In the midst of another good team performance against Port Vale you could not help notice David Stephens in the centre of Barnet’s defence. 

The number of times he curtailed an attack from visitors Port Vale was simply countless.

He headed the ball away, made interceptions, played the ball into midfield and was always there to read the situation and nullify the danger.

His height obviously gives him a head start when it comes to winning aerial battles but he is becoming increasingly influential on the ball.

There were several moments when he broke out from the back four, surged into midfield and played the ball out wide before linking up with those further forward; a sure sign of his increasing confidence.

Due to his defensive dominance we also saw very little of the much-touted strike force of Lee Hughes and Tom Pope with the former being substituted early in the second-half.

The back four that the Bees are putting out looks a solid outfit and as ever Graham Stack was in commanding form.

We do not look like shipping goals and frankly that is something you could not say was the case earlier on in the season.

Stephens’ partnership with Andy Iro has been key to this development and Edgar Davids spoke of trying to keep the pairing together post-match if an agreement could be reached that suited all of the parties involved. 

We must wish all well with this mission.