By Joe Jones
Alan Hardy has paid tribute to the Notts County fans for getting behind the team even during the leaner spells and insists the fanbase has a huge role to play in the latter stages of the season.
The Magpies spent a good chunk of the season in the automatic promotion places, even holding top spot for a number of weeks.
However, County's form has tailed off in 2018, with four defeats, two draws and just three wins from the nine league games this calendar year.
This has sent Notts - previously boasting a sizeable cushion into the automatics - tumbling down into the playoff places, with eighth-placed Lincoln City now just five points behind.
Hardy addressed this in his latest Nottingham Post column and, as well as praising the "magnificent backing" given by the Black and White Army, he also spoke of the need for the team players and coaches to get in "cup finals" mode.
"I am of the firm belief the fans have a huge role to play in the remainder of the campaign, especially in our home games," Hardy wrote.
"The backing we have had this season has been truly magnificent and there have been times when it has been so powerful, it has helped us overcome extraordinary odds.
"An example came in our home match against Cambridge when we were 3-0 down. Instead of becoming silent, anxious and greeting mistakes with groans, the fans roared with defiance.
"The noise levels grew and you could see the confidence flooding into the players. It gave them belief that, despite the deficit, they could still fight back to get a result.
"They did just that by securing a 3-3 draw when defeat looked inevitable. It was a prime example of the fans playing the role of 12th man.
"Our supporters travel up and down the country at great expense because of their love for their wonderful football club.
"We can harness that backing for the last 12 games of the season as we continue to chase down those sides above us.
"Hopefully we will begin our ‘cup finals’ with a bang against Stevenage on Saturday, a team who are sitting comfortably in mid-table with neither relegation or promotion looking a likely prospect.
"That makes them dangerous because they can come here to Meadow Lane without pressure, meaning we will have to be on our guard.
"As the manager has pointed out, we are striving to reach our form from earlier in the season when we were incredibly difficult to beat as we soared towards the top of the league.
"I know Kevin, his staff and the players are working tirelessly to lead us out of what has been an indifferent run, but it was never going to be a season without a tricky period.
"I am convinced we will come through it with more experience and more understanding of what is required should we encounter such a spell again.
"A third consecutive home win would certainly be the perfect tonic and, with a crazy fixture schedule now behind us, we can drive forward, giving it our best shot from now until the end of the season."
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