Barnet play host to Scunthorpe United on Friday with the opportunity to move into seventh place in the National League standings.
While the hosts have put together a much-improved run of form, their visitors needed three points against Gateshead on Thursday to to move into 20th spot.
Off the back of two seasons scrapping for survival in the fifth tier, Barnet desperately needed some sort of revival in 2022-23, and the signs are there that they can mount a bid for the playoffs.
Dean Brennan’s side have already put together four-game unbeaten streaks and five-match winless runs this season, yet it is the current spell of three wins from four games which has been the biggest difference maker so far.
Barnet have not kept a clean sheet during that run, and have conceded 12 times in 360 minutes of football, bu improving their attacking record to the extent where it is the third best in the National League has kept this team on track.
However, they like to record victories in dramatic circumstances, a 2-0 win over Maidenshead United coming through a 82nd-minute winner, before they impressively defeated Bromley 3-1 in midweek when trailing with six minutes remaining.
Meanwhile, Scunthorpe United have endured a head over heels few months since relegation from the EFL, beginning the season with six defeats from seven matches.
Since then, just one setback has come in eight matches, yet it took a 3-1 victory over Gateshead in midweek to move four points clear of bottom place.
Interim managed Tony Daws is helping steady the ship during an important period for the club’s future, and there will be confident that another positive result can come from Friday’s game.
However, in addition to being without a clean sheet this season, Scunthorpe are also still searching for their first away win.
Barnet vs Scunthorpe United head to head
These two teams have previously met on 12 occasions in League Two, where Barnet have claimed four victories while Scunthorpe have won six, and they have drawn in two. Barnet have scored 13 goals and conceded 16. In their last five meetings, they have each won twice while drawing once.
Scunthorpe United 1-1 Barnet 07/02/98
Barnet 1-0 Scunthorpe United 10/11/98
Scunthorpe United 3-1 Barnet 24/04/99
Barnet 4-2 Scunthorpe United 16/12/00
Scunthorpe United 2-1 Barnet 31/03/01
Barnet latest home form
Barnet have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having won each of their three most recent matches. They managed to defeat Maidenhead United 2-1 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored nine goals and conceded 10.
Barnet 0-1 Dorking Wanderers 13/09/22
Barnet 0-5 York City 01/10/22
Barnet 4-3 Maidstone United 04/10/22
Barnet 3-0 Weston-super-Mare 15/10/22
Barnet 2-1 Maidenhead United 22/10/22
Barnet latest away form
Barnet managed to defeated Bromley 3-1 in their last away game in the league. However, thei have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having been winless in their previous five games. In their last five matches, they have scored 14 goals and conceded 17.
Aldershot Town 3-1 Barnet 03/09/22
Solihul Moors 1-1 Barnet 17/09/22
Dagenham & Redbridge 5-4 Barnet 24/09/22
Wrexham 7-5 Barnet 08/10/22
Bromley 1-3 Barnet 25/10/22
Scunthorpe United latest home form
Scunthorpe United have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their four most recent matches. They managed to defeat Gateshead 3-1 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded nine.
Scunthorpe United 0-2 Boreham Wood 03/09/22
Scunthorpe United 1-1 York City 17/09/22
Scunthorpe Unted 3-2 Dorking Wanderers 24/09/22
Scunthorpe United 3-3 Aldershot Town 08/10/22
Scunthorpe United 3-1 Gateshead 25/10/22
Scunthorpe United latest away form
Scunthorpe United have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having been winless in their eight most recent matches. They lost 3-0 to Southend United in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded nine.
Altricham 2-2 Scunthorpe United 13/09/22
Torquay United 1-1 Scunthorpe Unted 01/10/22
Oldham Athletic 2-2 Scunthorpe United 04/10/22
South Shields 1-0 Scunthorpe United 15/10/22
Southend United 3-0 Scunthorpe United 22/20/22
Barnet news
Given the quick turnaround and subsequent comeback against Bromley having made three substitutions, Brennan will consider freshening up his Barnet side.
Dominic Revan may replace Sam Woods, who made his first start since March last time out, while Kian Flanagan and Ryan Hall are both options for selection in creative areas.
Scunthorpe United news
Barring any fitness issues heading into Friday’s contest, Daws may be aganst making chances to his first XI after they ended their winless run.
Although George Taft has been a regular in the centre of defence this season, he dropped out of the side in midweek, and could start on the bench.
Prediction and Odds
With both sides having endured a disappointing season on different levels, they will both be eager to go all out for three points on Friday.
However, we cannot ignore that Scunthorpe’s away record is one of the worst in the division, which leaves us to predict a win for the hosts.
Odds: 1 2.23 X 2.05 2 2.86
Probable outcomes
Barnet 1-0 Scunthorpe United
Barnet 2-0 Scunthorpe United
Barnet 2-1 Scunthorpe United
Barnet 3-1 Scunthorpe United
Barnet 1-1 Scunthorpe United
