Underhill
Saturday 12th February 2011
KO: 3pm
We travel to Barnet, for what is our 3rd away game of 2011, after Hereford and Morecambe (quite a feat considering we have played 9 games since the turn of the year!). This game has come right in the middle of a big run of games at Plainmoor, although I am happy we're away, so hopefully when we're back at home on Tuesday, we can try and get back to the good side of the 2000 attendance barrier. So, North London is our destination, at a ground where many Gulls fans will have sweet, sweet memories. I didn't get into following Torquay until 2003, so wasn't there, but I'd imagine it would have been on a par with Southend, in 2004.
Barnet are still struggling, sitting one point and one place outside the relegation zone. They are only out of there due to the fact that Burton have 7 games in hand on them, though.
GULLS NEWS.
We welcome Northampton loanee Ryan Gilligan to the squad. Another loanee from our league rivals is impressive, and hopefully he'll make a good impression. Eunan and Billy were withdrawn from international duty so they could rest for Saturday, so they'll hopefully both be ready for a battle.
LAST 5 SEASONS.
LAST 5 SEASONS.
2005/06 - League 2 - 18th place - 54 points
2006/07 - League 2 - 14th place - 59 points
2007/08 - League 2 - 12th place - 60 points
2008/09 - League 2 - 17th place - 48 points
2009/10 - League 2 - 21st place - 48 points
Barnet have always been a club that are expected to get relegated, most seasons, but every seasons, they stave off that threat. A couple of midtable finishes are their highlights in the last half-decade, but last season was quite dire. Like us, they struggled for the majority of the season, and with Grimsby getting incredibly close to pulling off a great escape, Barnet defeated then-promoted Rochdale 1-0 to secure safety. That win took them above Cheltenham aswell, so it didn't look as bad as it could have been.
HEAD TO HEAD.
Torquay wins - 6 (2 in FA Cup)
Barnet wins - 10
Draws - 9
Barnet do better in this fixture than we do, as above shows. In 24 games played between the sides, Barnet have won more than we have, with 8 draws between the sides. When a Torquay fan mentions Barnet to another, they will think back to that final day game at Underhill, in 2001. I don't need to go on as we all know what happened then. I was just gutted I wasn't there to see it! In recent seasons, Barnet have been unbeaten in their last 3 visits to Plainmoor, with two draws and then they won 1-0 last season, in August. A 1-1 draw was played out at Plainmoor, back in November.
FORM (LAST 6 GAMES).
WDDDLD
One win. One defeat. 4 draws. They're seems to be a bit of fight there, but they seem to be struggling to finish teams off. Their victory came at Bradford, but they have since failed to win in 5. This will be a challenge, but they haven't won at Underhill for 5 games, so their home form isn't the best.
PROBABLE LINE UP.
This is the side that drew 0-0 at Northampton.
Jake Cole
Anwar Uddin
Joe Devera
Clovis Kamdjo
Jordan Parkes
Glen Southam
Tommy Fraser
Mark Marshall
Mark Hughes
Izale Mcleod
Steve Kabba
Subs: Vilhete, Taylor, Jarvis, Stimson, O'Brien, Cox, Dunleavy
PLAYERS TO WATCH.
The front two are dangerous, in my mind. Izale McLeod was extremely successful at MK Dons, while Kabba has had a prominent career. These two should still be good at this level, so we will need our defence to be stronger than it has been recently! Mark Marshall is an absolute rocket, and he was dangerous at Plainmoor, and will be like it again tomorrow, I'm sure.
PREDICTION
Hmm. Need to win this sort of game if we're to be near the top 7 come May.
Barnet 1-2 Gulls
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Apologies for the lateness and somewhat 'lack of detail'. I hope the reasons stated in another thread are enough!
COYY!
