By Joe Jones
Notts County lost their unbeaten home league record as Exeter City secured a 2-1 victory at Meadow Lane.
First-half goals from Jake Taylor and Jayden Stockley gave the promotion-chasing Grecians a two-goal advantage.
Although Jon Stead scored a penalty, the Magpies could not go on to find an equaliser
The result means that Notts have tasted their first defeat in the league in front of their own fans since Portsmouth won last April.
What was the reaction from the Notts boss, players and fans following the draw? Here is a collection of the best post-match reaction.
Kevin Nolan
“It was a disappointing afternoon and it always is when you lose a game. But I thought the lads’ reaction in the second half was absolutely fantastic.
“I thought we totally outplayed Exeter, and while we created lots of opportunities, the ball just didn’t seem to fall for us or we didn’t work the keeper well enough.
“I just thought the response was better all round because in the first half we showed them a little bit too much respect.
“But I did feel that the free-kick which led to the first goal shouldn’t have been given and when a team scores off the back of it shows how big those decisions are.
“I discussed that at the end with the referee because little decisions are just as important.
“It was the same for their second goal. Their lad can’t win the ball without going through Jorge Grant.
“There is a ref and a lineman there and I am bewildered as to why the free-kick wasn’t given.
“But these are the decisions they have to get right even though I thought the referee had a decent game.”
Liam Noble
“I was disappointed to not get something out of the game, but going 2-0 down in the first half wasn’t good enough.
“We showed a good reaction in the second half but we can’t put ourselves in that position.
“We just fell short and we didn’t pick up enough second balls.
“But it was nice to be back out there and it would have been better had we got the result we had wanted.”
Jorge Grant
The Black and White Army - PON Forum
Chris:
I have to say, I fell Notts performed very poorly yesterday.
The first half wasn't very good at all, we committed players to far up the field and nobody bar Dan Jones had the pace to track back. Stead shouldn't have been playing on his own up front, though why does he insist on dropping to his knees as soon as he gets the ball? Yes, sometimes there was force and pushing but he never draws the foul to a convincing point for me.
Our midfield seemed very capable but sluggish to drive forward anything remotely creative.
Second half I felt Notts played some great stuff, yet we never looked likely to score and we just have this habit of trying to force the play - we need an Alan Judge type player that isn't afraid to shoot from distance. Go on Kevin, get Noble and some of the others to practice this - even Grant seemed woeful!
The referee didn't help but we should play beyond this, we just seemed to allow his poor handling to be bigger than it should.
Exeter I felt was very poor also, they used school boy diversion tactics and frequently cheated. I noticed several incidents which went unpunished, from a two footed challenge to one of their players hitting out at Virtue (for no reason).
At the end of the day we was poor and, I struggle to suggest we deserved anything from it.
United Pie:
With that loss yesterday my nerves are starting to rattle exester are starting to have a late serge. That loss now puts us in danger of the casing pack closing in on us Accrington are a game in a hand and can now go second with a win we need to hold our nerve and play like we have been doing. Cause loosing games like yesterday day dose not get you promoted.
Liampie:
fans near me kept going on about us missing yates but i think even he would have struggled yesterday.
we started poorly and it became a game of chasing them after the early goal for exeter. i think the better team won tbh, we did not create enough clear chances and for that reason i am disappointed. i think they scored from their first two shots on target! standards are slipping nolan.
ARLukomski:
I feel like we are gonna bottle this if we keep going the way we are. Nolan got it completely wrong yesterday. If it ain’t broken, don’t try and fix it. No idea why we went with 4-2-3-1 when it’s untried, untested and unproven with this team. Why change a formation that’s been working all season. Hunt plays everyone on for the first goal. Second one is a woeful pass by Virtue. Husin was bought off when he was doing well. Noble and Walker looked quality in the centre of midfield yesterday. Hewitt is not a centre back, we desperately need to sign some cover. Early in the second half, four good balls were put into the box with nobody’s on the end of them, showing again why we so badly need a striker. Alessandra missed a sitter at the back post. Ameobi won the penalty then afterwards didn’t look bothered. The problem is yesterday’s selection was caused by injuries and again we have no strength in depth. Luton can have injuries and replace them players with players who are just as good. Tootle is ill and we replace him with a grandfather clock.
The Black and White Army - Social media
Peter Walker: Still In a better place than last January! Either we play Jonathan Forte or we get a striker in not another midfield player
Steve Brewer: Didn't play bad. Ref had a hand in both of their goals although it was bad defending and the goalie should have stoppe d
Stuart Anderson: 1st half was awful, why the hell we started 1 up top beggers belief!! 2nd started ok but we dominated when we bought a 2nd striker on! We need a pacey striker who knows where the net Is!! I thought Noble was very good today.
Adrian Wheatley: If today dont make them look for defenders then nothing will nothing on the bench for central defence and let the only option leave for free?
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