Kevin Nolan: 'Notts County should have seen the game out'

Kevin Nolan has bemoaned Notts County's inability to see out their game with Accrington Stanley, insisting the players "did the wrong things at the wrong times".

For the second successive game, the Magpies took a two-goal lead, only to relinquish it, and there was to be no late rally as the match finished 2-2.

Jon Stead's successful spot kick and Jorge Grant's strike were cancelled out through Mark Hughes's goal midway through the second half and loanee Mallik Wilks's injury-time strike.

Nolan did not just reserve criticism for his players, however, also having words to say about the match officials in Friday's league Two game at Meadow Lane.

“We should have seen it out. We got in a fantastic position,” he told the Nottingham Post.

The lads looked nervous but good pressure got the penalty. At 2-0 up and then against 10 men you think ‘right take the sting out of it’.

“We went away from the right things. We’re disappointed because when we look back it’ll be a great point, but you need to see the game out and not give the ref an excuse to even it out.

“We didn’t play to Jonathan Forte’s strengths when he came on. We did the wrong things at the wrong times.

“I’ve got to say I don’t want to keep talking about referees. It seems at the minute they need help. The lads are professional athletes. We need more full time refs and linesmen.”

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