Is all really lost?

The F.A Cup is a major opportunity lost by exiting in the first round. It's the perfect opportunity to spread a little cheer among the fan base, gather results and of course add money to the coffers. All things which Notts County could all do with in abundance.

Everybody always looks forward to the trips away, whilst the possibility of gracing a top tier team at Meadow lane – but is all really lost? I don't believe it is.

Notts currently sit 4th within the 2014/2015 League One campaign, it's only just past mid November and after last season exiting the F.A Cup doesn't seem all that bad at all.

We've all wanted a squad that plays for the shirt, that extra pride which the players put in goes along way and it's part of the reason why we are currently doing so well within the league. Don't get me wrong, I am disappointed but in comparison we have a bigger picture to face.

On Saturday Notts get back to League One football, a win at Meadow Lane would be the perfect way to respond to struggling Yeovil Town.

If we won, we could perhaps move to 3rd depending on how Preston do against Bristol City.

We still have a game in hand over both Preston and Swindon, it might also allow us to gain space over Sheffield United who have played exactly the same amount of games as us at 16 and we share the same amount of points, 29.

Sheffield United face Oldham on the 22nd of November 2014, neither side are really scoring or winning by many goals and I see this ending as a draw but perhaps Oldham could do us a favour?

Our very next game after Yeovil Town is actually Sheffield United, there's no better time to be playing them.

Our current form is actually very impressive, the odd blip here and there but the squad are battling.

You would certainly call this progress compared to last season right? It's for this reason why I have put aside my disappointment and decided to remain optimistic.

I wrote a blog before things started to click that I felt Notts were on the verge of something special, I really feel that this could be the season whereby we make the play-offs and dare I say it gain promotion? Don't we all dream of this? Time is now to try and make that difference.

We have a tough run of fixtures – Sheffield United (a), Swindon (h), Rochdale (a), MK Dons (H) and Bradford (a).

It doesn't get any easier at the very start of the new year, however I feel we can get some very respectable results. In the row of five games, I would hope we could at least take 9 to 11 points. It might be more like 7, yet I believe we can win more than two of the five.

No matter what you feel, let's focus on seeing where we are come the end of December.

Let's get straight back behind the lads, fill the stands on Saturday with encourage and just have a crack at this the right way.

The only way, the BLACK & WHITE WAY! YOU PIES!!