Stephens hoping Bees can build on clean sheet (From Times Series)

Barnet defender David Stephens hopeful the Bees can build on clean sheet against Rotherham United

11:52am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in Sport By Adam Newson

While a hard-fought point against promotion favourites Rotherham United was undoubtedly pleasing for Barnet, arguably the biggest positive to come out of the goalless draw was the Bees first clean sheet of the season.

Mark Robson’s side have conceded an average of two goals a game in the league but there were plenty of signs on Saturday that the central defensive partnership of Krystian Pearce and David Stephens will help reduce that statistic.

The duo provide a strong physical presence, are quick across the ground, are good in the air and by their own admission complement each other well. The defenders are both still in their first month at Underhill. Stephens joined on transfer deadline day from Scottish side Hibernian while Pearce signed a three-month loan deal with the Bees less than three weeks ago.

Stephens explained communication on the pitch is the reason both centre-backs have developed a budding partnership.

"We are doing well together and we both complement each other," the 22-year-old said. "He talks me through the match and I try and talk him through the game. So we are delighted that we got our first clean sheet and hopefully we can build on it.

"I think that for the team and the fans it is very important we kept our first clean sheet. I think the supporters can see that at times we have defended well but it hasn’t been consistent.

"We have been defending well for either the first half of the second half; we hadn’t done it for the whole 90 minutes.

"So we have now set a standard and hopefully now we can continue from that."

He added: "I just want to keep as many clean sheets as possible this season and hopefully in doing that I can help the team climb up the league table."

With the addition of Collins John a total of 16 new players have been brought into Barnet on either loan deals of permanent transfers since the summer.

The continued signings means plenty of change to the Bees starting XI and Stephens ackowledges that the side are still developing.

"I think the fans understand that we are still gelling. We are a young team and it will take a little bit of time for everyone to gel and to develop as a team. But the manager is working hard on that and the performance against Rotherham was a positive one."