 2015.
Barnet National League form:
Forest Green Rovers National League form:
Team News
Brennan could be tempted to opt for consistency and select the same Barnet lineup that started Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Ebbsfleet.
Stead, who netted 15 league goals last season, will offer one of the home side’s main goal threats after netting a brace at the weekend.
As for the visitors, they are expected to be without captain Jordan Moore-Taylor, who is working his way back to fitness following an injury issue.
After seeing his side sweep past Boston, Cotterill is likely to name an unchanged lineup for Tuesday’s trip to the capital.
Having scored three goals in two matches, Doidge will look to continue his fine start to the season when he lines up alongside Kyle McAllister.
Barnet possible starting lineup:
Hayes; Kizzi, Oluwo, Kenlock; Kanu, Hartigan, Clifford, Coker, Brunt; Stead, Kabamba
Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:
Ward; Robson, Tozer, Inniss; Knowles, Long, Sercombe, Osadebe, May; McAllister, Doidge
We say: Barnet 1-2 Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green have scored seven goals across their first two matches, and we think that firepower will help propel them to all three points in Tuesday’s away contest.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.