Mad World

Nobes wonders whether Barnet's controversial decision to re-employ Martin Allen really can save the struggling Londoners from relegation to the Conference.

Martin 'Mad Dog' Allen has returned to Underhill seven years after leaving

Nothing should really surprise us when it comes to Martin Allen. Yet, somehow, it never fails to. It's a classic tale of a complex man.

The 45-year-old is certainly one of the lower league's most colourful and recognisable characters. Extroverted, eccentric, passionate. The man revels in ruffling feathers, no matter who they belong to.

He took to life at Brentford like a duck to water, yet was like a fish out of it during a miserable spell at Cheltenham. At Leicester he barely lasted long enough to find his feet under the table, and he failed to get Milton Keynes off the ground.

And then there was Barnet - where it all began for Allen and where he has now returned, seven years after walking out on the Underhill club to join Brentford.

Back then, he was seeking to turn around their fortunes and ensure Barnet weren't a Non League club. With seven games of the season remaining, his mission is pretty much the same. Perhaps some things never do change.

Many at Underhill credit him with laying down the foundations for their eventual success under his successor Paul Fairclough who led the Bees to the 2005 Conference title and promotion back to the Football League after four years away.

Now Fairclough, a temporary stop gap himself after the dismissal of Mark Stimson on New Year's Day, has stepped aside for Allen to return to Underhill.

It was a controversial decision, and arguably speaks volumes about the dire situation the League Two strugglers find themselves in.

They currently lie second bottom of the basement division, five points adrift of 22nd placed Burton, although the Brewers hold three games in hand over them.

In their hour of need, they have called on the services of the man who preached loyalty yet deserted them when a bigger club came calling. Desperate times call for desperate measures indeed.

For a club in a perilous position though, in a strange way Allen finds himself in an almost no lose situation. A tarnished reputation and damaged relationship both have a chance to be repaired.

Keep them up, and he will be hailed as a miracle worker. Put up a brave fight and still go down, and he may well be handed the chance to restore them back into the League at the first time of asking.

No blame will be attached to Allen for failing to turn around a ship that was sinking fast and without a fight after a nightmare campaign that always appeared to be doomed.

The choice of Stimson to guide one of the League's smallest clubs was always a gamble. He had two relegations on his CV at Gillingham, and his principled approach to playing a passing game had to be called into question.

Stimson was shown the door with the Bees staring relegation in the face

A radical overhaul of the playing staff over the summer only served to equip the Bees with a squad which, while high on technique, struggled to meet the physical and robust challenge of more agricultural basement division opponents.

They haven't been higher than 17th all season and failed to win a single away match under Stimson before a loss to Aldershot saw him relieved of his duties at the start of 2011.

Despite since securing two wins on the road, Barnet only managed three wins from 16 games under Fairclough, prompting chairman Tony Kleanthous to now call on Allen to try and achieve the impossible.

It's not an unfamiliar scenario to him either. When he left Barnet to join Brentford, he took on a relegation battle in League One at Griffin Park - managing to preserve their third tier status before leading them to successive play off finishes.

He also joined Cheltenham in 2008 with the Gloucestershire side in trouble at the bottom of League One, but this time was unable to beat the drop as the Robins slumped back to the basement division.

Judging by Barnet's heroic fightback from 2-0 down to claim a share of the spoils against runaway leaders Chesterfield at the weekend, Allen hasn't lost his touch of instiling some fighting spirit into a squad.

He will need plenty of it, allied to some quality, to haul them out of the relegation zone and avoid bringing an end to their second stint in the 92 club after just six seasons.

The fixture list hasn't been particularly kind, with remaining games against play off chasers Accrington, Oxford, and Port Vale as well as Gillingham and Bury sides aiming for automatic promotion.

Only Crewe would appear to provide opponents with little to play for, and then there's the small matter of a crunch game tomorrow at Burton.

A win and the Bees will be dreaming of a great escape. Defeat, and the game will be as good as up for a club who only narrowly avoided relegation last season.

