Managerless Leyton Orient are next up at The Hive on Saturday (kick-off 3pm) but Barnet head coach Martin Allen insists he won’t be thinking about the O’s current situation as he prepares for the fixture
Orient parted company with former Bee Andy Hessenthaler prior to Tuesday’s home game with EFL League Two leaders Plymouth Argyle, handing assistant Andy Edwards the reins on an interim basis.
Things went from bad to worse on Tuesday night at the Matchroom Stadium. Skipper Robbie Weir was dismissed after 20 seconds and the Pilgrims went in front after 11 minutes through Jimmy Spencer.
Debutant Jens Janse was the given his marching orders in the 14th minute to leave the O’s down to nine men with three quarters of the game remaining.
Plymouth sealed the win late on as Orient were forced to play with nine men for 75 minutes. But Allen stressed his focus remains on his own side ahead of Saturday’s London derby.
"What they do and how they play [does not worry us]," the Bees head coach said. "We have not got access to all that. We know people have been sent off but we have not got scouts or reports.
"As always we prepare ourselves and put out our best team to go up against the opposition – however they may play – and focus on putting in a good performance ourselves.
"That has always been the key since I have been here: perform well ourselves, do us proud, give everything you have got and whatever will be will be.
Barnet’s list of absentees is shrinking and there was more good news ahead of the O’s visit.
"Michael Gash was here the other day which was nice to see," said Allen. "James Pearson is progressing well in the gym and Gavin Hoyte trained with the first team for the first time on Wednesday, so it was good to see Gavin out there.
"Sam Muggleton had a recurrance before the Portsmouth game, so that is why he didn’t play at Portsmouth.Â
"Tommo, after playing down at Newport, banged knees with someone in training and his knee was all swollen. He’s rested that for ten days so hopefully he should be back training next week."
You can watch Martin’s full video interview, in which he discusses Morecambe, Mauro Vilhete, Jamie Stephens and Justin Amaluzor, below:
