Notts County vs. Oxford United: Mick Halsall wants Magpies to “get on with it”

Notts County caretaker manager Mick Halsall has called on his charges to simply knuckle down and “get on with it”, referring to his side’s upcoming game against Oxford United.

Former boss Ricardo Moniz was sacked after less than nine months at the helm, alongside first-team coaches Dave Kevan and Dean Yates.

The dismissal came after the Dutchman guided the Magpies to a lacklustre 15th place at the halfway point of the League Two season, conceding 40 goals in 23 league games and suffering a humiliating FA Cup exit at the hands of non-league Salford City.

Ahead of Saturday’s clash at Meadow Lane, Halsall told reporters: "It's never nice (for a manager to be sacked), but we have to get on with it don't we, and (the players) will understand that. Everyone in the game understands it.

"I want to win. We don't know how long we are going to do it for, but we'll try to give it our best, get the boys working in the way we would like them to, although we've only got a short space of time to do that. We will be positive and fingers crossed we can get a decent result and take it from there.

"It's about making sure they understand what we want from them in our game plan. We know about Oxford, we'll have enough time. We'll be okay.”

Asked if they can change much, he added: "Do we need to? I think we need to tighten up defensively, everyone's seen that.

"That's been a big concern from the beginning of the season, so if that's something we need to change we'll look to do that.

"In essence we can't change much because we've got what we've got, in the way of personnel, but we're mindful of the defensive side of our game.”

"That belief they have got to go forward has been terrific, if you look at the games that they've come back in, especially at home.

"But should we be conceding those goals? And that's what Richard, myself and the rest of the staff will be looking to try to improve.

"I do know the characters," he said. "I know Roy (Carroll), I know Alan (Smith), I know Nobler (Liam Noble). You look at them when you are in and around the training ground and get a feel for them

"We haven't been a part of it that much, but you do get a feel for them and their personalities.I do know them it's just about getting a tune out of them come Saturday.

"All we need to say to them is let's get on with it. Let's be positive, let's get on with it.

"They are good players and we think if we can fine tune the defensive side, and I know I keep going on about the defensive side, we believe we've got enough going forward to create.

"There may be games when we don't get the goals that we think we should have, but if we can just tighten that up as a team.

"That's all we will be saying; listen, let's go to work, let's get on with it and let's see what we can do.”

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