The Bees travel North to Manchester for tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off in Sky Bet League Two action, to face a squad-sapped Salford City side at the Peninsula Stadium.
The Bees recorded back-to-back victories last week, with Tuesday night’s win at Accrington Stanley followed by a second consecutive 1-0 victory on home soil against a commanding Chesterfield team.
The Spireites overloaded the Barnet box from minute one and were unlucky not to find the opener early on, but none of their entries into the final third ended up on target, with Cieran Slicker not being called into action to make a save.
The Bees came close when Idris Kanu and Kabongo Tshimanga combined, with the latter almost poking home a delivery into the back post, before captain Danny Collinge sent an effort bouncing off the bar.
Dean Brennan’s side continued the momentum into the second 45 and it was Nnamdi Ofoborh who struck 5 minutes after the hour mark hit. The build-up play involved Ben Winterburn, Callum Stead and Diallang Jaiyesimi in the final stages, before our number 28 fired the ball into the top corner from inside the area.
Slicker was only forced into one save at the Hive last Saturday, as Chesterfield searched for an equaliser, but Ofoborh’s goal proved to be the matchwinner.
Barnet’s last five results:
Barnet FC 1-0 Chesterfield
Accrington Stanley 0 – 1 Barnet FC
Colchester Utd 4 – 1 Barnet FC
Barnet FC 1 – 2 Swindon Town
Barnet FC 0 – 0 Cheltenham Town
Salford City:
The Ammies will be aiming to get something out of tomorrow’s game with the home advantage, despite having a depleted squad due to injuries and having only won one out of their last five league outings.
Karl Robinson’s side sit one place and two points above the Bees but are 22nd in the current form table after only managing to pick up one win since late January.
The Ammies recorded a 1-0 win on the road at Colchester United on Saturday following four straight defeats but were unable to continue the momentum into their Tuesday night test against Grimsby Town.
Salford started the stronger side in Cleethorpes under the Blundell Park lights, with January signing Ryan Graydon and Spurs loanee Alfie Dorrington coming close in the opening stages.
Left winger Kelly Nmai was forced off the pitch just 14 minutes into the game, which proved to be a turning point, with the Mariners going on to score three goals in nine minutes before the break.
Despite Cole Stockton netting his second in as many games shortly after the restart and having other opportunities in the second 45, Salford left Lincolnshire empty-handed and with another two further injury woes.
Salford City’s last five results:
Grimsby Town 3-1 Salford City
Colchester United 0-1 Salford City
Salford City 1-2 Shrewsbury Town
Cheltenham Town 3-2 Salford City
Salford City 1-3 Newport County
In the opposition dugout:
Karl Robinson has now overseen the Ammies for over two years and is hoping his side can leap into League One despite the recent rut in results.
Following the loss on Tuesday night, the 45-year-old stated that everyone was collectively taking the blame for the dip in form, putting a positive win on the miserable night on the East coast, saying “We ended up winning the second half 1-0.”
Karl has had to cope with the lack of depth in his side over recent weeks, but the club did bring in former Fleetwood forward Ryan Graydon in January, who’s added experience to the attacking line and is already off the mark for the club having played every game since leaving Lancashire.
One to watch:
Cole Stockton has scored two goals in Salford’s last couple of games, coming off the bench and scoring the match-winner at the JobServe Community Stadium just nine minutes after entering the action.
The 31-year-old has netted over 130 goals across his 15-year-long b career to date, with his vision and positioning on the pitch making him a target man for deliveries into the box.
The experienced striker can also use his frame and strength well to hold up the ball in certain situations, and he plays well alongside athletic wingers who will do the running down the flanks before getting the ball into a desired area.
Last time the sides met:
The Ammies came to The Hive for the Bees’ final home fixture of 2025 and took the three points back to Salford.
Karl Robinson’s side scored twice in the space of five minutes before the break; adding a third just ten minutes into the second-half to go 3-0 up.
Oli Hawkins made sure Matty Young didn’t add another clean sheet to his tally when he sent an effort into the bottom left corner from very close-range for a Bees’ consolation goal, in a game where Dean Brennan said “They’re the best side we’ve played.”
Barnet have only come up against the Ammies on three previous occasions, with the only meeting in Manchester seeing a 0-0 draw being played out in the National League seven years ago.
The amber and black army are yet to record a win against the Manchester club, so with momentum on our side and an away backing, it’s set up to be an exciting tie.
COYB