Kevin Nolan has urged Notts County to raise their levels as their opponents have been doing the same against them in recent weeks due to their lofty position in the table.

The Magpies put in an impressive run over August - following the Coventry City defeat - and September which saw them soar to the top of League Two.

However, a defeat at Mansfield Town right at the end of last month has given way to a blip, with a win over Barnet sandwiched between a draw with Forest Green Rovers and a defeat at Crewe Alexandra.

The downturn in form has led to Notts slipping off the top of the table, with Nolan stressing that opposition teams are now stepping their game up against a team deemed as contending for promotion.

“I said to the players that teams are giving them the respect they deserve,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post.

“Why that is happening is because of what they have achieved so far.

“But I told them what they have to do now is raise their levels. They have to keep to their standard and go higher again.

“And I keep saying to people that these players have certainly got it in them to do it.”

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Kevin Nolan has described Notts County's 2-0 defeat at Crewe Alexandra as a "hiccup" and has tipped his players to bounce back this weekend.

The Magpies were simply not at the races at Gresty Road as goals from Michael Raynes and Jordan Bowery saw the Railwaymen claim all three points in Tuesday night's League Two encounter.

"It's a lesson," Nolan told the official Notts site. "I am not one to shout and bawl.

"I just try to encourage my players and give them the best advice I possibly can to do the right things.

"The players don't deserve a rollicking. They have been magnificent this season and that's why they are where they are in the table.

"What they need is someone to tell them where they went wrong and that's what I've done.

"I've been delighted with the lads but they have not hit their standards tonight, which happens sometimes.

"We're all disappointed but collectively we will work harder and get better from this.

"It just didn't happen for us but it was not because of the changes I made.

"We can't use it as an excuse because we have done it at other points this season and it's worked.

"We didn't manage situations as well as we have done this season and we didn't do what we normally do in playing to our tempo and controlling the game.

"Tonight is a hiccup and hopefully that's all it is. Now it's about reacting and making sure we are ready for Carlisle on Saturday."

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Notts County midfielder Liam Noble has stressed that he is more experienced and mature compared to his last spell at Meadow Lane and is eager to repay Kevin Nolan and Alan Hardy's faith in re-signing him.

The 26-year-old left Notts in 2016 to join Mark Cooper's Forest Green Rovers and helped the Green Devils to promotion from the National League, as well as earning himself the captain's armband.

Noble's spell at the New Lawn ended somewhat acrimoniously, however, as he was ruled out indefinitely due to a medical condition before being released by mutual consent, citing a desire to be closer to his family in the North-East.

Now re-signed by Notts, Noble insists he is a "fresh" new player and a different proposition to the card-happy, temperamental footballer he once was.

"I'm buzzing to be back," he told the official Notts site. "I had a good chat with the manager and his staff to make sure I was willing to work to the high standards they set every day, which I was always going to do.

"I looked up to the manager when he played for Newcastle. He was a top-class midfielder so I knew his standards were always going to be high and you can see that in training.

"The lads know when to have a laugh but once we cross the white line for a match or training, we are switched on and giving 100% day in, day out.

"It's a good place to come to work every day. Not much is similar to when I was last here. It's become a totally different club in the time I've been away.

"I need to repay the faith of the manager and the chairman for bringing me back because some people will question the move. But it'a fresh club and a fresh Liam Noble.

"I dropped down to the National League, which was a hard league to get out of, and I had a different mentality going into games.

"I was in a good place and played a lot. I only got booked seven times and didn't get sent off.

"I'm more experienced and mature now. I'm 26 years old so I need to get my head screwed on.

"Come January it's my time to shine and help the rest of the squad keep us up where we want to be."

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Kevin Nolan has urged Notts County to shut out Crewe Alexandra and believes his players are "up for the fight" on Tuesday night.

The Magpies have returned to the top of League Two following their 2-1 win over Barnet at the weekend, leapfrogging Exeter City back into top spot.

However Nolan, who will be without the injured Adam Collin for the trip to Gresty Road, has warned his players about the quality within the Railwaymen's squad.

"Crewe have a lot of good young players who will be hungry to prove themselves and David Artell is a good manager," he told the official Notts site.

"We'll be going there to try and shut them out because they have some good individuals. They play really well and want to do things the right way.

"If we go there and let them play, they will hurt us.  We have to be up for the fight - but I'm sure they will be too.

"When you're winning games, you want the next one to come along as quickly as possible and that's the mentality our lads need to have."

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Notts County have been handed a home draw against Bristol Rovers in the first round of the FA Cup.