One thing is for sure, Allen is continuing to live up to his reputation. Life really is never dull when Mad Dog's around.

Big Match Review - Rotherham 0 Barnet 0

Rotherham United 0-0 Barnet

Saturday March 5, Don Valley Stadium, (Att:3,566)

Struggling Barnet picked up a precious point in their battle against the drop as they frustrated a promotion-hunting Rotherham side who ended the contest with ten men.

The Millers dominated proceedings in the first period, with Adam Le Fondre being the first to test Bees keeper Jake Cole before Tom Newey also saw an effort saved.

Jason Taylor then saw another shot stopped by the Barnet custodian as Ronnie Moore's men continued to press for a goal before the break.

After the interval, the South Yorkshire outfit continued to test their opponents , but struggled to make the breakthrough.

That frustration to score boiled over on 70 minutes when Newey saw red after an altercation with the visitors' Izale McLeod.

With a numerical advantage, the Londoners pushed forwards late on in search of an unlikely winner and went close when United keeper Andy Warrington did well to tip a long range effort from Jordan Parkes over.

Warrington was again called on upon to ensure Rotherham earned a point - tipping over Sam Deering's drive to deny the Bees.

A point apiece sees Rotherham remain just outside the automatic promotion places in 4th. Just goal difference is keeping struggling Barnet from bottom spot though.

Big Match Preview - Rotherham vs. Barnet

Rotherham United vs. Barnet

Saturday March 5, 15:00, Don Valley Stadium

Two sides with differing attitudes towards remaining in League Two next year meet in South Yorkshire this weekend as Rotherham United play host to Barnet.

The visitors come into the game with their place in the Football League under serious threat while the Millers are hoping to make up for play off final disappointment last season by winning promotion this.

In short, it's been a disastrous season for Barnet, with the London outfit coming into the game sitting in the bottom two and a couple of points behind a Burton side who have five games in hand on them.

The appointment of former Gillingham boss Mark Stimson during the summer proved an unmitigated disaster with the Bees collecting just 19 points from his 22 games at the helm.

His sacking on New Year's Day saw the man in charge of the club's youth development, Paul Fairclough, return to his post as manager on a temporary basis.

The Bees have enjoyed a slight upturn in fortunes under his stead, collecting two wins, five draws, and four defeats from his 11 matches in charge. However, it's more three point hauls they require to survive.

Fortunately, one of those victories was a 3-1 success at Bradford, their only win from 16 matches on the road. Last weekend's beating of Lincoln was their first victory in nine matches however.

With a strike force containing Izale McLeod and Steve Kabba though, both of whom have seven goals to their name this term, Barnet have the necessary firepower to cause any League Two defence problems.

The experienced Paul Fairclough has a fight for survival on his hands at Barnet

Opponents Rotherham are flying high at the top end of the division - currently sitting 4th in the standings after Tuesday's evening 1-1 against Torquay.

Their form at their temporary home of the Don Valley Stadium has been sound too, with just two losses being incurred at the hands of Wycombe and Southend.

Nine team have been seen off to collect maximum spoils though. Barnet will hope not to go the same way as Lincoln, Cheltenham, Chesterfield, Oxford, Aldershot, Port Vale, Stockport, Accrington, and Crewe before them.

Given too many stalemates on home soil cost them a place in the top three last term, boss Ronnie Moore will be keen to ensure there is no repeat this time around with no slips up in a game they should win.

Without question the man who Moore will be looking to to elevate United into the third tier is top scorer Adam Le Fondre. The Millers marksmen has already got 21 goals this term and is their key goal threat.

Striker Ryan Taylor has also enjoyed a profitable campaign in front of goal with nine strikes, and midfielder Marcus Marshall has also been a creative threat for Rotherham.

It almost seems too obvious given the two sides' respective league positions, as well as Rotherham's strong home form and Barnet's travel sickness, to go for a Millers victory.

