Barnet V Town

[Bluemike]

Town face League Two Barnet at their Hive ground this evening in their second friendly of pre-season (KO 8pm).

Blues boss Mick McCarthy plans to field a different XI in each half against the Bees, as he did during Saturday’s 2-1 victory against Dublin side Shelbourne.

McCarthy is hoping for a better quality pitch than the one at Tolka Park where he felt the grass was too long and not “conducive to the ball being moved quickly”.

“Hopefully we’ll be playing on a flat even surface and we’ll be able to pass the ball a bit better,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m just glad to get back into playing games now.”

The Blues are likely to take a squad similar to the one which was involved against Shelbourne.

Striker Daryl Murphy returned to pre-season training yesterday having been given an additional two weeks off having been at the Euros with the Republic of Ireland.

His Ireland international team-mate David McGoldrick missed Saturday’s game due to a sore hip flexor problem and again may not be risked this evening.

Speaking on Saturday, McCarthy said the problem wasn’t anything too significant: “He’s just having to manage it. But nothing to be too concerned about, he’ll be fine.”

Left-back Myles Kenlock was unable to make the trip to Ireland after picking up an ankle ligament injury in training at Playford Road and has been pencilled in for a return when Town travel to Cambridge United a week on Saturday.

New signing Adam Webster travelled to Ireland but didn’t play against Shelbourne, however, McCarthy is hopeful that the centre-half will make the start of the season after suffering an ankle injury late on during 2015/16 while with Portsmouth.

“He’s recovering from his ankle but he’s running now, he’s out on the grass," the Town boss said. "He’s been doing good work while we’ve been at Carton House. He’ll be fine, his fitness is going to be need working on. But he’ll be all right, he might be fit for the start of the season.”

Midfielder Giles Coke missed the Ireland training camp as he is continuing his recovery after knee surgery at the end of last season and is a few weeks away from a return to action with the Blues hoping he'll be ready for the start of the season.

Barnet manager Martin Allen is promising Town a tough evening and will be looking for his team to win, having beaten Cheshunt 5-1 away on Saturday.

“As always with Mick McCarthy’s teams, they’re honest and hard-working,” he told Barnet’s official site. “Everybody knows if you play for Mick you’re a 100 per cent player.

“They’ve got some quality, Championship level players. As always with these games everyone says the result’s not important but it is important to me.

“I think Mick will be coming here knowing he’s going to get a good game, everyone will be 100 per cent, giving everything they’ve got to get a result.”

Town won their only previous visit to Barnet's new home 1-0 in a pre-season friendly in the summer of 2013 when McGoldrick scored the only goal.

Tickets to this evening’s game are £10 for adults and £5 for concessions and under-14s.

Probable squad: Bialkowski, Gerken, Chambers, Emmanuel, Robinson, Knudsen, Digby, Berra, Smith, Malarczyk, Bishop, Bru, Skuse, Hyam, Dozzell, Douglas, McDonnell, Blanchfield, Stewart, McLoughlin, Patterson, Pitman, Sears, Murphy, Morris.

Going to this one, new ground and good to get back in the swing albeit a friendly.

[Jamma123]

Thanks for that mini-preview, Mike!

I too will be making my way to Barnet tonight and, as Mick says, am just looking forward to the return of the regular football!

[Bluemike]

Didn't see you Jamma, very pre season feel to it. Poor in the first half although Bishop looked really sharp, only real chance came a minute before HT with McDonnell shooting straight at the keeper after good work from Bish. Second half was much better and only a terrible back pass from Smith cost us. I was really impressed with James Blanchard who played right midfield, he looks very promising, nice passer of the ball. Barnet much better first half while we had better of the second. A lot of the youngsters got a run out which was good and can only help them.

[marko69]

Tommy making mistakes v Barnet? Hopefully he's got that out of his system and he's focussed for the likes of Toon Army & Arsehole Vanilla.

[Jamma123]

I agree, that it was a typical pre-season friendly from Town, who, in spite of their intentions to keep the ball on the ground, looked one-paced and short of ideas/inspiration in attack. We were up against a determined Barnet side who made life difficult for us, and who could have got more reward than the clear-cut penalty. As well as Bishop and Blanchfield, Cameron Stewart stood out, with some confident runs and one or two good deliveries which Brett Pitman should arguably have converted. Although there wasn't much to cheer about on Wednesday night, as Mick says it's how we fare against Barnsley on the 6th that counts.

[phily bon bon]

I agree, that it was a typical pre-season friendly from Town, who, in spite of their intentions to keep the ball on the ground, looked one-paced and short of ideas/inspiration in attack. We were up against a determined Barnet side who made life difficult for us, and who could have got more reward than the clear-cut penalty. As well as Bishop and Blanchfield, Cameron Stewart stood out, with some confident runs and one or two good deliveries which Brett Pitman should arguably have converted. Although there wasn't much to cheer about on Wednesday night, as Mick says it's how we fare against Barnsley on the 6th that counts.

Barnsley were flying at the end of last season and i believe they were the inform side in the Whole of England,certainly one of them. This first game wont be easy,its important we keep the shop shut and keep a clean sheet or at the least dont Loose our first game.

[Bluemike]

I agree, that it was a typical pre-season friendly from Town, who, in spite of their intentions to keep the ball on the ground, looked one-paced and short of ideas/inspiration in attack. We were up against a determined Barnet side who made life difficult for us, and who could have got more reward than the clear-cut penalty. As well as Bishop and Blanchfield, Cameron Stewart stood out, with some confident runs and one or two good deliveries which Brett Pitman should arguably have converted. Although there wasn't much to cheer about on Wednesday night, as Mick says it's how we fare against Barnsley on the 6th that counts.

Cameron Stewart did indeed put some decent delivery in, the only thing I will say is that I hope he does not become a one trick pony like Freddie Sears has, even at this early stage it was evident to myself that Stewart was looking to cut inside at every opportunity rather than take his man on down the outside, hopefully he has this string to his bow because Sears was so predictable last season that apart from the pace he has I would have been able to defend against him.