More professional clubs in the Conference

David Brown, the Hereford United striker, has questioned whether the standard of the Conference has improved this season.

"I don't know whether the standard is not as good this year or whether people have raised their standards a little more. There are definitely more professional clubs now in the Conference than at any time before," Brown told the Evening News.

"Barnet have been fantastic this season. They have done better than I expected. They have been the pace-setters for much of the season and others have struggled to catch up.

"Saying that, we played Barnet at home earlier this season and ended up drawing 1-1 when we should have beaten them."

"Barnet are 19 points ahead of us. For us, it's making sure we end up in the play-offs. That's the main thing.

"I don't think the pressure is on us to beat them. It is on Barnet as they are leading the Conference and everybody is chasing after them. They are expected now to win week-in-week-out and that could have an effect.

"We are quite confident after our last couple of games. It was important we beat Aldershot a fortnight ago because they had been playing well and it kept us in there."

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