Barnet v Crewe Alex 25/26 Preview - Buzzing

Once again, a big thanks go to the fixture planners for ensuring a trip to London falls on a Sunday. Great work all round, top job guys. Whilst I won't personally be attending, a look at the train schedule shows engineering works on Sunday, meaning you would be unable to attend this game on the train, unless you want to suffer rail replacement buses for part of the journey. I feel for regular away day goers, who once again have been royally shafted. I hope the players and management have a smoother journey to the capital. Here is my preview of their trip to the Hive:

Right the Wrongs

I still shake my head is disbelief at how the Alex lost the game between these 2 at Gresty Road. Level at 1-1 and them being presented not 1, but 2 penalties to go back ahead and fluffing them both meant a Barnet winner felt inevitable. And so it proved, to give the Bees their first win at the Alex in their history. Well, the Alex have never won at the Hive either. Ok, they've only visited twice, in 2016 and 2018, but still, it would be nice if they could get a little bit of revenge and even the record here.

Schedule Easing

It's been a gruelling last 10 or so days I'm sure. A game every 3 days will have been tough on the players and management physically and mentally. But they've reached the end of that run, or will do once this fixture concludes. The next 3 games on their schedule are back to back home games and then a short(ish) trip to Notts County. They need to give it one last big effort here and then they can rest up, use the next 5 days to recover and go again next weekend.

Home Struggles

Barnet have not had a good season at home and it's a bit strange. They've lost 5 games at the Hive, which is already more than they lost in the previous 2 seasons combined in the National League. They did get a much needed win on Thursday against struggling Crawley, but that was just their 4th in 12 games at home. They've found wins at the Hive difficult since rejoining L2 and the Alex can hopefully take advantage of that.

Away Struggles

Something is definitely missing from the Alex's away performances this season that was there in both the last 2 seasons. They lost 6 games in each of those seasons total. This season they are up to that number already and they've only played 12 games, with them going 2-2-6 in their last 10 on the road.

What's even more concerning is that they still have to visit Notts County, Bromley, Swindon and Chesterfield before the seasons end. Draw your away games, win your home ones is the cliche. Well, they are doing the latter part ok enough. They need to return to the former one, something they did quite well in each of the last 2 seasons.

Ref Watch

Harry Wager

Another brand new ref, lovely stuff. What stands out about this guy is his penchant for a red card. Across 18 games this season and last season, he's handed out 7. That's not far off 2 a game.

2025-26 Record: 7 games(1, League Two, 6 National League), 27 yellows, 2 reds

Last Game: Woking 0-1 Braintree, National League, 30th December 2025, 2 yellows

Crewe Alex Record: N/A

Injuries/Absences

Barnet

Attacker Callum Stead is out for the Bees as apparently he nears a transfer to another club, but aside from that, they seem relatively clear for injuries.

Crewe Alex

The treatment room has gotten more empty, which is pleasing. It looks now like they will be missing just Jack Lankester, James Golding and Emre Tezgel out from their short term absences. Adrien Thibaut is back after his suspension.

Team

Bell has some tricky decisions to make all of a sudden. The first is, does he start Demetriou and March again, both of whom are clearly playing through the pain barrier. Can they be risked so quickly? Can the team do without them though? Second, can they push one more start out of Billington, Connolly, Hutchinson, Sanders, Lunt and O'Reilly, all of whom have started every game over the festive period so far? If you were to make changes, where could you make them without weakening the team?

Personally, I'd look to put Thomas in midfield alongside Sanders, move Lunt further forward and then shift Holicek to the RW to take O'Reilly's spot, who looks knackered currently. At LB, I'd again start Finney because again, Hutchinson can't just keep playing can he?

If those 2 players did drop to the bench, it would also give them so nice options for late in the game as well. Thibaut, fresh off his suspension, comes onto the bench in place of Moult.

Score Prediction

I'd like to predict the Alex to get a point, or even 3. But I'm not sure they have it in them just yet. I'd 100% be happy with a point and I feel more confident after the Cheltenham win and the return of some key figures, but another long away trip so soon after 3 tough games might be a step too far. So I'm going to predict a narrow defeat.

Barnet 2-1 Crewe Alexandra