However, I'm nothing if not predictable, so without sticking my neck out much at all, this is a game Rotherham really should be winning if they're serious about promotion.

Nobes' Prediction: Rotherham United 2 Barnet 1

Moving On Up

With Dean Holdsworth swapping Conference side Newport County for League Two Aldershot Town, Nobes looks back at other managers who have made the leap from Non League to Football League.

Dean Holdsworth managed Newport to Conference South glory last season

Good things come to those who wait, so say a famous Irish stout company, anyway. However, it's even better when you don't have to wait. Instead, you can simply grab the first opportunity that comes your way.

That's the scenario Dean Holdsworth faced, when the 42-year-old boss of Conference high-flyers Newport County was approached to fill the vacant post at League Two Aldershot Town after Kevin Dillon's dismissal.

As soon as the Hampshire club came calling, Holdsworth was, appropriately enough, off like a shot. Swapping one phoenix club for another as he looks to establish himself in the 92 club.

He's not the first Non League boss to be in charge of a Football League club without having earned it via promotion though. Here's a look back at some of the others and how they fared or are faring.


Mark Yates

Yates served his apprenticeship in the Conference with Kidderminster Harriers - making steady progress towards the top five over two and a half seasons.

He was given his opportunity in the Football League with former club Cheltenham last term with the Robins struggling towards the foot of League Two.

Steered them to safety and, this term, has the Gloucestershire outfit competing for a place in the play offs.

Verdict: So far, so good.


Mark Cooper

His first job came at Tamworth where, although overseeing their relegation from the Conference, he took the Lambs on a memorable FA Cup run.

Achieved success at Kettering, winning the Conference North title and established them back in the Conference.

The Kettles also enjoyed two fine runs in the FA Cup.

After being linked with various League Two jobs, he was a surprise choice to fill the job at Championship Peterborough.

However, poor results and an ugly style of football saw him last just three months.

Now back in the Conference rebuilding his career with Darlington.

Verdict: Posh were the wrong club for Cooper to take the plunge with. He could still do a job in the lower reaches of the Football League some time.


Martin Allen

With Barnet challenging in the Conference's top five in 2004, Allen got the call from League One strugglers Brentford to help them avoid the drop.

He did just that, and then took them to successive play off finishes, albeit both times the Bees fell short and failed to gain promotion.

His next job came at League Two Milton Keynes, when he again came up short in the play offs.

A short spell at Leicester followed before returning to League One for Cheltenham's battle against the drop in 2008.

This time he failed to win it though and a poor start to last season cost him his job. He's still searching for employment.

Verdict: Downhill since leaving Brentford. His route one style of football aside, at the right club he could do well in the Football League.


Lee Sinnott

Farsley Celtic were in Non League obscurity before Sinnott took them to three promotions in four seasons to help them into the Conference Premier.

In 2007, he was offered a break in the Football League with Port Vale, who were struggling against relegation in League One.

He couldn't prevent Vale from slipping into League Two and he had departed after a few weeks of the next season - less than a year after taking the helm.

Returned to management in the Non Leagues at Northern Premier League side Bradford Park Avenue but was dismissed after failing to challenge for promotion despite a heavy spending spree.

Verdict: Lee Who? Short Football League tenure never likely to be repeated.


Mark Stimson

Stimson was hot property in 2007 after a spectacular start to management.

He had taken Grays Athletic to promotion to the Conference before successive FA Trophy wins and a place in the end of season play offs.

Failing to win promotion with the Essex outfit, he moved to Stevenage where he made it three FA Trophy successes on the bounce.

His penchant for an attractive, attacking based game also won him admirers.

However, when he made the leap up to League One Gillingham he found the going tough. The Gills were relegated - although he led them straight back up again via the play offs 12 months later.

A failure to win a single away win last season saw Gillingham relegated back down again though, and Stimson sacked.

He moved to Barnet over the summer, but left them at the start of the year with the London side rooted in League Two's drop zone.