The draw was made on Monday night at 7pm, with the ties to be played on the weekend of November 4.

It's a tricky draw for the Magpies, who will face a mid-table League One team, though Kevin Nolan's team at least has home advantage.

It will be the first time that the two sides have met since facing each other in League Two in March 2016, with the Gas claiming a 2-0 win at Meadow Lane on that day.

Last season Notts made it to the second round of the competition after needing a replay to overcome non-league Boreham Wood.

In the following round, League One side Peterborough United were also taken to a replay but Notts succumbed to a 2-0 defeat in the second game.
 

Full draw:

Stevenage vs Nantwich/Kettering
Bradford City vs Chesterfield
Port Vale vs Oxford United
Newport County vs Walsall
Morecambe vs Hartlepool
Yeovil Town vs Southend United
Peterborough United vs Tranmere Rovers
Cambridge United vs Sutton United
Forest Green Rovers vs Macclesfield Town
AFC Fylde vs Kidderminster Harriers
Luton Town vs Portsmouth
Shrewsbury Town vs Aldershot Town
Hereford vs AFC Telford
Guiseley vs Accrington Stanley
Blackburn Rovers vs Barnet
East Thurrock/Ebbsfleet vs Doncaster Rovers
Leatherhead vs Brackley/Billericay
Boreham Wood vs Blackpool
Shaw Lane vs Mansfield Town
Colchester United vs Oxford City
Plymouth Argyle vs Grimsby Town
AFC Wimbledon vs Lincoln City
Rochdale vs Dover/Bromley
Coventry City vs Maidenhead United
Chorley/Boston United vs Fleetwood Town
Carlisle United vs Oldham Athletic
Notts County vs Bristol Rovers
Dartford vs Swindon Town
Cheltenham Town vs Maidstone United/Enfield Town
Woking/Concord Rangers vs Bury
Crewe Alexandra vs Rotherham United
Gillingham vs Dagenham and Redbridge/Leyton Orient
Hyde United vs MK Dons
Gainsborough Trinity vs Slough Town
Solihull/Ossett vs Wycombe
Northampton vs Scunthorpe
Charlton Athletic vs Truro City
Wigan Athletic vs Crawley Town
Gateshead vs Bath City/Chelmsford
Exeter City vs Heybridge Swifts

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Kevin Nolan has confirmed that Adam Collin will miss Notts County's trip to Crewe Alexandra on Tuesday and will be sent for a scan a knee injury.

The Magpies goalkeeper suffered a blow in the first half of the 2-1 win over Barnet and despite toughing it out for a while, ended up having to be taken off.

Ross Fitzsimons came on in Collin's place at Meadow Lane on Saturday and is likely to line up between the sticks at Gresty Road, though Branislav Pindroch could also be considered.

“Unfortunately Adam won’t make the game against Crewe because he has had a nasty bang on his knee,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post.

"We are just hoping that it is a bit of bone bruising and that he will be available for the weekend, but Tuesday has just come too soon.

“He is going for a scan, which will give us a bit more knowledge of what is going on in his knee.

“But we have two understudies who have been pushing him to the limit, which is why I think you’ve seen Adam in the form he is in.

“He’s been fantastic for us, but now it’s up to one of the other two to come in and claim his spot and keep his spot.”

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Ryan Yates has praised his Notts County teammates for helping him develop as a player and says he is enjoying his time at Meadow Lane.

The 19-year-old joined the Magpies on loan from city neighbours Nottingham Forest over the summer and has impressed in black and white.

On Saturday, Yates bagged County's second goal in their 2-1 win over Barnet, leaving their opponents with too much work to do despite bagging a late goal.

"You have to put everything on the line to get the win and we're doing that at the minute, which is great," Yates told the official Notts site.

"I'm not looking at the league table because it doesn't mean anything at this stage.

"The gaffer wants us to just focus on ourselves. The initial aim was to get to safety and then build from there.

"I'm enjoying my time here. Learning every day from the likes of Shola Ameobi and Alan Smith is unbelievable.

"The boys have been fantastic with me. They know I'm young and raw so they give me tips on how to improve.

"Playing week in, week out is fantastic and I want to keep that going."

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Kevin Nolan has insisted that Notts County can cope if goalkeeper Adam Collin is ruled out through injury.

The Magpies number 1 took a knock in a first-half collision with a Barnet player on Saturday and though he toughed it out for a while, eventually he had to be taken off at Meadow Lane.

