Kevin Nolan eager to keep complacency at bay despite congratulatory messages

Kevin Nolan has revealed that he is getting congratulatory messages from former colleagues for having led Notts County to the top of League Two, but remains committed to keeping complacency at bay.

The Magpies' blip at Coventry City on the first day of the season is now a distant memory as the club gears up for an early top-of-the-table clash against Exeter City.

Notts could secure a sixth consecutive league win should they triumph at St James' Park tonight, but despite the early pats on the back from several former West Ham teammates, Nolan says he must "keep reminding everybody" about it being early days.

“Ginge (James Collins) messaged me the other day to say he was delighted for me and I get them often off AC (Andy Carroll) too," the Magpies boss told the Nottingham Post.

“There are people who are genuinely pleased with the way it’s going for me at the minute.

“But I know I can’t take my foot off the gas pedal. I have got to keep trying and strive to be better as a manager and a person really.

“It’s just about making sure I keep my feet on the ground and not get carried away with the hype.

“If, at the end of the season, I am sitting where I am now then I can take all the accolades but this job is very much still in its infancy.

“I am really desperate to succeed at it. I am still an apprentice trying to learn his trade and hopefully I’ve started off well.

“I know there will be some bumps, but when I do get hit with one, hopefully I will be able to bounce back and am ready for it.

“There are players here who were part of (the 10-match losing streak), but the shift in mentality from then to now has been absolutely brilliant. But we just have to keep working hard and not get carried away with what is happening.

“As I said, and I’ve got to keep reminding everybody, that I took over a team that was second-bottom but 10 games earlier they were sixth and could have gone second. So that’s how easy it can all change.”

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