Verdict: Once a rising star, but two relegations and a torrid time at Barnet have ensured the star has faded. A Non League return surely beckons.


Russell Slade

Gained fame by guiding cash-strapped Scarborough to the FA Cup fourth round where they faced Chelsea.

It earned him a crack in the Football League with Grimsby.

He took the Lincolnshire club to the League Two play off final in 2006, but they ended up on the losing side.

He then moved to League One Yeovil, who he also took to the play off final, only to lose once again.

Departed Huish Park in 2009 and joined Brighton - engineering a miraculous escape from the League One drop.

Was fired last season only to turn up at Leyton Orient, where he remains today after orchestrating another great escape from relegation to League Two last term.

Verdict: Made a niche for himself in the League as a fine fire fighter with an ability to work on a small budget.


Nigel Clough

The son of the legendary Brian spent a decade at the helm of Staffordshire side Burton Albion.

He guided them into the Conference Premier, establishing them as a top five side.

He left them in 2009 top of the table and in pole position to win promotion to the Football League - which they did.

However, he couldn't turn down the advances of Championship side Derby County, where he helped keep the Rams in the division before achieving a mid table finish last term.

With Derby occupying a top half place for the majority of this season, he is making slow progress towards their goal of promotion.

Verdict: Needs to keep progressing or the patience he has been afforded by Derby will begin to run out.

Fergie For... Barnet

In the first of a new series, we begin our campaign to get notorious former Preston boss Darren Ferguson back into management.

OK, so he ruined Preston - who we kinda like here at Soccer AM/MW.

True, in less than a year he turned a solid Championship club into one destined to spend years outside the top two tiers.

And yes, he gets his daddy to get revenge on his employers if they do him wrong.

However, football needs characters - particularly laughable ones who can keep us amused with their incompetence week after week.

Which is why, here at your favourite ill-informed blog, we want to see Deadly Darren Ferguson back into management.

Wherever there's a vacancy - or a ray of light, as well prefer to call it - we will be there to champion the cause of the man simply known as DF - and you can check out our Dictionary as to what that means.

We begin today with a plea to League Two strugglers Barnet FC:

To whom it may concern,

We saw with interest of the dismissal of Mark Stimson from Barnet FC and, here at Soccer AM/MW Towers, we feel obliged to offer you advice on the best candidate to fill the current vacancy at Underhill.

Look no further than Darren Ferguson.

It's clear from your record this season that Barnet are a team who, despite possessing some good footballers, are unable to play collectively as a team and the term 'clean sheet' is an alien one to them.

Nobody knows more about such sides than Darren.

With your limited budget, too, a manager who can operate in the loan market would be invaluable to the Bees, and Darren brings with him the promise of players from Manchester United's youth team for however long he's employed at your club.

Experience of relegation battles must be paramount, given your precarious position, and our man knows all about them. In fact, he's never lost one, well, he's certainly never been allowed to lose one.

He's also got prior League Two experience and is currently seeking employment - so no compensation would be required to secure his services.

It seems plain as day to us that your only hope of survival rests on the shoulders of one man. The only man for the job. Fergie For Barnet.

Yours Faithfully,

Soccer AM/MW

Big Match Review - Oxford 2 Barnet 1

Oxford United 2-1 Barnet

Saturday December 4, Kassam Stadium (Att: 6,004)

A James Constable goal seven minutes from time gave Oxford all three points against troubled Barnet as they moved into the top half of League Two.

The visitors - looking for their first away win of the campaign - began the stronger of the two sides and took the lead just past the half hour mark.

Good play down the right from George Francomb resulted in Kevin Gallen squaring the ball for Mark Morrison to sweep the ball past Ryan Clarke at the far post.

Chris Wilder's side stepped things up a gear in the second half and went close to equalising when Barnet keeper Jake Cole deflected Steve Maclean's shot onto the woodwork.

