Notts County's Luke Williams urges team to push hard in final National League games

Luke Williams, the head coach of Notts County, has emphasised the importance of pushing hard in the remaining two games of the National League season. Williams wants his team to take advantage of any mistakes made by the leaders, Wrexham.

Following their 3-0 victory over Yeovil on Tuesday evening, Phil Parkinson's side is four points ahead of the Magpies. However, a win against Boreham Wood this weekend would secure the title for Notts County before the final day of the season.

Despite the recent setback suffered in the defeat at the Racecourse Ground, Notts County bounced back with a 3-0 win against Woking at Meadow Lane last weekend. However, Williams was not pleased with his team's first-half performance, which he described as disappointing. The team headed into the interval goalless, having created very few chances and struggled to maintain possession due to the away side's relentless pressing.

When asked about addressing the first-half display, Williams stated that the team's sole focus is on producing a better performance when they travel to Kent this weekend.

"We had many excuses if you want, but we have the option, and we have to choose whether we want to use the excuses or push for better," Luke Williams told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"We have to push to be better and to overcome our feelings and not be affected by things going on around us or because we have a certain amount of points and we potentially we don't get anything for that.

"All those things are irrelevant, and we have to make sure our minds are focused on the performance, and there was enough in there to win the game, but it is certainly something that had to be highlighted and as a group, we have had to face up to that and try to make sure we give a better account of ourselves in the whole game next time out."

Despite amassing a triple-digit score and scoring numerous goals, Notts County's quest to return to the English Football League on their fourth attempt may be decided this weekend.

Wrexham is aware that securing three points against Boreham Wood will bring an end to their 15-year spell in the National League. Nevertheless, Williams has stated that his team is motivated to capitalize on any errors made by the league leaders. He also emphasizes the significance of maintaining their winning mindset and momentum if that is the route they have to take into the playoffs.

"To go into these two final fixtures feeling like we don't want to push ourselves, and we don't want to play as well as we can possibly play and give everything to the cause, would be a mistake because potentially there is a change elsewhere and Wrexham do manage to somehow not win their games.

"If we didn't win our games, we would feel like we missed a massive opportunity, so we have to remain driven to win, but that will also protect our mentality potentially going into the play-offs.

"We have to remain focused and try to win our remaining two games."

As this weekend's rivals, Maidstone, have already been relegated, some may assume that only one outcome is likely, given the divergent paths the teams have taken this season. 

Nevertheless, the head coach of Notts anticipates another arduous challenge for his squad, stating, "Maidstone no longer have any pressure on them and can now play with a newfound freedom."

"I think players will be trying to show up well so that they are in the plans going forward whether they are trying to make a jump to another club to try and impress - and that can be difficult to play against.

"Sometimes when you play a team that is close to a bad situation, they can become anxious and that may affect their performance - and equally with a team chasing a huge goal it can become anxious also, and it can become a problem for them.

"There is an unknown with a team that has already suffered their worst fear, now it is up to them about how they want to approach the game, and we're anticipating a really tough game against a team who has freedom and energy and want to try and impress."

With the possibility of the play-offs approaching, it is crucial to have a significant number of players available at this phase of the season.

In the latest developments, Williams has received Cedwyn Scott and Richard Brindley back, who were absent for a considerable part of the season due to injury. The club's latest signing, Junior Morias, also made his debut for Meadow Lane last weekend, despite suffering from a minor issue sustained at Dagenham and Redbridge.

"Everyone is training, but we do have a few guys that are nursing small problems, but nobody is completely off the training pitch," Williams explained when asked about the shape of his squad for the trip to Kent this weekend.

"We have some sore bodies as you can imagine at this stage of the season - we have a number of players that have been carrying issues for a while now, and they don't go away if you don't rest.

"We are there or thereabouts, there are one or two that we are looking after, but I think we will have a very healthy squad to pick from for the game."

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