Game 45 - The Bees (H)
Team - Barnet FC
Date - 18/04/2026 14:00
Where - Meadow Lane

What would your starting line-up be? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

The main thing I want to see on Saturday is desire.

This time last year we were letting every opponent get what they want, and we perfected that generosity in the play-offs.

Barnet need wins, draws aren't that much use to them...

I want autos as much as anybody, but if the game's difficult I'd be happy to see us stop them getting want they want. A bad-tempered draw would at least show we care and we won't be pushovers any more, continuing for anyone we face in the play-offs. Just don't end this season like the last one. If we fall short, let us go down kicking and screaming and fighting for every last ball.

Edited 20 hours ago20 hr by theAnticlough

I agree, and to that end I would suggest another crack at 4-4-2, at least for the first 60 minutes. Play Browne with Ness in the middle, Jones and Bennetts as attacking midfielders, and Dennis with Ndlovu up top. We need to scrap for points in each of our last 3 games, in order to gain a bit of confidence after last weekend, and we also need to develop some versatility and unpredictability to tackle the playoffs.

There was a lot wrong with last weekend’s performance, mostly defending set-pieces, but luckily Barent aren’t a big physical side and in theory shouldn't worry us in that way. But they are still a good side who have beaten Cambridge and MK Dons recently and with an outside chance of play-offs they’ll need the 3 points as much as we do… Should be a cracker, but we thought that last weekend!

I think Jatta is still missing, so purely for his goal threat I’d have Dennis starting. I wouldn’t be against him and Ndlovu upfront, but I would be against a midfield three of Palmer, Norburn and Iorpenda which I think would likely back them up…

Right now I’m all for the win-loss run continuing, just for this weekend anyway!

I believe the performance will be better, but I want to see the lads show that they are trying. This doesn't mean I don't think they are, but having watched the Cambridge United game and seeing us unable to really trouble them even though their keeper got sent off, resulting in them going down to 10 men. How vital that game was, we didn't give anywhere near as good of an account that we should have.

Barnet shouldn't be underestimated, but on paper it shouldn't be as difficult. There needs to be more urgancy to get the ball forward, and certainly more zonal awareness at the back.

James Belshaw can't be left exposed so easily, because these 3 remaining games could ease pressure off us if we handle them right and the results go our way. I agree that having 4 at the back would give us some stability. It could always switch during the game, as I also like the idea of two strikers. Now it is crucial we get the most out of what remains, and I just hope the results go our way. As per usual, and I keep saying this, it will go down to the very last game of the season.

Automatic promotion is still on the table. We need to win our last 3 and hope that is good enough. There's a decent chance that it might be enough. It's squeaky bum time.

It is very simple, play as we did last weekend and we are toast, play to our potential then get ready for promotion. 🙈🙉🙊 COYP ⚽️🥇

I think that last Saturday's match against Cambridge, demonstrated that possession is not the be all or end all when it comes to being successful in a football match.

If the players are not motivated to play their socks off to win this match then they shouldn't be playing in the black and white. It's as simple as that.

Hopefully, there will be a good crowd to cheer them over the line. The crowd can play a big part in doing that because it will be a very hard match against a side that is 2nd in the form league.

Performance does not really matter at this stage. What matters is going into the final run with some level of consistency, especially with the chance that even if we beat Barnet, we could still be sitting right on the edge of the playoffs.

Winning is what counts now, and these points could be the difference between automatic promotion and the playoffs. The match might feel tense, but I think Martin Paterson will have pushed the players hard after the last defeat. Winning in a scrappy way can help rebuild belief, and once that belief returns, performances often follow. Football is never simple with Notts County, but getting the result is what keeps the season alive.