However, the Oxen were back on level terms on 64 minutes when a chipped ball into the box caused chaos and was deflected into his own net by Bees defender Anwar Uddin.

Parity restored, the home side pressed for a winner and Maclean once again went close with a thundering long-range free kick rattling Cole's crossbar.

However, they weren't to be denied maximum spoils. Good approach play saw Alfie Potter find Constable in space, and United's top scorer wrong-footed Cole to fire home.

It was an impressive comeback that earned Oxford back-to-back victories, but left Barnet still firmly entrenched in the relegation zone.

Big Match Preview

Oxford United vs. Barnet

Saturday December 4, 15:00, Kassam Stadium

Two sides looking for points to move away from the wrong end of League Two clash at the Kassam Stadium this weekend when Oxford United host Barnet.

The hosts, promoted as Conference play off winners last term, come into the game in 18th - four points above their opponents who currently lie in the relegation zone.

It's been a testing adjustment to life back in the Football League for the Oxen, who had alarmingly slipped down the table after a run of four straight defeats in Nov.

However, Chris Wilder's side pulled off the shock of the season in midweek with a 2-1 success at leaders Chesterfield, and will hope that represents a turning point in their campaign.

Wilder will also be looking to Saturday to improve a home record which has seen United beaten five times in their nine games.

Last time out, Gillingham ended their long winless away streak at the Kassam, and Torquay, Aldershot, Stockport, and Bury have also left from a trip to Oxfordshire with maximum spoils.

Wins have been attained against Morecambe, Northampton and current League Two top dogs Port Vale though, highlighting the inconsistency that has characterised the Yellows this term.

Key men for Oxford include strikers James Constable and Tom Craddock who have notched 14 goals between them. Former Sheffield Wednesday forward Steve MacLean is also in the ranks and got the winner at the b2net stadium on Tuesday.

Oxford boss Chris Wilder (left) guided his team back into the Football League

That indifferent home form will, Barnet hope, be a source of optimism as they go in search of their first win on the road this term. The Bees are one of just two clubs in the division yet to collect three points away from home.

Mark Stimson's men have collected a paltry two points from their eight away fixtures, courtesy of draws at Torquay and Morecambe. The rest - games at Chesterfield, Wycombe, Lincoln, Stockport, Shrewsbury and Crewe have all ended in defeat.

The last of those was a 7-0 thumping, which is one of the reasons why Barnet have League Two's worst defensive record away from home with 21 goals already being conceded.

It's not hard, therefore, to see why the North London outfit - perennial strugglers in the basement division - once again find themselves in trouble, currently sitting 23rd and two points adrift of safety.

With one in their last five games, albeit a thumping 4-1 win over fellow strugglers Northampton, the Underhill club also come into Saturday's match in poor form.

Joint top scorers for Barnet are veteran forward Steve Kabba and midfielder Mark Byrne - both with four goals to their name. Stimson has also recently recruited former MK Dons striker Izale McLeod to help aid them in their relegation fight.

With Oxford's home form being erratic at best, and Barnet hopeless on the road, it's difficult to see either side approaching this game confident of collecting all three points.

However, with the home side buoyed by their midweek success, coupled with their opponent's away day ills, this contest should swing in Oxford's favour.

Nobes' Prediction: Oxford United 1 Barnet 0

Ideal World

Nobes looks at the managers who refuse to abandon their purist beliefs - and why he hopes they succeed.

Tony Mowbray has taken over at struggling Middlesbrough

There can't have been many more obvious appointments. A local boy done good, a club legend as a player, a proven manager for their division, and an advocate of the beautiful game.

When Middlesbrough parted company with Gordon Strachan, there really was only one choice then - Tony Mowbray. However, it's perhaps the last description which is the most interesting.

Boro were favourites for the Championship title in pre-season, but struggled badly under Strachan - and eventually ending up in the relegation zone.

To salvage them from their plight though, they have put their faith in a manager who, at West Bromwich Albion, was known to be unwilling to compromise his footballing beliefs.