Notts brought on Ross Fitzsimons in Collin's place and the 23-year-old gave a good account of himself as the hosts held out for a 2-1 victory which saw them edge back to the top of League Two.

"Adam took a bang on the knee so we're hoping it's more of a contact injury rather than a pull or a strain," Nolan told the official club site.

"But we brought two goalkeepers in during the summer (Fitzsimons and Branislav Pindroch) and they've pushed Adam to new levels.

"Ross came on and made some important saves and catches. I'm totally confident we have more than enough quality in the squad if Adam has to sit out for a couple of games."

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Kevin Nolan has claimed that Notts County are still a team in transition despite reclaiming top spot in League Two with a 2-1 win over Barnet on Saturday.

Goals from Shola Ameobi and Ryan Yates gave the Magpies a healthy advantage, although it proved a nervy ending to the game after Simeon Akinola's late strike at Meadow Lane.

"You have to ride your luck a bit," Nolan told the official website. "You only have to look at the results from around the league this afternoon to see how difficult it is.

"We dealt with Barnet superbly but we have a lot more to come. We have to remember where we've come from. We're still a team in transition.

"The lads have been superb and they have to keep believing in each other. What we're doing at the minute is remarkable and they deserve every pat on the back that's coming their way.

"To get this win is massive after the last couple of weeks. Hopefully we can build momentum with a few more. I have faith in these lads to get us the points we need.

"But we can't let them get carried away with that. They need to enjoy it, embrace it and try to get better so we can become a real force in this league."

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Forest Green Rovers manager Mark Cooper has denied that he feels let down by Liam Noble's return to Notts County.

The 26-year-old departed the newly promoted League Two club earlier this week, citing a desire to move nearer his family in the North East.

As it turned out, Noble was then pictured training with the Magpies and, on Thursday afternoon, Notts announced that their former player was now on their books again.

The summer saw a tug of war between Notts and FGR over Noble, with a fee of £100,000 bandied about, only for the midfielder to pen a new three-year contract at the New Lawn.

Now Kevin Nolan’s side have got their man for nothing, but Cooper says he feels no animosity towards the former Sunderland man.

“Liam had a medical condition which he said meant he had to be near his family in the North East,” he told BBC Radio Gloucester.

“We have a duty of care and we decided to help Liam out with that. Because of the medical issue and the need to be around his young family, we decided to let him go.

“I don’t feel let down, football is football. He’s moved on and we’ve signed a really good midfielder in Isiah Osbourne.

“Liam will take his time. He can’t play for them until January. Let’s see how he does, he’s got to get in their team first.

“Once Liam had demanded to move to the North East and his heart wasn’t in playing for us, we ripped the contract up.

"He had a three year contract, so we’ve saved three years worth of money.”

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Shola Ameobi has spoken of a "culture change" at Notts County whereby the players have higher expectations of themselves.

Following a near-perfect September, the Magpies have stumbled in the last two weeks, losing at Mansfield Town and scraping a draw with Forest Green Rovers at Meadow Lane.

With Barnet the next opponents, Ameobi is eager to "show the fans we still have plenty to give".

The 36-year-old told the Nottingham Post: "From the run we had at the beginning of the season, the last two results haven't been what we wanted.

"But we have all taken stock this week as a squad and a management team and looked at how far we have come.

"There are times when things aren't going to go our way and we understand that. It is difficult to win every week over the course of a 46-game season.

"But there is no sense of panic here, which is great, but we have to get back to basics and do what we are best at.

"We have made Meadow Lane a fortress and we didn't want to lose the home record we have built up because we are proud of it.

"There has been a culture change now. Going into the dressing room at full time, people's heads were down even though we had managed to take a point in stoppage time.

"To be disappointed with that shows we have come a long way.

"We have another chance on Saturday to show the fans we still have plenty to give. I think you will see a good example of what we're about as a team."

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Kevin Nolan has outlined the qualities possessed by Liam Noble which he feels will improve Notts County in the new year.

The 26-year-old former Magpies player left Forest Green Rovers by mutual consent earlier this week, citing a need to be closer to his family in the North-East.

On Thursday, Pride of Nottingham's publication of photos appearing to show Noble in training with Notts was swiftly followed by the club's confirmation of the player's acquisition.

Nolan has admitted that Noble will be held to completely different standards compared to his last spell at Meadow Lane but does not doubt his footballing qualities.

“I think we have really good players here already, but I think he is a different type of central midfielder than what we have got,” he told the Nottingham Post.

“He can see a pass, he works hard, but I watched him in training on Thursday and you can see that quality and his vision.

