By Joe Jones
Ricardo Moniz has made it clear that his Notts County side need to be more clinical and incisive in attack if they are to progress in League Two this season. The Magpies succumbed to a meek 2-0 defeat at Meadow Lane against bitter rivals Mansfield, a loss that changed the mood among the Notts faithful from euphoric to funereal within 90 minutes.
Aside from the two poorly conceded goals, another worrying thing for Notts was how little they offered in the final third – Stags goalkeeper Brian Jensen was barely tested all game.
Moniz said: “We were not able to create anything in the first half… in the first two games I was critical about that. In difficult games where it's so close you need the escape.
"In the first half, Jenner, instead of shooting, he had to pull the ball back. In the second half we had the cross from Burkey but it's not enough to be a favourite team (to go up) when we are so limited up front.
"This is not an offence to anyone, but you need that extra quality against a compact wall of defenders.
"Jon was too isolated in the first half. He needed support from Jimmy Spencer – he was fresh. They have to create chances but they depend on the crosses and Mansfield were very organised at the back.
"We had the cross from Burke and two possibilities with Jenner. This is not enough. Blair Adams and Scott Bennett have to overlap so we can create more."
Notts have the chance to redeem themselves almost instantly with Tuesday evening’s visit of Oxford United.
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