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Mark Stallard Reflects on Missed Opportunities in Notts County’s 1-0 Defeat to Gillingham


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Notts County suffered their first defeat of the season at Meadow Lane, falling 1-0 to Gillingham in a closely contested affair. 

Speaking on BBC Radio Nottingham, Notts County correspondent Mark Stallard shared his thoughts on the match, emphasising the importance of taking chances, especially in tight games.

During the post-match analysis, David Jackson, from BBC Radio Nottingham, opened by reflecting on a pivotal moment in the first half when Notts County full-back Nick Tsaroulla found himself in a promising position.

“My mind keeps going back to earlier in the game with the Nick Tsaroulla chances,” Jackson said, noting the team’s ability to get in behind Gillingham’s disciplined defence. “You kind of thought, well surely they'll break that down again and get a goal eventually, but of course it never materialised.”

Stallard was quick to agree, recognising that such missed chances often determine the outcome of matches. He noted, “Absolutely, and again, taking your chances is key in football matches. Very small margins separate games, you know, a lot of weeks of the season. Not every week can you go and score three and four goals, even when you've got the sort of potency that Notts possess, the quality of play.”

Despite Notts County’s dominance, with 70.5% possession, the Magpies struggled to make their control count on the scoreboard. Stallard singled out Tsaroulla’s chance, as well as another from George Abbott, as key moments that could have changed the complexion of the match.

“When you get your chances, you have to take it. Nick Tsaroulla, and George Abbott with those two chances - had they taken that, we got in front. You get in front, it then gives a different dynamic to the game because Gillingham are behind, they have to chase something out of the game.”

Gillingham, known for their defensive solidity, executed their game plan perfectly, frustrating Notts County’s attack and staying compact throughout. 

Stallard acknowledged their approach, saying, “Although I was really impressed with the visitors, I have to say, although Notts played well, and if they'd have taken their chances, obviously it would have been a different game. But I thought they looked solid, they looked like everything we'd expect them to be.”

Elliott Nevitt’s goal in the 38th minute proved to be the decisive moment, with Gillingham making the most of their limited opportunities.

Stallard praised Nevitt’s clinical finish, noting, “The composure they took their chance, Elliott Nevitt when he got his opportunity took it really well.”

The first goal, according to Stallard, was always going to be crucial in such a tightly contested match. “That first goal may have changed the game completely,” he said, suggesting that if Notts County had struck first, the outcome could have been different. Had the Magpies taken the lead, Gillingham might have been forced to abandon their defensive posture and play a more expansive game.

Stallard’s analysis also touched on the overall resilience of the Gillingham side, who showed why they have one of the most formidable defences in League Two.

“You can only play what's in front of you, Gillingham played the game well and kept Notts really at arm's length,” he concluded.

Ultimately, while the defeat was a setback for Notts County, Stallard’s analysis served as a reminder of the small margins that can define football matches. Despite their best efforts, the Magpies were left to rue their missed opportunities as they look to bounce back in their next fixture.

Check out the latest Faces of PON gallery on Pride of Nottingham, capturing Notts County fans from the Gillingham match! Chris, the photographer behind these moments, shares his journey of passion and connection with the supporters.

On Pride of Nottingham, Stuart Maynard reflects on the 1-0 defeat to Gillingham, discussing the team's missed chances and the frustrations that led to his yellow card.



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i dont think we need to dwell on the missed chances, but mark stallard is right and goals change games. just like poor officials which was the real talking point. i was hoping that would be pointed out when i came home after the game listening to the radio but it seems only bbc radio nottingham discuss controversial moments when its forest. its a bit disappointing, but mark stallard is right with his comments. i know he spoke about it during the game, but it was absent at the end.

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Gillingham weren’t that good. Defensively, they blocked some chances, but it was critical at the cost of our attacking play. Notts were unlucky at times. It’s easy to miss some good opportunities when playing in a high-tempo game. It happens all the time at the top levels, so I don’t think we need to worry about those misses.

The main thing to rethink about this game is how we handle poor officials. I think if Jodi Jones hadn’t gone off, we would have scored before Sam Austin’s ruled-out goal.

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It’s always tough to see a game slip away, especially when Nick had such a golden opportunity. We dominated the match and created plenty of chances, but Nick’s miss was particularly unfortunate. Stallard is right about Tsaroulla and Abbott needing to take their chances, but Nick’s miss stands out. Gillingham made it difficult for us, and once they scored, they shut down any openings. We have the quality to break teams down, but today just wasn’t our day. The most frustrating part is knowing that Nick’s chance could have been the difference. These games are crucial in a promotion race. Still, it’s a learning experience, and hopefully, we can take those lessons into the next match.

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I love to hear Mark Stallard's analysis. He is so good at picking through the Notts performance post match. I think he is absolutely correct with his analysis.

Notts didn't play poorly in this game, they didn't play to their best, but any other day they could have easily won this match 

It was unfortunate that the chances didn't fall to Didzy, Crowley or Jones otherwise I'm sure they would have buried those chances.

I won't dwell on the goal ruled out for offside & the penalty that wasn't given, but another day & another Ref things may have been different.

There are positives to take too. The Notts defence was solid again, Bedeau showed that he will be a big player for Notts this season. 

And Notts did create plenty of chances against a side that will be up there at the season's end. Onwards we go to Morecambe next Saturday.

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I think this match really shows how football is often decided by small margins. Notts controlled possession, but it felt like Gillingham were always comfortable. They didn’t allow many clear chances, and when they got theirs, Nevitt was clinical. It’s a hard pill to swallow, especially since we looked the better side for long spells, but possession doesn’t win games, goals do. Stallard’s analysis of Tsaroulla’s chance is spot on. That moment, along with Abbott’s, could’ve changed the entire dynamic of the match. If we take the lead, Gillingham would’ve had to open up, but we just couldn’t take advantage. It’s something we need to work on if we want to stay in the promotion race.

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I’m really impressed with how the team handled the Gillingham match, despite the result. We controlled the game for long spells, and it’s clear that we’re growing as a unit. The controversial goal was a tough one to swallow, but it’s part of the game. I think with a bit more sharpness in the final third, we’ll turn those dominating performances into wins. Injuries didn’t help us either, especially losing Jodi Jones, but we have enough quality in the squad to bounce back.

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I agree with Stall, but we should also remember that we're one of the league's top teams for scoring, and the players who had good chances aren't strikers. Misses happen, unfortunately, we weren't able to overcome the poor officiating, but the players performed well.

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