Scunthorpe United's National League form has improved considerably in recent weeks, and they will be hoping for a third win in five games when they take on Barnet at Glanford Park on Friday night.
The Iron will commence proceedings 23rd in the table, while the visitors are faring very well, comfortably inside the playoffs having picked up 44 points in 25 games.
Match preview
Scunthorpe have had an awful season after being relegated from League Two in the 2021-22 campaign, sitting five points from safety, while they have also played three games more than 20th-placed Oldham Athletic.
A torrid record defensively has cost the Iron dearly, conceding 56 goals in their 29 league games up to this point, the second-worst record of any side in the fifth tier, although things have started to improve recently.
Under the helm of interim manager Michael Nelson, Scunthorpe won their first away match in 13 months at the end of January, defeating Halifax Town 1-0 at the Shay, while they also kept a clean sheet in a resounding 3-0 victory against Maidenhead earlier in the month.
New permanent manager Jimmy Dean will be hoping that he can continue the recent uptick in form after being appointed on Sunday, and he comes with a good pedigree, having won four promotions with Peterborough Sports.
Last time out, the Iron picked up a very respectable 1-1 draw against sixth-placed Bromley, with Elliott Whitehouse scoring a late equaliser, and the challenge will now be to follow it up against a side bang in form.
Indeed, Barnet have shot up the table after a run of nine games without a defeat in the National League, during which time they have conceded just three goals and picked up some very impressive victories.
In their last home match, the Bees ran out 3-0 winners against promotion-chasing Chesterfield, while they have also recently recorded a 2-1 victory against Boreham Wood, who currently occupy seventh place.
Dean Brennan will be particularly pleased by his side's improved record at the back, as the defence was a real problem earlier on in the season, conceding 19 goals in just four games from the end of September to the beginning of October.
Games are starting to come thick and fast for Barnet, with their last game coming on Tuesday night, but they are showing no signs of slowing down, once again looking very solid in an away victory at Eastleigh, running out comfortable 2-0 winners.
In their previous clash with Scunthorpe this season, the Bees were held to a very disappointing 1-1 draw at home, but they have come on leaps and bounds since that game, and they will know that a win on Friday night takes them to just three points off third place.
Team News
Finley Shrimpton started five games on the spin prior to the trip to Halifax, but the central midfielder has now picked up an injury, so Whitehouse and Tom Pugh are the likely choices for Scunthorpe in the engine room.
Caolan Lavery has been absolutely vital for the Iron this season, netting eight league goals, but the striker completed a move to Doncaster Rovers near the end of the January transfer window, and so Alfie Beestin is instead set to lead the line.
Moving onto Barnet, Nicke Kabamba is their main goal threat, proving to be one of the most prolific strikers in the division with 16 goals in the National League so far this season, and he is likely to be accompanied by Idris Kanu.
Dominic Revan was brought off with an injury after just 10 minutes in the recent 2-0 win at Eastleigh, so Sam Beard is likely to slot in at centre-back, having replaced Revan on the day.
Scunthorpe United possible starting lineup:
Foster; Boyce, Ogle, Taft, Butterfield; Daniel, Pugh, Whitehouse, O'Malley, Wilson; Beestin
Barnet possible starting lineup:
Walker; Okimo, Beard, Collinge, Wynter; De Havilland, Gorman, Pritchard, Armstrong; Kanu, Kabamba
We say: Scunthorpe United 1-2 Barnet
There is no doubt that Scunthorpe have taken significant strides in recent weeks, but Barnet have laid a marker down as one of the best teams in the fifth tier.
As such, we expect the visitors to emerge with a narrow victory in what will be a closely-contested game, with Kabamba likely to get on the scoresheet.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Dominic Lund
