Introduction
• Barnet make the long trip west on Saturday to face Plymouth Argyle who currently sit bottom of Npower league Two.
• The Bees are currently on a four match unbeaten run and they are looking for their fourth clean sheet in five matches.
• Argyle have taken just one point from their last two games after a two 1-0 defeats against Oxford United and Northampton before Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against AFC Wimbledon.
• The beautiful city of Plymouth is the largest city in England not to have played host to top flight football.
• Seven points currently separate the bottom eight clubs in Npower League Two but a win would see Barnet move seven points clear of Plymouth.
Team news
Barnet Football Club
• Ricky Holmes (foot) and John Oster (hamstring) will not feature against the Pilgrims.
• Craig Beattie is also unlikely to feature after tweaking his hamstring in the 0-0 draw against Rochdale.
Plymouth Argyle
• Gozie Ugwu has extended his loan at Home Park until the 23 March 2013. The forward initially joined in January but due to an ankle injury he was only able to make his debut against Oxford United.
• Ruben Reid has also extended his stay with the along with Jason Banton who has scored three goals in his last four games. Banton will however face a late fitness test after leaving the field through injury against Wimbledon on Tuesday.
The opposition
• Plymouth Argyle were formed in 1886 and they play their home matches at Home Park.
• Since turning professional in 1903 the club has won a total of five Football League titles, Five Southern League titles and one Western League title.
• The club takes its nickname, The Pilgrims, from an English religious group that left Plymouth for the New World in 1620. The club crest features the Mayflower, the ship that carried the Pilgrims to Massachusetts.
• Argyle are managed by former Manchester City, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest midfielder John Sheridan.
• Sheridan, who also made 34 appearances for the Republic of Ireland, began his managerial career with Oldham Athletic in 2006 before joining Chesterfield three-years later.
• On January 6 2013 Sheridan replaced Carl Fletcher at Home Park signing a contract until the end of the 2012/13 season.
• Sheridan is assisted by former Motpellier, Valence and Argyle goalkeeper Romain Larrieu.
• The club’s main rivals are fellow Devonshire based sides Exeter City and Torquay United but they also have lesser rivalries with Bristol City and Bristol Rovers. Plymouth Argyle v Portsmouth is also known as the Dockland Derby.
Last time out
26 February 2013
Npower League Two
Barnet 2-0 Southend United
Barnet: Stack; Fuller, Stephens, N’Gala, Johnson; Kamdjo, Byrne, Davids; Vihete (Yiadom 74), Lopez; Hyde (Weston 83).
Subs not used: Brown, Gambin, Cowler, Allen, N’Toko.
Goals: Hyde 33, Lopez 83.
26 February 2013
Npower League Two
AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Plymouth Argyle
Opponent: Cole, Blanchard, Branston, Bhasera, Charles, Hourihane, Cox, Banton (Richards 33), Ugwu (Chadwick 65), Reid. Murray.
Subs not used: Chenoweth, Young, Wotten, Gurrueri, Cowan-Hall.
Goals: Banton 26.
Previous meeting
13 October 2012 – Barnet 1-4 Plymouth Argyle
• New joint-head coach Edgar Davids watched Plymouth secure a 4-1 over Barnet at Underhill to extend the Bees winless run to 14 games. With just two minutes played the Pilgrims took the lead via the spot as Rhys Griffths scored following a foul from Mark Byrne on Luke Young. Nine minutes later Maxime Blanchard made it 2-0 before David Stephens pulled one back for the Bees on 16 minutes. Paris Cowan-Hall headed home midway through the second-half before Young added a fourth in added time.
• Barnet Football Club: Stack, Fuller, Brown, Kamdjo, Stephens, Pearce, Byrne, Yiadom (Edgar 72), Holmes (Lowe 80), Hyde, John (Oster 15).
Subs not used: O’Brien, Johnson, Nurse, Lee.
Goal: Stephens 16.
• Plymouth Argyle: Cole, Berry, Blanchard, Purse, Griffiths, Hourihane, Young, Cowan-Hall, Griffiths (Chadwick 83), Madjo (Gurrieri 46), MacDonald Booked (Lennox 72).
Subs not used: Gilmartin. Lowry, Nelson, Richards
Goals: Griffths 2 (pen), Blanchard 11, Cowan-Hall 62, Young 90.
Background
• Barnet have faced Plymouth a total of 16 times, they have won four, drawn five and lost seven.
• The first meeting between the two sides came on the 17 November 1984 in the FA Cup at Home Park; it was a day to forget however for the Bees as the Pilgrims secured a 3-0 win.
• The first league meeting between the two sides came almost ten-years later in Division Two at Underhill, the match finished 0-0.
• Barnet finally secured a win against the Pilgrims at the ninth attempt when they secured a 1-0 win at Underhill courtesy of a Scott McGleish strike on 21 March 2000.
• Five months later the Bees got their first win at Home Park as they came from behind to take a 2-3 win. Sean McCarthy opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time but Tony Richards responded after 49 minutes before getting his second to make it 1-2 ten minutes later. Mark Arber made it 1-3 with 19 minutes to play and despite a Steve Guinan strike ten minutes from time the Bees held on for victory.
• The biggest win by either side is 4-1 and it is a score secured twice by Plymouth Argyle. On 14 November 1999 a Paul McGregor treble inspired the Pilgrims to a 4-1 win at Home Park and earlier this season they won 4-1 again at Underhill.
Last six meetings
13 October 2012 Barnet 1-4 Plymouth Argyle
14 February 2012 Plymouth Argyle 0-0 Barnet
13 September 2011 Barnet 2-0 Plymouth Argyle
27 January 2007 Barnet 0-2 Plymouth Argyle
20 September 2005 Barnet 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
3 March 2001 Barnet 1-1 Plymouth Argyle
Overall record v (all competitions) W 4 D 5 L 7
Referee
• Saturday’s referee is Mr Dean Whitestone.
• Mr Whitestone has taken charge of 29 games so far this season brandishing 93 yellow cards and three red.
• Seven of those cards came at Underhill when he took charge of Barnet’s 0-0 draw with Rotherham. Kamdjo and Pearce were cautioned for the Bees with Morgan, Taylor, Bradley and Pringle in the book for Rotherham. Alex Revell was sent off with ten minutes remaining.
• A fortnight later he was the man in the middle for his only Plymouth match this season as they secured a 2-1 win over Aldershot at Home Park.
• He is a vastly experienced referee and often officiates in the Championship, he has also taken charge of a Conference Play-Off final at Wembley.
• Mr Whitestone will be assisted by Simon Knapp and Paul Rees, the fourth official will be Mark Derrien.
General Information
• For information on how to book tickets and travel for Saturday’s match please click here.
•The weather forecast for Saturday in Plymouth is for sunny intervals with maximum temperatures reaching 5C.
• To plan your route via London Underground services visit www.tfl.gov.uk.
