By PON_News
Notts County correspondent and former striker Mark Stallard lauded his former club's 4-2 victory over Bromley, hailing the team's resilience and star performances from key players.
Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham after the game, Stallard reflected on what he described as a "typical Notts way of doing things," referencing the Magpies’ penchant for dramatic comebacks.
The game saw Notts County recover from a nightmare start, finding themselves 2-0 down within the opening seven minutes. "Over the 90-odd minutes, it was no more than they deserved, but just what a way to go about it," Stallard remarked, acknowledging the poor start but praising the team's response. "A horror first, well, 7 minutes, finding themselves 2 behind, and 3 points on their travels looked a long, long way away at that point," he added, underscoring the difficulty of the situation.
Despite the early setback, Notts County turned the match around thanks to goals from Jodi Jones, Dan Crowley, and the influential second-half introduction of Alassana Jatta.
All three players had been mentioned in pre-match discussions with head coach Stuart Maynard, and Stallard was quick to highlight their impact on the result. "It's funny that, isn’t it? It's like they've got something about them," Stallard mused. "They're just top players. You look at Jodi and Dan Crowley particularly...if Jodi Jones and Dan Crowley play well, then nobody in this division lives with Notts County."
Stallard’s comments reflect the high regard in which both Jones and Crowley are held by the Notts County faithful, with their ability to control games making them stand out in League Two.
"They can pull the strings, they can run the show, they've scored goals, you know, 3 of the goals today," he noted. Indeed, it was Jones’ brace and Crowley’s strike that completed the turnaround, with Jatta playing a key role in the second-half resurgence.
"Also, the introduction of Alassana Jatta at half-time...what an influence he had. Very nearly scored within a minute in the build-up to the equalising goal for Dan Crowley," Stallard continued.
His words emphasised the depth of talent available to head coach Stuart Maynard, particularly in attacking areas. "When you've got good players, and you've got a potent area of the pitch, then you have always got a chance, even when you go 2-0 down," Stallard added.
Reflecting on the early defensive lapses, Stallard admitted that Notts County could have easily been three goals down within minutes. "In truth, it could have been 3-1 to Bromley, there were chances at both ends," he said.
He attributed the shaky start to being "caught cold a little bit" and "a little bit sloppy," with Michael Cheek capitalising on some poor defending. "Michael Cheek doing what Michael Cheek does, poaching on a cross-cum-shot," Stallard commented, before adding that a mistake from goalkeeper Alex Bass allowed Bromley to score their second goal just 90 seconds later.
However, Stallard was full of praise for Notts County’s response, noting that their attacking quality and newfound steeliness saw them through the game. "When you've got that attacking threat that Notts contain and the quality that they've got...you're always in the game," he said, before adding, "But they found a way of pulling it out, they've got a steeliness with them, it seems, this season as well."
While some fans might be tempted to get carried away with the victory propelling Notts County to the top of the League Two table, Stallard urged caution. "Doesn't matter at this stage. If they're still there in May, I’ll get really excited," he concluded.
For now, though, it’s a case of celebrating another thrilling comeback and looking ahead to the challenges that await.
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