Four days after meeting at Roots Hall, Barnet and Southend United will lock horns again on Saturday afternoon, with the home side looking to make it three straight victories in the National League.
Reece Hall-Johnson and Harry Pritchard scored the goals in a 2-0 Barnet success in Southend-on-Sea on Tuesday, with the result leaving the Bees in third position in the table, while Southend sit down in 15th spot.
Match preview
Barnet have been absent from League Two since the 2017-18 campaign; they finished fifth in the National League last season, which saw them make the playoffs, but they were beaten by Boreham Wood in the quarter-finals.
The Bees look well-placed to challenge for promotion once again this term, as a total of 49 points has left them in third position in the table, just three points behind second-placed Bromley, but they are 10 from the leaders Chesterfield.
Dean Brennan's side have picked up seven points from their last three National League matches, winning their last two against Boreham Wood and Southend, scoring eight goals in the process and conceding zero.
Barnet have been strong at home this season, picking up 26 points from their 12 matches in front of their own supporters, and they will be welcoming a Southend outfit that have recorded just three victories away from home during the 2023-24 campaign.
Hall-Johnson made the breakthrough in the fourth minute of Tuesday's contest at Roots Hall, before a 78th-minute Pritchard penalty secured all three points for the North London outfit.
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Southend's financial issues saw them hit with a 10-point deduction earlier this season, with the team currently down in 14th position in the table, boasting a record of 11 wins, five draws and eight defeats.
Without the deduction, the Blues would be just one point off the playoffs, which is a reflection of their strength, and the supporters can at least look forward to a brighter future, as head coach Kevin Maher has signed a new deal, while there have been positive developments on a takeover.
Australian Justin Rees is heading a consortium which is set to take over the club in early 2024, which will bring to an end their transfer embargo and allow them to add to what is a very stretched squad.
The Essex outfit have only managed to win one of their last five matches in all competitions, which was a 2-1 victory over Kidderminster Harriers in the National League on December 23.
Southend, if they are able to boost their squad in January, are capable of embarking on a run which would move them closer to the playoffs in the second half of the campaign, and the new owners will certainly be targeting a return to the Football League sooner rather than later.
Team News
Barnet head coach Brennan could name the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Southend on Boxing Day.
Nicke Kabamba has been in impressive form for the Bees during the 2023-24 campaign, scoring 17 times in the National League, and he will again feature in the final third of the field.
Idris Kanu was replaced at the interval against the Blues last time out, but he is expected to be in the first XI for the clash with Southend at the Hive Stadium.
Southend, meanwhile, still have a number of players unavailable for selection, with the most notable of those being leading goalscorer Harry Cardwell, who has not played since the start of the month due to a knee problem.
Head coach Maher was only able to name three substitutes against Barnet last time out, which could also be the case for this match.
Henry Sandat, 18, is back at the club on a loan deal from Hull City, and he is again expected to feature in the final third of the field, while Noor Husin should also be in the side.
Barnet possible starting lineup:
Walker; Hall-Johnson, Collinge, Stevens, Oluwo; Pritchard, Gorman, Hartigan, Brunt; Kabamba, Kanu
Southend United possible starting lineup:
Ndi; Scott-Morriss, Taylor, Kensdale, Ralph; Bridge, Vilhete, Fonguck, Coker, Nusin; Sandat
We say: Barnet 1-0 Southend United
Southend's squad will again be stretched for this match, and while there are seemingly brighter times ahead for the club, this could be another frustrating game. Barnet have been one of the best sides in the division this season, and we are expecting them to win again on Saturday.
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