v 
SHRIMPERS
A welcome return to forecasting form when that 1-1 draw came up at last!
For Tuesday and the game which originally should have been played on Boxing Day, it's all about Granty of course and his hoped for recovery from a nasty bout of concussion received last Saturday at Torquay.
I've put him in my side but Lee Sawyer will be an excellent replacement if called upon.
If Mark Phillips recovers from this week's injury he may take the place of veteran Graham Coughlan but the former Shrewsbury skipper had a fine game at Plainmoor and might be chosen ahead of Mark anyway.
It's easy to expect an easy three points by just turning up but, of course, things are never that straight forward at Roots Hall.
Barnet were a tougher prospect to break down at the weekend with a more defensive line-up and we'll need winger Ryan Hall to continue his good form to help break them down.
With the play-off zone so close it would be a real step back not to beat the Bees even with the visit of Northampton Town to come four days later, and even if the side started to look a touch leggy in Devon they should have enough to take the three points, let's say 2-0.
Possible Southend United: Evans, Clohessy, Coughlan, Barker, Gilbert, Ferdinand, Grant, Easton, Hall, Sturrock, Corr.
Subs: Morris, Herd, Prosser, Comminges, Sawyer, Soares, Asante.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!
OPPOSITION
Bees boss Paul Fairclough is set to name an unchanged side from the team that brought home an excellent 1-1 at Cheltenham Town Saturday (report below.)
In that game Steve Kabba played as the sole striker in front of the tricky 7-goal top scorer Mark Marshall, and Sam Deering, who is on-loan from League Two rivals Oxford United, with the surprising choice of former Shrimpers trailist Izale McLeod, six goals this term, being asked to warm the bench.
Then again this more defensive looked did the business at the weekend.
Southampton loanee midfielder Anthony Pulis serves the second game of his three-match ban so will not be included.
Fairclough also no new injury problems to worry about but defensive duo Daniel Leach and Darren Dennehy continue to miss out with foot injuries while former Chelmsford wideboy Ricky Holmes is out for the season with a broken metatarsal.
Barnet remain on the foot of the table but are just two points from climbing outside the relegation zone, but Burton Albion have plenty of games in hand.
Player to watch: Mark Marshall
Certainly the best Barnet player on view when we beat them 2-0 last month, grabs the odd goal as well, needs to be kept quiet.
Player details here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Marshall_(footballer)
Last Time Out
Cheltenham Town 1 Barnet 1 (played on Saturday, february 19th, 2011.)
Report: www.barnetfc.com/page/MatchReport/0,,10431,00.html
Bottom of League Two
| 22 | Burton Albion | 25 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 19 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 28 | 29 | 29 | -1 | ||||
| 23 | Stockport County | 32 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 44 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 29 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 34 | 73 | 28 | -39 | ||||
| 24 | Barnet | 31 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 25 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 16 | 30 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 34 | 55 | 27 | -21 | ||||
PREVIOUSLY
Blimey, Barnet have a pretty good record at the home of football.
But not so good away; Bees stung by Shrimpers:
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/rprt/mtch/
barnet_0_southend_united_2_626605/index.shtml
And a view from our sister site:
www.barnet-mad.co.uk/rprt/mtch/
barnet_v_southend_united_match_report_626522/index.shtml
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REF
The man in the middle is a change from the original 'Deadly' Darren Deadmen, thank the Lord, we hope, it's now David Phillips from Sussex.
He gives an interview here: http://refworld.com/referee/188/1/dave-phillips
His assistants are Nigel Lugg and Matt Stewart; The fourth official is Iam Crouch.
FIXTURES
League Two
Saturday, February 26th; (all kick-offs 19.45): Accrington Stanley v Torquay, Aldershot v Port Vale, Barnet v Lincoln City, Bradford v Stockport, Burton Albion v Rotherham, Bury v Crewe, Chesterfield v Morecambe, Macclesfield v Wycombe, Oxford Utd v Hereford, Shrewsbury v Gillingham, Southend v Northampton, Stevenage v Cheltenham.
BET
Beware! Not often we've been odds-on this season!
Southend (to win) - 5/6, Draw - 13/5, Barnet (to win) - 15/4.
For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/
HISTORY
Barnet were formed in 1888, having been formerly known as New Barnet FC (1885-1888) and Woodville FC (1882 - 1885). They were known as 'The Hillmen' and played in New Barnet before moving to Queens Road in 1889.
Initially, they played friendly games before becoming inaugural members of the North London League in 1892-93. They went on to success in the North Middlesex League Division II (1894-95 runners-up) and the Premier League (1896-97 champions.)
Promoted to the London League Division II, Barnet became champions in 1897-98 and spent the following seasons in London League Division I before ceasing to exsist in the 1901-02 season.
Two local clubs, Barnet Avenue FC (formed 1890) and Alston Works AFC (formed 1901) continued to attract support. Barnet Avenue renamed themselves Barnet FC in 1904 and as staunch believers in the amateur game they shunned the London Football Authority in favour of the Amateur Football Association.
Alston Works AFC, later Barnet Alston FC, became champions of the London League in 1906/7. In 1907 they moved to the club's current ground at Underhill, Barnet Lane. Their first match was a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace FC on 14 September 1907.
After merging with the Avenue team in 1912 they spearheaded the new Athenian League as Barnet and Alston FC. After the First World War in 1919 they became the third instance of Barnet FC. This team continues today.
(For the full history of the club up to the present day, go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnet_F.C.)