County are back on the road this weekend for a huge game in League Two, as we take on fellow promotion-hopefuls Notts County – looking for a first win at Meadow Lane since 2008.
A strong second-half performance last weekend saw a depleted County side secure a much-needed three points at home to Walsall, maintaining our two-point lead over Wrexham at the top of League Two. Draws elsewhere for Mansfield and Barrow made it a good day all round for Dave Challinor’s side, as the gap to fourth place grew to five points.
Elsewhere in the division on Saturday, Wrexham travel to take on Newport County in an all-Welsh affair, whilst Barrow host fifth place Crewe Alexandra. Mansfield’s game at home to bottom of the table Sutton United has been called off due to a frozen pitch – at the time of writing, all other games remain on.
Opponents Notts County are under new management as of Thursday night, with the club moving to appoint Wealdstone manager Stuart Maynard on a three-and-a-half year deal after previous boss Luke Williams had moved on to Championship side Swansea City.
The Magpies were involved in one of the games of the season last time out, drawing 5-5 away at Grimsby in a match where they trailed 2-0, 3-2 and 4-3 and led 5-4 in stoppage time, before a late Harry Wood equaliser for the home side. That result leaves them in sixth, two points above Gillingham just outside the play-off places and seven points off the top three.
Since we last met:
You only have to go back a month for the last time these two sides met, as goals from Kyle Wootton and Paddy Madden secured a crucial 2-1 win over Notts at Edgeley Park just before Christmas.
That result was a fourth straight loss in all competitions for the Magpies and a sixth in eight games in League Two, but it was a much improved performance from Luke Williams’ side on the night – finishing the game with 66% possession at Edgeley Park.
Sure enough over the festive period, the side looked to be getting back to their best after Doncaster Rovers and Morecambe were dispatched 3-0 and 5-0 at Meadow Lane – results that left Notts as the top scorers in the EFL heading into the New Year, and only three points off the top three.
Their defensive frailties were exposed once again on New Year’s Day, however, losing 4-2 away at an in-form Tranmere Rovers side – former County man Connor Jennings grabbing a brace for Rovers that day.
A bad start to 2024 for Magpies supporters was compounded shortly after, with the news that popular manager Luke Williams was leaving the club to take up the job at Swansea City in the Championship. Williams guided Notts to a club record 107 points in the National League last season, winning promotion via the play-offs whilst implementing expansive, attacking football at Meadow Lane.
Player-coach Jim O’Brien was in caretaker charge for last weekend’s remarkable game at Grimsby, before Stuart Maynard’s appointment late on Thursday.
The 43-year-old joins after three successful years at Wealdstone in the National League, turning the Stones into one of the most attractive sides to watch in the division. Despite operating on a part-time basis in an increasingly full-time league, Maynard guided the club through a difficult period during the covid pandemic before leading them to 16th and 13th place finishes – the latter being the Stones’ highest league finish in 36 years.
His first objective, however, may well be to address a defence that has already conceded 52 goals in League Two this season. Only three sides, Swindon, Colchester and Sutton, have conceded more. His first three games see him go up against County, Barrow and Mansfield in League Two – a baptism of fire perhaps, but also an opportunity to push Notts back into contention for those automatic promotion places.
Match Stats:
- Saturday will be the 41st meeting between the two sides in all competitions – County have won 11 of the previous encounters, compared to 18 for Notts. We have, however, won the last two encounters, both at Edgeley Park.
- Our last win at Meadow Lane came in January 2008, secured by goals from Anthony Elding and Liam Dickinson. County went on to secure promotion from League Two that season via the play-offs.
- After scoring only twice in his first 74 appearances for the club, Akil Wright has now scored twice in his last four games.
- Tanto Olaofe’s goal against Walsall last weekend took his goal tally to 15 for the season – already more than any County player managed in the whole of last season.
