Preview: Barnet vs Fleetwood Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Fleetwood Town will head on their travels for Saturday's League Two opener against newly-promoted Barnet at the Hive.

The Bees have already been in competitive action this season after they suffered a penalty-shootout defeat to Newport County in the EFL Cup preliminary round.

Match preview

Barnet are looking forward to playing their first EFL match in seven years after winning promotion from the National League.

After losing in the playoff semi-finals in 2023-24, Barnet used that disappointment as motivation to win the National League title last term, racking up 102 points to finish six points clear of second-placed York City.

The Bees have already played their first competitive game of the campaign after being forced to compete in a new EFL Cup preliminary round due to the number of English teams participating in European football this season.

Dean Brennan's side staged a dramatic late fightback in Tuesday's meeting with Newport, with Ryan Galvin and Rhys Browne both scoring in stoppage time to wipe out the two-goal deficit, only for their side to fall to a 4-2 defeat in the subsequent penalty shootout.

Barnet will now be focusing on their first meeting with Fleetwood since losing 2-0 in the first round of the 2019-20 FA Cup.

The Bees will be aiming to carry their National League home form into the EFL after avoiding defeat in all 23 of their league outings last season (W18, D5).

Fleetwood are preparing for their second straight season in League Two since dropping down from the third tier in the 2023-24 campaign.

The Cod Army had to settle for a 14th-placed finish last term after winning 15, drawing 15 and losing 16 of their 46 league matches.

Fleetwood recorded just seven victories in their 23 home outings in League Two last term, only three teams mustered fewer home wins in the division.

Rather than defeats, 12 draws prevented Fleetwood from picking up more points on home turf, representing a key area for improvement if they are to trouble the top seven in Pete Wild's first full season in charge.

The Cod Army have warmed up for the new season with three victories in five outings (D1, L1), with their only defeat taking place in Tuesday's outing against a Manchester United XI.

They are now set to head on the road for just their third EFL meeting with Barnet, after previously winning 2-1 at home and losing 2-0 away in the 2012-13 League Two season.

Barnet form (all competitions):

Fleetwood Town pre-season form:

W W D W L

Team News

Barnet have been busy in the summer transfer window, adding 13 names to Brennan's squad, including the loan addition of Manchester forward Joe Hugill.

Midfielder Dennis Adeniran is pushing for a starting spot after featuring as a half-time substitute in the midweek EFL Cup tie.

Rhys Browne made a positive impact from the bench on Tuesday, and he could be rewarded with a place in the forward line.

As for Fleetwood, they have bolstered their squad with the additions of Toby Mullarkey, Denver Hume, James Norwood, Ched Evans and Will Davies.

Wild is set to utilise his preferred 3-5-2 formation, which could see Mullarkey, James Bolton and Finley Potter all feature in the backline.

At the opposite end of the pitch, Davies could be given the opportunity to lead the line alongside Ryan Graydon, although Evans and Norwood are also options in the final third.

Barnet possible starting lineup:

Wright; Collinge, Kensdale, Senior; Kane, Hartigan, Adeniran, Glover; Browne, Brunt, Hugill

Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:

Lynch; Mullarkey, Bolton, Potter; Rooney, Neal, Bonds, Helm, Hume; Davies, Graydon

We say: Barnet 1-1 Fleetwood Town

Barnet will be looking to give a good account of themselves in their first EFL match in seven years, and while we think that they may miss out an opening day win, we believe that they will do enough to hold Fleetwood to a hard-fought point.

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