How Notts Can Beat Barnet

In just five days Notts County will face their biggest match in quite some time. The fact that it will also have been their only competitive football match in quite some time perhaps might play significantly cometh the hour, but after four months without kicking a ball the Magpies simply have ‘one chance’ to get it right and reach the final of the National League Playoff at Wembley Stadium.

Barnet, their opponents came through a tough game at the weekend as they picked off Yeovil Town and secured a semi-final at Meadow Lane. Notts meanwhile have had two practice matches against Dorking and Boston, conceded three in both but used the games to get vital minutes into their players legs. Quite simply Barnet, Saturday’s opponents are a step ahead of Notts in their preparation to return to the football leage, County Manager Neal Ardley will need to think of something that can decrease that advantage ahead of this most vitally important game.

Having watched Barnet at the weekend no doubt they have their flaws, but how Notts can capitalise on them is where potentially the game can be won. Yeovil, the Bees opponents on Saturday, dominated possession and peppered their opponents defence with crosses into the box and in all Barnet dealt with this terribly, but for some last-ditch heroic defending and a slice of lady luck. Scoring goals at the right time also helped their cause.

For Notts, and Neal Ardley I would have watched the Yeovil performance and suggested that County, perhaps play the same way. Press the Barnet defence high, put pressure on their back four, but crosses into the box, I counted six or seven Yeovil crosses in a short period that Barnet didn’t get a head to, the Glovers hit the post, had shots blocked and missed, were denied by a miraculous save from Scott Loach and I felt Barnet rode their luck for long periods and with Notts attacking prowess I wouldn’t be so certain they can hold off the likes of Callum Roberts and Kyle Wootton for such long periods as they did at Huish Park.

Ricardo Santos the big Portuguese Central Defender is clumsy, the Bees try and play out from the back which is a danger in itself at National League level, the full backs both small, will allow crosses in to the box and don’t deal with them necessarily well. Set Plays could prove pivotal. But beware the Bees on attack.

Barnet are good on the break and will defend and soak up pressure from Notts before attempting slick moves from back to front where they have pace across their forward line. Vilhete is quick whilst McCallum is prepared to work hard in order to get the scraps, Barnet may not have the ball for long periods but when they get it Notts will need to be defensively astute.

I would press hard to force errors but when defending drop off so they can’t get in behind, pepper the opponent’s goal with crosses and use height advantage and set plays to ruffle the feathers of Barnet defenders.

Notts will need all players to be at their best and I back them man for man to be stronger than their opponents who let’s not forget finished eleventh in the table at close of play post lockdown.

County remember have the best defence in the division, no stones unturned, everything goes, be solid, defend simply, get the ball to those that can-do damage… And in Roberts and Enzo they have the magic to trouble Barnet’s defence.

Notts need to get the supply to their forward line and if they do, whether it be Wootton, Dennis, Thomas, Wilson, at whatever stage in the match, any single one of them have the ability to win a game of football through finishing ability alone… It’s simply remembering what Notts are good at and repeating the feat… Because when you learn to ride a bike… You never forget.