Martin Allen says that he is expecting his players to get supporters off their seats on Saturday, as Barnet entertain Forest Green Rovers in a top-of-the-table clash at The Hive tomorrow.

Speaking ahead of the game, the manager brought supporters up to speed with the latest injury situation having had two players missing last week before seeing Graham Stack suffer a wound to his arm in an accident before kick-off and finishing the game with ten men after Charlie MacDonald had to be withdrawn:

“Charlie will be out for a little while – he has got a problem with his knee and his calf so he is not fit. Graham Stack has got stitches but he will be fine. Yiadom and Togwell had late fitness tests last week – they weren’t fit so obviously they couldn’t play.

“We have got fitness tests on Friday morning and then we will see how they are and see how they train today to see who is on it and who is at it. We may bring people back, we may put them on the bench.

“We left a couple out just to freshen things up and the ones that came in did very well so we have got a few dilemmas and I suppose after winning 3-1 it would be a big call to make some changes.”

With his captain missing, Martin was quick to praise new signing Michael Gash who came into the side last week and opened his account for the Bees with a brace against Altrincham:

“It has been a good week. I’m sure like with all the supporters, it was a big relief to get that win. We played a solid game without being too spectacular but we got the result and that is what is important.

“He will be pleased to get those goals. He attacked the ball well and led the line well. He had done very, very well in training so it was no surprise that he came up with those goals and that type of performance.

“It is a good signing that we made and I think that he is enjoying himself and thriving on the challenge of keeping his place there.”

“With another tough test again promotion-chasing Forest Green Rovers to come tomorrow, Martin says that he is relishing the run-in and

“It’s great, isn’t it? Normally when I’m at Barnet we are right at the bottom of the league and everyone is praying for a victory. It is a different scenario now for me and these players and this group that we have put together.

“I thought that the game against Grimsby was like watching magnolia paint dry, let’s be honest. We never really got at it and we weren’t really ‘me’.

“We have got to do something that is going to excite the crowd and stimulate and motivate and get the people here back buzzing again – that is the goal at the moment.

“I urged all of the supporters to get behind the players, but I think this time it has got to be the other way around. We have got to get the players to put in the performance that is going to make it good for our supporters to come and watch us play and have it.

“I remember those times back at Underhill where every time my team went out to play for those games to save us from relegation it was 110% from every player. The crowd got right behind them and the atmosphere used to be magic.

“We have had that here for a few games now – the crowds have been fantastic and the support has been getting bigger and bigger – but that responsibility has got to come from the players to get them off their seats and get them behind them to settle their nerves as well, because I’m sure that the supporters are a little bit worried as well at the moment.

“It is our responsibility and we have got a lot riding on it, and I am loving it to be honest!”

To watch the full interview with Martin, simply log in to Barnet Player here.