The 46-year-old is a dying breed in management - a purist. For Mowbray it's not just the winning that counts, it's how you take part.

It saw him derided by the national media as he failed to keep the Baggies in the Premier League. Accusations of naivety, incompetence, and inflexibility were directed his way.

How did he expect to keep Albion up when he refused to compromise his beliefs in an open, attacking, passing game?

West Brom were always going to win a lot more admirers than they were points. Their relegation at the end of the 2008/9 campaign was no surprise.

So Boro's turning to Mowbray goes against the conventional wisdom that, in such relegation fights, it's steel, not style, that is required to dig you out of the hole you find yourself in.

Rather they are banking on someone who has the Riverside club in his blood to instill the fight and passion - as well as harnessing the quality present in the squad - required to turn things around.

Certainly Boro do have the quality, coupled with ample time, to get themselves out of trouble and towards the right end of the table.

Even if the top six alludes them this term, too, they can have confidence that a manager who has won this division before will get them competing at the summit next season.

Doing so would be a significant, and I believe much-welcomed, boost to those who claim that football is more than just about results.

After all, if, as so many people claim, footballers are paid so much because they're in the entertainment industry, shouldn't supporters then expect to be entertained at matches?

Mowbray is not alone in his thinking. Indeed, alongside Boro towards the bottom of the Championship are Crystal Palace and Preston - whose respective bosses George Burley and Darren Ferguson are also committed to a certain style of play.

If the managers have their way, their teams won't go down fighting as much as exciting. They play the game the right way, but get the wrong results.

In short, such managers are idealists. They believe in a world where beautiful football can be combined with success. To paraphrase the great Brian Clough - they not only want to win, but win better.

Mark Stimson is in yet another relegation battle as a manager

What about when you're not winning much at all though? It's the scenario currently facing the Football League's bottom side, Barnet.

Perennial battlers against relegation, a summer of upheaval at Underhill after yet another near escape from the drop saw them appoint Mark Stimson as manager.

A new boss, but the same old story. The Bees currently prop up the rest and have the worst goal difference in the basement division.

Barnet fans attach much of the blame to Stimson - a manager who suffered two relegations in his three seasons at Gillingham.

The 42-year-old made his name for the attractive, attacking game he adopted at Grays Athletic. He took the Essex side to consecutive promotions into the Conference Premier, where they were play off semi final losers in 2006.

He also secured back-to-back FA Trophy successes, before taking over at Stevenage and winning the competition with the Hertfordshire outfit for his third successive victory.

However, when the Gills, struggling in League One, came calling in November 2007, the Londoner struggled to make the step up in divisions.

Despite plenty of time, the various players he brought with him from the Non Leagues failed to have the desired impact. Gillingham went down.

Stimson bounced back, taking the Kent outfit back up at the first time of asking, but a disastrous win less away record last term saw them instantly relegated back again - and the boss paid with his job.

It's hard to see why Barnet, a side known for relegation battles, decided to employ someone with a poor track record in them, therefore.

More than that, a huge summer turnover saw Stimson completely rebuild the team - in the skillful, attractive, passing style he favours.

In the rigours and rough-and-tumble of League Two though, the Bees have struggled to convert their attractiveness into effectiveness. Stimson's best intentions are paving the road to the Conference.

That's not to say it can't be done. Few fans can be happier with life at the moment than Doncaster's.

The South Yorkshire side play one of the most attractive brands of football outside the top flight and, thanks to the wily Sean O'Driscoll, continue to punch above their weight in the top half of the Championship.

It is the dream scenario. Rovers need never qualify for the top six and fans at the Keepmoat can still have little cause for complain.

For the good of the game, it is also the kind of scenario which would be most welcome if repeated elsewhere.

While critics may argue that, in such a results driven industry, there is little place for idealists like Mowbray, successful teams playing the right way can only serve as positive inspiration.

