Kevin Nolan and Richard Thomas discuss Carlton Town and York City friendlies

Notts County manager Kevin Nolan and assistant Richard Thomas have given their reaction to the pre-season friendlies against Carlton Town and York City.

In the local friendly, overseen by Nolan, the hosts took a first-half lead through Robbie McNicholas but Jon Stead equalised from the penalty spot.

At Bootham Crescent, meanwhile, Pierce Bird struck late on to give the Thomas's Magpies squad the win after Liam Walker and Jon Parkin had the game on a knife edge.

Nolan told the official website: "All in all I am delighted to have got another 90 minutes into the lads' legs because they needed it. It was a good test for us.

"Fair play to Carlton. They have a set of principles and they stick to them. They are well-disciplined and were well worthy of what they got from the game.

"When we started doing the basic stuff right it made us look a lot more dangerous and we probably should have had another penalty.

"It's put a lot of thoughts into my head which we can work on during the next week to make sure we are ready and raring to go at Coventry."

Thomas, meanwhile, said: "The lads showed great character to respond with a goal - a fantastic goal as well after a great delivery from Liam Walker.

"It shows we've got good grit and determination - we'll go for the entire game and we're not going to give up. I'm sure that will help us be successful over the course of the season.

"It was a very good workout against stiff oppostion and we created so many opportunities.

"We've still got to work on certain aspects and that will continue right through the season. That's the way the manager and I are - we're always going to strive for improvement."

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