PLYMOUTH Argyle boss Carl Fletcher has praised the club's fans for helping to keep the players going.

Argyle snatched a late equaliser against Southend at Home Park more than a week ago to draw 2-2 with the League Two title hopefuls.

And Fletcher said the Pilgrims' supporters – frequently referred to as the club's 12th man – had helped spur the players on to get another critical point in Argyle's fight to stay in the Football League.

They will get their chance to urge their team on again tonight when Argyle take on Barnet at Home Park (7.45pm).

While the Bees are presently an apparently comfortable distance from the relegation zone, a defeat could help to drag them into the scrap while lifting Argyle a little bit more towards safety.

The Pilgrims are currently second-bottom of League Two and are in danger of dropping out of the Football League.

However, they are only one point adrift of Dagenham and Redbridge and a position of safety.

Tonight's opponents, Barnet, are eight points ahead of Dagenham.

Barnet lost 1-0 to Swindon Town in the Johnson Paint Trophy at home on February 7.

But apart from that reverse, the Bees have won four from their last five league games.

Their victories have come against Bristol Rovers (2-0), Northampton Town (2-1), Crewe (2-0) and Accrington Stanley (3-0).

Barnet's sole defeat came at Crawley Town, who are currently second, on December 30.

They were due to play Swindon in the league on Saturday, but their game – like Argyle's at Macclesfield Town – was called off because of a frozen pitch.

Fletcher, ahead of tonight's match, said: "We're facing a tough game because Barnet are going to want to win it and we've got to be ready for it.

"They're having a fairly good run and we have to be fully prepared for them.

"The (support of) the crowd is massive for us.

"I know it's a Tuesday night and it's probably going to be cold, but for us and the football club, the fans plays a massive part.

"Against Southend, they stuck behind us, got the players going and kept right behind us until the end of the match.

"It's more pleasing for us when things are going wrong that the fans have stuck behind us and they're just as important as anyone else at the club."

Fletcher said he had talked with Argyle's keeper, Jake Cole, about Barnet.

The Argyle number one has fought two relegation battles with Barnet, before leaving the club when he was unable to come to an agreement over contract.

Fletcher, who said Argyle had no added injury problems, said: "There's been a lot of changes since he (Cole) was there."