MATCH PREVIEW | TRANMERE ROVERS

The Bees return to The Hive for the second time in four days as they look to add another three points to the board following the dramatic 3-2 victory over Oldham Athletic, with Tranmere Rovers making the journey to the capital for the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides in London.

Dean Brennan’s side produced what the Bees’ Head Coach described as a ‘smash and grab win’ against the Latics in Saturday’s early kick-off, making it three wins in the last four league games.

The visitors opened the scoring after just ten minutes after a dominant display early on, but thanks to some fine saves from Cieran Slicker, the momentum swung in the Bees’ favour, allowing an Anthony Hartigan free-kick to be poked in by Ryan Glover after it was flashed back across goal by Danny Collinge.

Another free-kick from our captain hit the hand of Tom Pett, which saw our new number 20 Kabongo Tshimanga smash the ball into the roof of the net from the spot to give us the lead at half-time.

Nik Tavares was sent off halfway through the second 45, which gave the visitors the hunger to get an equaliser through Jack Stevens, but heroics from our newest recruit Tshimanga in the 87^th minute and a brace on his debut saw the Bees emerge 3-2 winners.

Barnet’s last five results:

 Barnet FC 3-2 Oldham Athletic

Grimsby Town 1-0 Barnet FC 

Barnet FC 2-1 Crawley Town

Bristol Rovers 0-2 Barnet FC

Newport County 0-0 Barnet FC

Tranmere Rovers:

Tonight’s visitors sit 17^th in the table and have lost their last three league outings, conceding nine goals.

The Rovers have only won two of their last eight Sky Bet League Two matches and are yet to pick up any points this year.

On Saturday, Andy Crosby’s side lost 4-2 away at Cambridge United, despite taking the lead twice in the encounter.

Tranmere took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Dylan, before an excellent strike from the U’s Shayne Lavery just before the hour mark levelled proceedings.

Just six minutes later, Charlie Whitaker fired the visitors ahead, but their lead only lasted four minutes before Kell Watts headed home his first of the afternoon.

The momentum swung into Cambridge’s favour for the remainder of the game, with Watts securing his brace and Ben Knight rounding off another three points for Neil Harris’ side.

Tranmere Rover’s last five results:

Cambridge United 4-2 Tranmere Rovers

Tranmere Rovers 1-3 Walsall

Tranmere Rovers 0-2 Bromley

Harrogate Town 0-2 Tranmere Rovers

Tranmere Rovers 1-3 Barrow

 In the opposition dugout:

Andy Crosby remains in charge of the Rovers, despite a dip in form and has spoken a lot about his side’s defensive troubles following the defeat to Cambridge United.

The 52-year-old has been without Starman Omari Patrick since late November, with the forward returning to the squad on Saturday, and Crosby has alluded to the fact that the injury list at the club is gradually shortening.

Crosby has added two new faces to the squad in the window, with young Everton loanee Will Tamen coming into the backline and 21-year-old forward Dylan Jones on loan from Norwich City to bolster the attacking options for the Rovers.

One to watch:

Charlie Whittaker got himself on the score sheet on Saturday for the Rovers, taking his season tally to nine with three assists on top of that.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is most effective in central attacking areas, with his ball control and skillfull passing making him a valuable member of the Rovers’ midfield.

Last time the two sides met:

The Bees put in one of their most complete performances of the season at Prenton Park in October, putting two past the Rovers and also keeping a clean sheet in the clubs’ first ever competitive meeting.

Hartigan slotted a lovely ball through to Lee Ndlovu for the opener in the first-half, with Adam Senior getting on the end of a cross from Danny Collinge to double our advantage five minutes before the break.

Senior could’ve got on the end of a ball from Romoney Crichlow early in the second-half for a third, but instead directed his header to the floor and Collinge did well to keep Omari Patrick quiet in the second 45 as the Rovers’ main attacking outlet.

COYB