Boxing Day action this year sees the Bees make the journey to South Wales to take on bottom of the table Newport County.
After suffering defeat away at Chesterfield last time out on the road, Dean Brennan’s side will be looking to start another impressive unbeaten run away from home starting at Rodney Parade on Friday.
The Bees suffered defeat at the hands of Salford City on Saturday, with Dean Brennan labelling Karl Robinson’s Ammies’ as ‘the best side we’ve played’ with an ‘outstanding attacking line’ at The Hive.
After a fairly even first-half with nothing to separate the two sides, Salford score two in five minutes to put themselves ahead the break.
Cieran Slicker parried Josh Austerfield’s initial effort before not being able to recover for the rebound which was tucked into the right-hand corner of the goal.
Nnamdi Ofoborh’s attempted clearance when Callum Cessay was through on target instead sent the ball rolling past Slicker to double the visitors’ advantage.
The biggest chance of the first 45 for Barnet came when Callum Stead found himself with only Matt Young in the Salford net to beat, but he instead laid the ball out to Britt Assombalonga and the opportunity faded.
Salford struck early in the second-half and the Bees grabbed what was only a consolation goal through substitute Oli Hawkins and created numerous chances in the closing stages of the tie, but the late surge didn’t help stage a comeback.
Barnet’s last five results:
Barnet FC 1-3 Salford City
Chesterfield FC 3-1 Barnet FC
Barnet FC 4-0 Bristol Rovers
Barnet fc 1-1 Harrogate Town
Gillingham FC 1-1 Barnet FC
Newport County:
As we edge closer to the halfway stage of the 2025/26 Sky Bet League Two campaign, more eyes start to take a closer look at how things are shaping up with the 24 teams in the fourth tier this season, with Exiles’ fans hoping for a turnaround in the second-half of the campaign to avoid the drop to the National League.
After finishing just above the drop zone last season and a huge overhaul of outgoings and incomings over the summer, Newport would’ve hoped for an improvement on the previous campaign, but instead find themselves sat at the bottom with only 13 points after 21 games, four points off Harrogate Town who sit above them.
The Welsh outfit have been a consistent member of League Two since their return to the EFL in 2013, with possible relegation come May seeing them end a 13-year stay in the fourth tier.
Saturday saw Christian Fuchs’ team suffer defeat away at Colchester United, with the U’s putting four past them at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Leicester loanee Sammy Baybrooke denied the hosts a clean sheet with a goal of the season contender from inside his own half on the 66th minute, but the Exiles were already 3-0 down at that point and Colchester added a fourth in added time.
Newport County’s last five results:
Colchester United 4-1 Newport County
Newport County 0-2 Fleetwood Town
Crewe Alexandra 2-2 Newport County
Boreham Wood 3-0 Newport County (FA Cup R2)
Newport County 2-2 Barrow AFC
In the opposition dugout:
Following the dismissal of David Hughes from the dugout, the Exiles’ board took a chance on former Premier League winner Christian Fuchs as the suitable replacement to help the club turn things around.
The 39-year-old Austrian coached joined the club in November and has since guided them to a draw at home and on the road in their last five outings.
Entering his first senior coaching role last month, Fuchs’ only prior experience was as Charlotte FC’s assistant coach in the MLS.
His role in North Carolina focused a lot on player development and mentoring young pros, which has helped as he’s transitioned into the group with the youngest average age of their regular starting XI in League Two.
Christian’s leadership skills that were evident throughout his playing career may help him guide Newport to add more points on the board and climb the table.
One to watch:
In a side that’s struggled to find any rhythm this campaign, players have struggled to stand out in South Wales, but one young lad who’s found himself playing consistent football at 21 years old is Foxes’ loanee Sammy Baybrooke.
The youngster already has proven leadership experience in the England youth set-up which is showing in his confidence on a weekly basis at Newport.
As a midfielder, Baybrooke is able to help link-up play from defence to attack, with his tackles and interceptions contributing to defensive actions and his composure in tight spaces and press resistance enabling him to also be effective in the final third.
After scoring an unstoppable strike against Colchester United last time out, there’s no doubt the Leicester-born lad is hungry for more.
Last time the two sides met:
The Exiles were the first visitors to the Hive for a competitive fixture before the 2025/26 campaign got underway, with the Bees facing them in the preliminary round of the Carabao Cup.
Newport found themselves 2-0 up and it looked like they would go on to win the tie in normal time, but second-half added time strikes from Rhys Browne and Ryan Galvin two minutes apart sent the game to a penalty shootout, with the visitors coming out on top.
In the league, the two sides last met at Rodney Parade in the 2017/18 League Two campaign, with two goals in two minutes from John Akinde and Shaquille Coulthirst seeing the Bees come back from 1-0 down to take the three points back to the capital.
COYB