Barnet will look to go eight points clear at the Conference summit when they host Braintree Town on Tuesday in the division’s only fixture.

Saturday’s 2-0 win over Gateshead saw the Bees put a five-point buffer between themselves and second-placed Halifax Town, but a win over Alan Devonshire’s Iron would see Martin Allen’s men go eight points clear at the top – until Saturday at least.

However speaking after victory in the north east, Allen insisted he has ‘no interest’ in Barnet’s league position after 17 games.

“I’ve no interest in it whatsoever,” he stated. “I have absolutely no interest in the league table whatsoever. I don’t even know where they are in the league. I’ve got to tell you I don’t even know where we are in the league.”

Barnet made the trip to Braintree Town three weeks ago and were held to a 1-1 draw by the Iron after John Akinde struck early on.

And despite their recent struggles – failing to win any of their last six – Allen is expecting a tough test nonetheless from the Essex outfit.

He mused: “I’m sure all of our supporters are looking forward to it and I know that all of the players are looking forward to it. We’ve played them twice now and haven’t managed to get a victory having recently played them away and towards the end of last season we drew with them at home.

“We know that we will absolutely have to be at the top of our very best game to beat them because they are tough team to play against and Alan Devonshire’s teams are always in that way so we have to be on the top of our game just to keep it all going.”

The Bees could be without goalkeeper Sam Cowler and forward Sam Hoskins once more, after the duo missed the win at over the Heed with injury – though no timeframe has been given on either’s recovery.

Braintree have several players sidelined themselves, with strikers Charlie Strutton and Michael Bakare (both broken leg) and defensive pair Matt Paine and Remy Clerima all set to miss out.

Goalkeeper Nick Hamann and left-back Sam Habergham both picked up knocks in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Altrincham but completed 90 minutes and are expected to line-up once more at The Hive.

You can read our opposition profile of Braintree Town by clicking here.