Mark Cooper eager to put together a Notts County team "up for the fight"

Notts County manager Mark Cooper has pledged to put together a group of players that will put up a good fight in the remaining League Two games of the season.

The Magpies secured safety last week following a 1-0 win over Hartlepool, but since then they have fallen to a 5-0 thrashing at Mansfield and a disappointing 3-1 defeat at Barnet.

County's players received criticism from Bees boss Martin Allen, who said they had let a lot of people down.

Cooper added: "Martin has the right to his opinion and if you had watched the second half you would probably have to agree with him.

"In the pre-match meeting on Tuesday I also showed them comments made by Mansfield and their manager.

"You shouldn't want to read that as a player. It should really hurt. That's two managers now and they can't all be wrong.

"What we have to do now is put a group together that's going to fight and scrap and play some decent football.

"I want to trust players and pat them on the back and say 'hey, well done out there'.

"But they have to give me 95 minutes of effort and desire. You have to earn the right to play.

"We will see in the performance on Saturday whether they can drag themselves up and be up for the fight.

"We have some players who will fight, but possibly not enough.

"I know Martin Allen was desperate to beat Notts in midweek and I am sure Shaun will be too.

"It will be the same with Keith Curle, who comes here with Carlisle on the last day of the season.

"What we have to do is stand up to the challenge and try to put a team out there that wants to fight.

"Shaun's team epitomises him as a player – a good footballer but a fighter.

"We have to match it otherwise you have no chance.

"They are going for the play-offs, Shaun has stabilised them and if they miss out this year, they will certainly be a danger next year."

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