A closer look at the Bees
THE GRECIANS are in action on Good Friday and will be looking to build on their impressive 4-1 win over Notts County as Barnet visit St James Park.City are unbeaten in their last five games and come up against a Barnet side who will be looking to bounce back after suffering a 3-0 defeat against promotion-chasers Oxford United last time out.
The Bees are one place behind City in Sky Bet League 2 as they currently lie 15th, five points behind Paul Tisdale’s men.
City will be looking to take revenge over the Bees, after the Grecians were beaten 2-0 at the Hive when the sides last met back in October.
BARNET LOOKING TO GIVE YOUNGSTERS OPPORTUNITIES
With Friday’s visitors seemingly clear of relegation this season they are now looking to use the remaining nine games of the season to give young players opportunities in the first-team.
Having already given first-team chances to a host of young players this season, manager Martin Allen is likely to continue to bed in young talent, he said after the Bees defeat to Oxford: "We can’t go up, we can’t go down, so I’ll have a good think over the next few days about what we’re going to do this weekend. Maybe we can give out some debuts to our young lads."
KEY PLAYERS RETURNING FROM INJURY
Player-coach Graham Stack is back amongst the Bees' playing squad after missing out on a large chunk of the season due to a groin injury suffered back in August. They will also welcome back Chris Hackett, who is on loan from top of the table Northampton Town, after he was injured last month against Accrington Stanley in a 2-2 draw. Both are expected to be in Friday’s squad.
RECENT RESULTS AND PREVIOUS MEETINGS WITH THE GRECIANS
The Bees have endured some mixed form of late. In their last six games they have won twice, drawn twice and lost twice. The most notable result coming in a 1-0 win over promotion chasers Plymouth Argyle.
City have met the Bees on twenty-four occasions in the past with the Grecians just shading the number of victories with nine. Friday’s visitors have beaten City seven times.
Prior to the last result against the Bees when they were narrowly beaten, City had not lost to Barnet since 1996, when the clubs were in Division Three. In the thirteen games that followed, City beat the Bees seven times.