“He wants to get on the ball and make things happen. He has composure which is always great to have.

“And when he finally becomes available in January, we will have three top central midfielders that any club in this division would be delighted to have.

“He adds extra competition and puts everybody on their toes.”

Kevin Nolan has expressed his delight with Notts County re-signing Liam Noble but insists that it's "a different club" now to when he was last at Meadow Lane.

The 26-year-old, who recently left Forest Green Rovers, put pen to paper on an 18-month deal at Notts and will be available for selection as of January 1.

“I am delighted to sign him,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post.

“The circumstances of his departure from Forest Green are between him and them.

“For me, he is somebody we chased in the summer and were willing to pay a lot of money for him.

“I had a chat with him on Wednesday to see where he was at and what he was doing.

“It was then down to me to make a decision with my staff as to whether Noble comes into the team and makes it better or does he weaken it in the dressing room or on the pitch.

“I think from speaking to the lad, I think he’s going to be a good addition and I believe we can improve him in a lot of areas.

“He’s got a long wait before he makes his debut, but it’s a different club now.

“We’ve made clear to him that there are standards he has to stick to and raise.

“He can’t bring them down. It’s a nice thing for him to be able to come back and prove a lot of people wrong. Hopefully that’s what he will do."

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Notts County have confirmed that Liam Noble will rejoin the club on an 18-month deal on January 1.

The 26-year-old, previously on the books of Notts County, was club captain at Forest Green Rovers last season as they won promotion to League Two.

Noble made 11 appearances in all competitions this season, but has not featured for Mark Cooper's side since the loss to Swindon on September 22.

He subsequently left Forest Green Rovers on Monday citing a need to move closer to his family in the North East of England.

Pride of Nottingham broke the scoop by publishing pictures of the midfielder apparently in training with Notts on Thursday.

Later in the afternoon, the club confirmed the news, saying in a statement on the official website: "(Noble) will sign an 18-month deal on 1 January.

"As his contract with his former club was terminated outside the transfer window, Noble will not be able to sign for the Magpies until it reopens in the new year.

"He will be eligible to play for Notts from the home fixture against Crawley Town on 6 January and, in the meantime, will train full-time with the club and feature in reserve matches."

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Unattached midfielder Liam Noble is training with Notts County, according to a report.

The 26-year-old's Forest Green Rovers contract was cancelled by mutual consent on Tuesday with the club citing his desire to be closer to his family in the North-East of England.

Noble's departure from Nailsworth has led to much debate among Magpies fans over whether the player should return to Meadow Lane.

A source at the club's training ground has sent us two pictures of what appears to be Noble in training alongside the Notts players.

Noble is presumed to be the man in the centre of the pictures, standing next to the free kick mannequin.

This season's training kits appear visible in the photos.

Noble was subject of a number of bids from Notts over the summer which went up to £100,000, which were rejected by the New Lawn outfit and led to a war of words between the clubs' chairmen.

The maverick midfielder can only sign for a Football League club in the new year, but is currently free to sign for National League clubs not restricted by the rules of the transfer window.

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What's been happening in League Two over the last week?

Here is Pride of Nottingham's round-up of the news from the last seven days.

- Chesterfield appointed veteran football administrator Michael Dunford as their new chief executive. The Derbyshire native had a five-year spell as Everton’s CEO and held the same role at Birmingham City, Plymouth Argyle and Crawley Town.

- Harry Redknapp took on a role at Yeovil Town as an unpaid advisor following his departure from Championship side Birmingham City.

- Port Vale appointed Lee Nogan as the club's assistant manager and Gary Brabin as first-team coach, while chief scout Darren Wrack has left Vale Park.

- Swindon Town goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux was hit with a four-game ban for using "foul and abusive language" towards match officials after the final whistle of the 2-1 defeat by Coventry in late September.

- Billy Kee extended his contract with Accrington Stanley until the summer of 2021, a three-year addition to his previous deal.

- Liam Noble left Forest Green Rovers as he wanted to be closer to his family in the North-East of England.

- Morecambe's financial future is secure for at least the next two years, according to Graham Burnard, who represents majority shareholder G50 Holdings.

- Yeovil Town defender Daniel Alfei will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2017-18 season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.

All news stories sourced from BBC Sport and Sky Sports.

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Carl Dickinson has revealed he's been busy practising free kicks but insists Notts County's strength in depth from set pieces is impressive.

Jorge Grant, Dan Jones and Dickinson have all scored directly from set pieces this season, the latter smashing into the top corner of the Mansfield Town net from 25 yards out.

