Rivals Review - Barnet

Position: 19th

Record: Played 31, Won 10, Drawn 8, Lost 13

Recent form (latest to earliest): L,W,L,L,L,L

Manager: Paul Fairclough was showing signs of being the perfect small club

Fairclough

manager before Barnet's recent barren spell of form. The former Stevenage man likes strength, pace and power in his players and has assembled a tidy squad of players at Underhill. On a shoestring budget, Fairclough looked to be guiding the Bees to a solid mid-table finish with a chance of the play-offs more likely than slipping into relagtion troubles. But with squad depth being the Londoners' main problem, Barnet have struggled of late leaving the boss under pressure to steer his side to safety. Fairclough faces his biggest test ahead, for relegation would be deemed an almighty collapse.

Top scorer: Jason Puncheon: 9 goals. The pacey winger has really stepped up the plate this season in the absence of an out and out striker at Underhill.

Puncheon

A natural goal scorer has perhaps denied the Bees from forging their way inot the higher reaches of the division. In recent seasons in particular, Barnet have earned a reputation of being a bit of a selling club. They lost Tresor Kandol to Leeds last season and this time around saw Liam Hatch depart for Peterborough in Januray. Ideally, Puncheon would be a creator for a similar predator but such have been the circumstances, the 21-year-old has been seen as the Bees most likely outlet of goals. This is an issue Fairclough will be looking to address in the summer months no doubt.

Strengths: Barnet have done remarkably well to have distanced themselves from danger in recent seasons bearing in mind the clubs limited resources. And for that, their preparation and organisation on the field must be commended. A lot of that can be owed to Ismail Yakubu who has been a superb marshall at the back for the Bees. He is Mr Barnet, being at Underhill since the age of just 11. The 22-year-old was made club captain for this season and has stepped up to the responsbility tremendously. Some praise must go to boss Faircluogh too who in credit sets his team out well. His thorough homework is the basis of the team.

Weaknesses: Consistency is the only answer to the area of weakness. The Bees boast some of the most talented crop of players in the league based on ability and potential but it is not producing their best form week in week out and against the big sides that will stop them pushing up the table. Barnet are a young side and have a tiny squad in terms of experience. They can sometimes be stretched and their below par days tend to go punished, for a lack of know how.

Best win: 4-1 v Shrewsbury, Underhill, March 1, 2008

Yakubu... Player of the season

Worst defeat: 4-1 v Lincoln, Sincil Bank, December 15, 2007

In form player: Albert Adomah was at the centre of all things good in the Bees' 4-1 demolition of Shrewsbury last Saturday. The scorer of two and creator of another rounded off a menacing display to put the final nail in the coffin of Shrews boss Gary Peters. The right winger, signed from Harrow Borugh has raw pace and after already making the headlines in League Two, Notts will have to be wary of the fearless trickster.

Player of the season: Ismail Yakubu for pulling in commanding displays one after the other. This season was always going to be a test of his leadership skills and the young gun has passed flying colours. He possesses all the qualities of a top centre-back. He is already approaching his testimonial at the club - he is committed to the Underhill cause.

Relegation history: In mid-April of their first season in the Football League in 2005/06 only goal difference kept the Bees from the drop zone but ending the campaign on an unbeaten run of five games saved their bacon.