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Mixed feelings for Alan Hardy over Notts County League Two fixtures

By Joe Jones

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Alan Hardy has spoken excitedly about the prospect of taking on Lincoln City this season in League Two and also of facing Coventry City in the very first game of the season, but was unhappy with the festive program.

The EFL fixtures for each of their three divisions were published at 9am on Wednesday, with Pride of Nottingham at Meadow Lane to cover the reveal as it happened.

The draw was not kind to the Magpies, however, as the Sky Blues and Chesterfield, both of whom were relegated from League One in 2016-17, would be first and second to take on Kevin Nolan's charges this season.

Hardy was happy enough with the initial set of games, but was even more excited about renewing rivalries with the Imps and with Mansfield Town.

He told the Nottingham Post: "The Mansfield game will obviously be massive with a big crowd, but I am really looking forward to playing Lincoln.

"Their boys will be cock-a-hoop after the season they have had and they will be full of confidence. I can't wait to get them here on our new pitch.

"But overall I can't wait. Coventry away for the first game is a top, top, draw. It will be tough, but how exciting?"

The post-Christmas fixtures are not kind either - Notts will travel to Morecambe on Boxing Day before a trip to Swindon just four days later.

"There are two disappointments for me and the first is that we play Morecambe on Boxing Day," Hardy continued.

"That means the fans are going to have to leave at 10am in the morning and is that really fair on their families?

"It's a poor fixture for us and that is then followed by another long trip to Swindon over the holiday period.

"It's also the seventh consecutive season we are away on the opening day and that can't be right."

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    Chris

    Administrators

    Bring 'em on I say! It will be a good test to see what the squad as about them at the start and I always personally expect to see some changes. I think the fixtures look quite good.

    Hall of Fame

    Magic magpie

    Members

    Unfortunately all teams will suffer the festive period down side. I think we will do fine it just proves that Kevin Nolan knows his fixtures and key dates. He knows a  bad festive period of results will  decide if county will fight for promotion. Because so many teams have slipped with a bad festive period results.

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    liampie

    Members

    cant help but feel we just need to focus and takes things as they come.

    Apprentice

    Piethagoras

    Members

    I understand there are a few weekends that currently have both Nottingham teams at home for a 3pm kickoff.

    That we are away, for the seventh consecutive year, on the opening day is strange. Statistically long odds.

    I won't be going to the seaside on Boxing Day. There's no reason to hand us such a trek on Bank Holiday. Traditionally, local fixtures are dished out. Like the majority of clubs in the EFL.

    Is it done by bad computer programming or a poor computer programmer?

    Lastly, don't enjoy having to miss local derby versus Chesterfield in August - bang in the middle of holiday season.

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