Notts County winger Alex Rodman has claimed that, while the derby defeat to Mansfield Town was disappointing, fans should look at the bigger picture in League Two.

The Magpies lost 3-1 to their local rivals at Field Mill on Saturday, but a win over Morecambe on Tuesday night will put them joint fourth in the table.

"Derbies are one-off games and they mean a lot to both sides, but I don't think it's going to have an impact on us overall in terms of the season," Rodman told reporters.

"I think we are in a good vein of form and despite losing here, we will kick on and hopefully we will do that on Tuesday against Morecambe.

"It's never nice to lose 3-1, but we have two homes games now coming up.

"We've been on a really good run and the derby game probably came at the wrong time.

"The atmosphere and the game is so hyped, but it's one of those things. We will put it behind us and move on."

The Stags loss ended a run of four straight away wins in the league for John Sheridan's team.

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Notts County manager John Sheridan has ripped into his side for throwing the game away after losing 3-1 at local rivals Mansfield Town on Saturday.

The Magpies spurned a number of chances in the first half as the Stags drew first blood in the second half through Matt Green.

Despite Alex Rodman's equaliser, Green's late penalty and Darius Henderson's injury-time cherry on top left Notts reeling in yet another derby defeat.

Sheridan told reporters: “I am very disappointed to lose the game and the manner of the goals we gave away was ridiculous and is beating me up.

“It is ridiculous how we’ve conceded three goals here today and we need to sort it out quickly.

“I said to them at half-time the game is there for you if you want it, raise your tempo, go and win it.

“But Mansfield came out second half and played a bit more in our face.

“My team talk today was if you win today you’re in the top three with a game in hand. If someone was telling me that and it was there to aim for that’s all you need.

“Players are a different breed today, and we need to get someone who is going to be ugly for an hour and a half, get on people’s backs for an hour and a half instead of just listening to me all the time as I am getting sick of saying it.

“We have thrown that game away. We gave ourselves a lifeline with the goal, but I just can’t condone the goals we are conceding.

“We should have gone in 2-0 up at half-time, but sometimes you don’t take them and it comes back to bite you on the backside.

“It was a lethargic performance and the tempo was too slow first half, even though we were in control.

“I am gutted for the supporters. We had a big following and it was a big game for them.

“It was an absolute disgrace of a penalty to give away. It’s just about reacting quickly instead of delaying. Fortunately we’d got away with one before.

“I want to get out the division this season. I want us to be a good team that people talk about.

"I don’t want people to see us conceding soft goals. I don’t want to be sitting 10th or just doing better than we did last season.

“I think we are a good enough team to do well, but not conceding goals like that.

“Luckily we have a game on Tuesday and on Saturday, two home games, and if we can get six points from them, it will be a bit of comeback.”

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Notts County forward Jon Stead has been named the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month for September.

The 33-year-old has bagged five goals in as many games to take his season’s tally to nine.

Notts County manager John Sheridan told reporters: “He’s played a massive part for us so far this season.

"To be fair to him, he’s made a lot of the goals himself. We know he’s got that ability - he’s played at a high level for most of his career and I’m very pleased to have him in my team.

“I’m very pleased for him that he’s won it - it’s recognition for his really good start to the season."

Stead, whose current scoring spell is his best since playing at Huddersfield in 2003-04, said: “I’m very happy - I’ve had a decent month and scored goals.

"Sometimes, especially with managers, you can get this award and then things go horribly wrong! Hopefully there’s no curse involved and I can carry on scoring.

“It’s nice to be recognised across the division. I think the last one I got was at Huddersfield, so it’s only taken me another 13 years to get one!"

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Mark Crossley has pledged to help take Notts County back to "where it belongs" as he targets a promotion challenge this season.

The Magpies are flying high in League Two, having won five of their last seven games, and optimism is higher at Meadow Lane than it has been for a while.

Crossley, Sheridan's right-hand man at Notts, is up for the challenge of rescuing the club from the doldrums of the fourth tier.

"The club certainly shouldn't be where it is (in League Two)," the Barnsley-born ex-goalkeeper said.

"The club is too big – you don't get this kind of set-up at this level. So it's our job to try to take it back where it belongs. We are trying to do that.

"But first things first, we are trying to stabilise and get a squad together that can challenge, then we can move on from there."

Up next for Notts is Saturday's derby at Mansfield Town - an early kickoff - before taking on Morecambe in Tuesday's rescheduled fixture.

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John Sheridan has bemoaned Notts County's defending in Tuesday's EFL Trophy tie at Rochdale, but insists he can take good things from the game.

Jonathan Forte put the Magpies ahead at Spotland but two second-half goals from the hosts gave them the spoils.

"We've had some good chances especially in the second half, but I am really disappointed with the goals we conceded," Sheridan said.

"It's just people making the wrong decision at the wrong time.

"They had a five to 10 minute spell when they got the advantage.

"But I thought we responded really well and created some good opportunities to get back in the game.

"I thought we played well. I don't like losing, but I can take good things from the game."

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Mark Crossley insists that the EFL Trophy should not be seen as a waste of time, claiming that the opportunity to play at Wembley makes the tournament worthwhile.

The competition has been under criticism by fans for the inclusion of Premier League academy teams this year.

However, the Notts County assistant manager is treating it seriously, and wants his players to treat tonight's game at Rochdale with respect.

"We want to win the game it's as simple as that," he told reporters.

"The game against Hartlepool down here showed that it was the start of something good for us.

"It was our first win at home so we always take it very seriously.

