Michael Gash insists he and his Barnet teammates believe they will return to the Conference summit by beating FC Halifax Town in their game in hand next Tuesday.

The Bees have lost five of their last eight – by far their worst run of the season – and have subsequently slipped to second place in the table, two points behind Bristol Rovers.

Saturday was an opportunity to leapfrog the Gas after their defeat by Eastleigh but Barnet were also beaten, losing at home to Forest Green Rovers.

However, Gash says the players and staff have full confidence they will return to the top on Tuesday.

He said: “At the moment we are in second with a game in hand. I believe, the players believe and the gaffer believes we will win that game in hand and go back top and again then expect tough games because everyone wants to beat Barnet.

“When you are at the top, especially with Barnet being there most of the season, people come here and it is their big day, their cup final and they want to try and upset the so-called best team in the league.”

Gash has been in the opposing dressing room at The Hive already this season and scored in the 3-3 draw with Kidderminster Harriers at the beginning of October to spark a three-goal comeback.

And that game had a big part to play in Gash’s arrival in Edgware.

“I think that was when I first caught his (Martin Allen’s) eye,” he said. “When it came up that I would be leaving Kidderminster he gave me a call, said he liked me as a player and told me he needed three good strikers to challenge for this league title.

“I have come here, got my head down, worked hard and now hopefully I am in the manager’s head to try and start as many games as possible. Whoever plays, everyone supports the starting XI, the subs that come on and the people that do not come on.”

Head coach Allen has stated his belief opposing teams treat their fixtures against the Bees as a cup final and Gash backs up that theory.

He explained: “When you are playing against the best team in the league you want to beat them and try to impress.

“I have come here and unfortunately I have scored. But definitely in the opposition changing room they won’t need any motivation when they come here. It is already there: ‘Let’s beat the best team in the league, let’s beat top-of-the-table’. But we know that is going to happen; we are set up for it and have the players in the changing room that will just go out and win games.”

Gash arrived at The Hive in the middle of January under the illusion he would play a back-up role to John Akinde and Charlie MacDonald. However, suspension for the former and injury to the latter has seen Gash start three consecutive games.

“I knew it was always going to be hard coming here,” he admitted. “I spoke to the gaffer before I came here and he said, ‘I want you here but I can’t guarantee you a starting place’. Obviously John (Akinde) and Chaz (Charlie MacDonald) are top goalscorer and club captain and he (MacDonald) is a very good player as well.

“There was an opportunity with John being suspended. I don’t know how to explain it really because you want John in your team, he is our main threat really, but it was good for me to have that opportunity and thankfully I impressed the gaffer enough to start the game against Altrincham and scored two goals.”