Sanchez: We won’t be relegated

After a run of just one win in eight league games, Lawrie Sanchez’s Barnet travel to newly promoted AFC Wimbledon on Saturday looking for just their fourth league win this season. The Bee’s have endured a tough recent examination and after their heavy 6-3, home defeat to Burton Albion last Saturday questions where beginning to be asked as to whether they would avoid relegation this season.

Despite their recent form, under-fire boss Sanchez believes his side can escape the peril of relegation and embark on an eighth successive season in the Football league. Sanchez said, “My job is to make sure we don’t rely on the last game of the season to stay up” Reflecting upon last season, The Bee’s went into their final game needing to pick up all three points against Port Vale and were also relying upon Aldershot to beat Lincoln City. With Barnet’s fate out of their hands they survived by a solitary point after the Bee’s beat Vale and the Shots ran out comfortable winners over Lincoln. Sanchez Continued, “We won’t be relegated with me in charge of the Football club.”

With the Bee’s dire form, which has seen them slump into the League Two relegation places, questions are also being fired at chairman Tony Kleanthous. But Sanchez has insisted that supporters shouldn’t criticise the chairman who has “kept the club afloat” for the last 17 years. Before the Bee’s clash with AFC Wimbledon Sanchez has additionally commented on the lack of strength within a depleted Barnet squad. He said, “The club will struggle because of its wage bill unless something different is done. If you are looking for magical qualities then at times I have had them. But ultimately you are only as good as the players that you manage and there are not enough good players here.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s showdown at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, AFC Wimbledon have enjoyed a decent start to life in League Two and currently sit 12^th in the table. But like Barnet, league form has recently deserted the Dons after picking up just one win in their last five league games. To add further spark to an already lively, looking encounter, the Bee’s may also be boosted by AFC Wimbledon’s indifferent home form, which has seen them defeated four times already this term. So the visitors may fancy their chances of improving on a disappointing start to their league campaign as they make the journey south to take on one of fastest evolving clubs in England.