Martin Allen claims the only reason he knows Barnet are top of the league is because Bees supporters keep singing about it.

The Bees won 2-0 at Gateshead on Saturday to put a five-point gap between themselves and second-placed Halifax Town and, as Tuesday’s game with Braintree Town is the only Conference fixture, Allen’s side could go eight points clear with victory.

However the Bees head coach is still refusing to get carried away and claimed the only reason he is aware of his side’s lofty position is because Barnet supporters sing: “We’re top of the league”.

He said: “The only reason I know that we top is because all of the supporters keep singing it every week. And what a merry little band we brought up here today sitting opposite us.

“I made sure today that I was going to have full concentration for the 94 minutes, and I was very demanding of all the players on the pitch for 94 minutes today. But I kept getting this distraction from the merry little band over the other side.

Allen continued: “They were all singing and dancing and I think I must have smiled probably about half a dozen times looking across at them. They were merry and happy and after last week, which was a tough afternoon, it was lovely to see all those Barnet supporters and our players celebrating together at the end. On and off the field it was a good day all round for the club and I really enjoyed it.”

With Sam Hoskins injured and Alfie Pavey returning to Millwall following the completion of his loan spell, Allen switched to a 4-2-3-1 system, with Luisma Villa, Lee Cook and goal-scorer Curtis Weston pushed on in support of lone forward John Akinde.

The change undoubtedly worked, with Weston scoring the opener and teeing up Luisma for the second just five minutes later.

“Curtis has been captain and he has been confident from day one this season – he has been fantastic,” Allen Enthused. “He has been very unlucky with several opportunities that he has had with some good saves and some very close efforts.

“Today he worked much higher up the pitch, closer to John and had to do an awful lot of running with the closing down and pressure that we put them under. Then of course, when the ball came back into our half of the pitch he had to recover and get back and help with our other nine. “ Added Allen: “He has got the legwork to do it, he has got the athletic capability to do it and Curtis is just a good player.”

Youth team pair Matt Stevens and Kai McKenzie-Lyle were both named on the bench and asked about their inclusion, Allen enthused: “I get a report every week and young Kai has done very well with the youth team and as we all know Stevens recently became the youngest player to ever play for Barnet in the history of the football club.

“It really is nice to have them here. They are both good players and they are both good lads. If we had of needed a goal without a shadow of a doubt I would have put Stevens on. I don’t really see him as a kid, I see him as a goalscorer.

Allen continued: “With the young goalkeeper I thought it would be a good experience for him. Sam Cowler has got a stiff back at the moment so we decided to bring Kai up. It’s good for him and all of the senior players love it. It’s good for us.”