38 min: Maupay picks Sweeney’s pocket and is through on goal but Barnet scramble back to deny the striker space.
37 min: The first yellow card of the game goes to Odubajo, who is guilty of pulling back an opponent as Barnet break.
33 min: There’s a pause for breath as Tutonda gets some treatment for a knock. He’s fine to continue.
30 min: Mason-Clarke gets half a sight of goal as Coulthirst causes havoc in the Brentford defence. His shot is weak, though, and Daniels gathers.
29 min: “Look no further than the 64th Grey Cup, the final game of the Canadian Football League’s 1976 season where the Ottawa Rough Riders faced the Saskatchewan Roughriders,” writes Glenn Shepherd. “Ottawa won 23-20!”
28 min: Brilliant block from Alexander as the ball drops to Canos on the edge of the Barnet box. This is a cracking Cup tie.
27 min: That goes down as a great chance for the home side. It was a fine save but Sweeney will think he shouldn’t have given him the chance.
Updated
25 min: Taylor does superbly to skitter onto Robson’s pass and cut back across goal. Cleared. Corner to Barnet …
22 min: A stunning effort from Odubajo cannons back off the woodwork! The Brentford wing-back cuts inside and spanks a curling effort onto the inside of the same post that Barbet hit earlier. Almost the same spot in fact. Again the ball pings across goal and away to safety.
20 min: Da Silva cuts inside and hammers a shot at goal – it’s straight down Huffer’s throat and the keeper gathers despite an awkward bounce.
19 min: Johnson clears as Henry fires in another low cross. Barnet desperately need to release the pressure.
17 min: Brentford are just beginning to crank up the pressure. Rico Henry threatens on the left and it takes some scrambling in the Barnet backline to clear.
15 min: Maupay gets his foot on the ball, on the half-turn, inside the Barnet box but Sweeney is across quickly to smother the danger.
11min: Canos’s throughball towards Maupay is overhit but a moment or two later Sweeney nips in to cut out a a dangerous header from Watkins.
9 min: … my word, how did that stay out? Watkins delivers to the near post where Barber flicks on with his head. The effort thuds onto the inside of the near post and bounces away across goal to safety.
8 min: … Barbet slaps his first effort into the wall, then sees his follow-up deflected away for a Brentford corner …
7 min: Watkins is hauled down on the edge of the Barnet area by Robson. A very dangerous position this …
6 min: “Bristol City v Swindon – The Robins v The Robins,” suggests Don Blandford. Is there a ground called The Nest or similar?
5 min: Barnet have started vert well here. Elito sidefoots in a cross but it’s far too close to Daniels.
1 min: “Millwall v Guiseley?” suggests Michael Watson. “Lions v Lions at the Den.” Yes, absolutely. Meanwhile, Barnet have started on the front foot and have an early corner …
The fact that it this is the Bees facing the Bees at the Hive is obviously pleasing – I’m racking my brain to think of any other nickname v nickname at [insert apt ground] examples but I’ve got nothing. Please help: [email protected]
Europe’s The Final Countdown blares out at the Hive. A colleague of mine here at Guardian Towers once went to see Europe live in convert and they played The Final Countdown three times, which always strikes me as a) hilarious and b) absolutely understandable.
Preamble
It’s finally time for surely the tie of the round (on one level at least): The Bees v The Bees at the Hive.
It’s been 10 years since these sides were in the same division but the last time the teams met was just over seven years ago and also came in a cup competition, with Barnet dumping Brentford out of the JPT on penalties after a 0-0 draw at Underhill.
And just for belt-and-braces, historical fact fans, Barnet have never – NEVER – beaten Brentford inside 90 minutes. That said, they’d never beaten Sheffield United before and happily ousted the Blades in the third round with a superb performance at Bramall Lane.
While Barnet were providing one of the shocks of the round, Brentford were squeezing past League One Oxford thanks to a late Neal Maupay penalty at Griffin Park. That game, though, has proven the first of a three-match winning run and Thomas Frank’s side haven’t lost since 15 December.
That has pushed Brentford away from the Championship relegation zone, so it’s 17th in the National League v 18th in the Championship this evening – a gap of 70 league places by my count.
It could be very interesting. Kick off is at 7.45pm GMT but before that, come join me over here for the FA Cup fifth round draw.