Then maybe one day the Ideal World will become the real one.

Big Match Review - Barnet 1 Notts County 0

League Two

Barnet 1-0 Notts County (Att: 2,858)

Saturday August 29, 15:00, Underhill

Big-spending Notts County were humbled by Barnet as Jake Hyde's injury time goal saw the League Two leaders slip to their second successive away defeat.

Off the back of two wins, it was the home side who started brightly, with John O'Flynn heading over Albert Jarrett's cross early on. Ian McParland's side responded though, with Lee Hughes' drive from just outside the box being tipped over by Bees keeper Jake Cole.

Just before the break, Notts thought they'd beaten Cole, when, after neat approach play, Ben Davies' cross was knocked in by Hughes at the far post. However, Davies was adjudged to be offside in the build-up and the sides went into the interval level.

O'Flynn once again wasted a good opportunity to give the Hertfordshire club the lead when a ball over the top caught out the County defence, but the forward could only drag his shot wide of Kasper Schmeichel's upright.

Down the other end, Ricky Ravenhill was denied when one-on-one with Cole, his low shot being parried away then cleared away from danger.

And Notts were punished for their profligacy in injury time. A cross from the right was headed down into the path of Hyde, who managed to spin and shoot through the legs of Schmeichel to steal the points for Barnet.

A reality check for the league favourites at Underhill, but a third win on the trot for Ian Hendon's men that sees them move above Notts in the table and into fourth.

Big Match Preview

League Two
Barnet vs. Notts County
Saturday August 29, 15:00, Underhill

Everyone, it seems, is talking about Notts County. Middle Eastern owners, big money being spent on big name signings being paid big wages, they're the closest thing League Two has to having a Manchester City.

The club that employ former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson as some kind of football director are currently riding high at the top of the basement division. However, County beware, a game against the men from Underhill has proved more than a banana skin for prospective League Two champions in the past.

Indeed, Barnet have had an encouraging start to the season themselves. After an opening day defeat to Lincoln, the Bees have collected seven points from their last three games, including successive 2-0 victories over Morecambe and Torquay.

Now under the guidance of popular former player Ian Hendon, the Hertfordshire club are targetting a place in the play-offs come May themselves. And with the goals of veteran Paul Furlong and the considerably younger but equally threatening John O'Flynn, scoring shouldn't be a problem.

They must almost be wishing this weekend's game was at Meadow Lane though. Since promotion back to the Football League, Barnet have beaten three of the four League Two champions on their own patch, and last season were one of only two sides to win at champions Brentford.

As for the visitors, if new signing Sol Campbell didn't realise the level he's now playing at, a trip to Underhill should be good for concentrating the mind. With its infamous sloping pitch and antiquated feel, he'll be under no illusions that Notts are a long way from the Premier League dream they harbour.

Sol Campbell turned down offers from Premier League clubs to join Notts

However, barring a huge disaster, the squad assembled in the East Midlands should be more than good enough to secure the first of those three promotions come May. With the firepower of Lee Hughes, creativity of Ben Davies, Campbell at the back, and Kasper Schmeichel in goal, County have an embarrassment of riches.

Manager Ian McParland, who will undoubtedly be under huge pressure to deliver, needed a strong start and has got one. Three victories from their four games, including 5-0, 4-0, and 3-0 wins, see County at the League Two summit at this early stage.

However, you get the feeling if the side endure a bad run of form and look like wobbling, it won't be long before Sven finds himself in the dugout replacing the Scot. After all, it's hard to believe players like Campbell and Schmeichel signed for Notts because of their relationship with McParland.

Expectations are huge at Meadow Lane at the moment, and they will certainly be expecting to go to Barnet and win. However, the home side will always be competitive and will be full of confidence after their last couple of games.

This season won't be a procession for County, and although a win at Barnet could be an early marker that they have the steel needed to gain promotion, I think they may have to settle for just a point.

Nobes' Prediction: Barnet 1 Notts County 1