“It was great to score against Mansfield and I was delighted with it because I have been champing at the bit to take one,” Dickinson told the Nottingham Post.

“I’ve been taking them in training and have been smashing them past Adam Collin, who has been getting a little bit wound up!

“But we’ve got some great lads and great technicians who can do it.

Jorge popped up with one and so has (Dan Jones). We’ve been a lot better from set-pieces as a whole.

“We look dangerous and defensively we have looked really solid against them too. More goals from set-pieces is only going to help us.”

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Rob Milsom has admitted that not scoring many goals is something that has bugged him throughout his career but is hoping to chip in with a few more for Notts County by the end of the season.

The midfielder got his first goal for the Magpies last Saturday, a 96th-minute equaliser that salvaged a point at Meadow Lane against Forest Green Rovers.

“I don’t score many, and it is something that has bugged me throughout my career,” Milsom told the Nottingham Post.

“It’s something that I obviously need to do better at, but I think other parts of my game kind of make up for it.

“But I was delighted to get the goal even though it wasn’t the best of headers. It went in and I just hope there are more to come.

“Obviously it was my first ever goal for the club and it was a good feeling for me and the team to score that late on because it ensured we got the draw.

“Hopefully we can put some more runs together and maybe I can chip in with a few goals from now until the end of the season.”

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Notts County owner Alan Hardy has claimed that Kevin Nolan's success as a manager is due to his "innate ability" to be both on the same wavelength as his players and also their boss.

The former Premier League midfielder has turned a side that was battling relegation last winter and turned them into one in the top three of League Two.

Nolan was rewarded for his exploits in September, which saw Notts claim six wins from seven, with the League Two Manager of the Month award.

“What I especially like about him is the uncanny relationship he has with the squad,” Hardy told the Nottingham Post.

“It’s a very rare gift to be able to relate to the players at their level, and be one of the boys, but still command supreme respect from them.

“Only a few managers have it and I don’t believe there is a manager at League Two, One or even Championship level that has that innate ability.”

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Liam Noble has departed Forest Green Rovers because he wants to move closer to his family in the North-East of England, the club have confirmed.

The 26-year-old, previously on the books of Notts County, was club captain at the Gloucestershire outfit last season as they won promotion to League Two.

He made 11 appearances in all competitions this season, but has not featured for Mark Cooper's side since the loss to Swindon on September 22.

"Liam has family in the North East that he needs to be with, and we understand that," Cooper told the official FGR site.

"His efforts and hard work on the pitch are recognised and appreciated by both the club and the fans. We wish him the best of luck."

Noble told the club website: "Thank you to the chairman and manager for supporting me through this difficult decision.

"The fans have made my time at the club special - thanks to them."

Noble, who hails from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, signed a new contract with Rovers until 2020 as recently as July, after he was the subject of bids from Notts.

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Kevin Nolan has admitted that nerves may have got the better of his Notts County players against Forest Green on Saturday.

The Magpies seemed a shadow of the side that enjoyed a near-perfect September as they fell behind to an Omar Bugiel goal and stole a 1-1 draw via a late Rob Milsom equaliser.

“As a management team we will sit down and think of ways we can help the players,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post.

“I just felt on Saturday we went away a bit from the tempo we usually play at. We played to Forest Green’s instead and we didn’t exploit their weaknesses.

“We seemed a bit nervous and we want to take that away from them. They have to realise they are at the top of the league for a reason – and that’s because they are good players.

“They do the right things more often than not. Nerves are when I first walked through the door in January and you are second from bottom.”

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Rob Milsom has revealed that Kevin Nolan had given the Notts County players "a kick up the backside" during the break in their League Two game with Forest Green.

The Magpies did not replicate the stunning form that saw them shoot to the top of the table in September as the visitors came mighty close to leaving Meadow Lane with all three points.

Omar Bugiel had given FGR the lead and they maintained it until the 96th minute, when Milsom struck a late equaliser for a final score of 1-1.

Milsom said Nolan had given the players a verbal dressing down at half-time because he was unhappy with the level of performance.

“We got a kick up the backside at half-time and we should have done as well because it wasn’t good enough,” he told the Nottingham Post.

“We’ve set ourselves a standard and we need to keep to that. We just can’t drop off.

“We had a poor result against Mansfield last weekend and we needed to make amends against Forest Green.

“But we were especially poor in the first half and at the end of the game he just said it wasn’t good enough.

“He said we are going to work hard in the week to put a few things right and then hopefully we will come back and put in the kind of performances we were doing a couple of weeks ago.”

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