"I have been with a manager who has won this competition (in John Sheridan at Chesterfield), so when you get to the semi-final and the final, it's special.

"You get to play at Wembley so what more do lads at this level want?"

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Mark Crossley has praised Stanley Aborah for his "good response" to being left out of the Notts County lineup in the wake of Michael O'Connor's absence.

The Belgian made a rare start against Morecambe on Saturday, a game which was abandoned after 10 minutes because of torrential rain.

Aborah, who replaced rested captain O'Connor, went close to scoring on two occasions before ref Dean Whitestone called a halt to the League Two match.

"Michael picked up a groin strain at Exeter and it's only a strain," Crossley said.

"We just felt that – and Michael did too – that if he did play it could have put him back three or four weeks.

"We decided that Stanley has been champing at the bit to get back in the team so we felt it was the perfect time for Michael to step aside and Stan to come in.

"He started really brightly and showed a really good response to being out of the team.

"And that's what we want. We want a good squad with people ready to come into the team when needed."

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Mark Crossley has claimed that the decision to halt Saturday's League Two fixture between Notts County and Morecambe was correct as it was too dangerous to continue.

The game at Meadow Lane got as far as the 10-minute mark when referee Dean Whitestone decided to take the players off before calling off the game altogether.

Torrential rain, complete with heavy thunder and lightning, rendered the pitch unplayable, and Crossley believes it was the right call.

"It was unplayable," said Crossley. "Alex Rodman nearly broke his leg not because of a bad tackle but because the ball just stopped.

"It was getting pretty dangerous out there so he (the referee) definitely made the right call.

"I have encountered something like it before across the river when I was playing for Forest against Tottenham.

"But it wasn't rain, it was snow. Fifteen minutes in the snow just came from nowhere.

"Nobody could see the ball so that comes a pretty close second.

"It was unbelievable how much water came down and when the referee was bringing the players off I thought it was because the players were getting hurt by the hailstones.

"But seriously, it was ridiculous. And with the lightning and the forecast not indicating it would get better, the referee made the correct call."

The two clubs will meet on Monday to rearrange the fixture.

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Notts County boss John Sheridan insists that he will not go easy on the players this season, despite their promising position 10 games into the League Two campaign.

The Magpies sit fifth in the table and will claim a fourth successive victory should they beat Morecambe on Saturday at Meadow Lane.

"I am not going to change," Sheridan told the Nottingham Post. "I'll probably be worse than I am now.

"I've told the players they are going to have five or six months of it until we have something to show for it.

"We haven't done anything yet. We are on a good run and I applaud them. They've responded to me really well.

"I've got a good dressing room and they want to do well for each other.

"But the game has changed so much. Players don't get on at each other anymore.

"Assistant managers don't shout and neither do coaches. So unfortunately for the players it's going to be me being the bad cop all the time.

"I don't mind that if it means we are going to get out of this league, which is the main priority.

"I think we can be better, and I've said before you can't play in 15 minute patches here, and 15 minute patches there.

"You've got to sustain it over a long period of time if you are going to come out winners. That's my belief anyway.

"We did it against Plymouth and against Orient, where we were on the front foot a lot.

"In saying that I thought for 45 minutes against Exeter we were on the front foot too.

"But I've got players who will give me sevens out of 10 and if you have a group of them then you will win games.

"They don't have to give me a nine."

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Notts County boss John Sheridan has praised striker Jon Stead, claiming he would be playing higher than League Two if he were younger.

The 33-year-old is the joint leading scorer in the fourth tier with nine goals after bagging a brace in the Magpies' 2-0 win at Exeter City on Tuesday night.

"The thing I like about him is that even if he is playing poorly, he believes he is going to score," said Sheridan.

"That's a good a sign in a player and in the form he is in at the moment he doesn't have to play well to get a goal.

"Steady is a very good professional who wants to do well all the time. To be like that at his age will hopefully rub off on others.

"He has made a lot of goals himself. They aren't lucky goals. They are top finishes. I can't remember any tap-ins.

"He is making them look easy the way he is finishing. If he was 28 he wouldn't be in this league."

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John Sheridan has hailed his side's 2-0 win at Exeter City on Tuesday, putting emphasis on the impressive first-half display which he says "won the game".

The Magpies raced into a two-goal lead, courtesy of Jon Stead's brace which took him to nine goals for the season.

In the second half the Grecians rallied round but Adam Collin pulled off a string of saves to finish the game with a clean sheet.

"It was just good to win a football match," Sheridan told reporters. "In the first half you could see we were a strong outfit.

"We won the game in the first half and when we went 2-0 up I expected us to go on and win the game.

"I wasn't pleased with the way we played in the second half, but I don't want to go into that too much.

"Exeter gave us problems, but there were blocks and Adam Collin did brilliant. There was a real desire to get our first clean sheet.

"But the most important thing was the three points."

The result lifted Notts up to fifth in the table as they secured a third successive win ahead of the visit of Morecambe on Saturday.

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Jon Stead wants Notts County to be "in a really strong position" in the League Two table this time next week.

The Magpies finally claimed their first home win in the league after seeing off Leyton Orient 3-1 on Saturday, which has put them in ninth place.

This week will give Notts the chance to get six more points as they travel to Exeter City on Tuesday before welcoming Morecambe at Meadow Lane on Saturday.

"We knew it was going to be a big test because they are a good side and they will be up there," Stead said of Saturday's victory. "They've made some decent signings and they're a strong outfit.

"We're happy with the way we're going about things. We're picking up points, which is important.

"We go into a long week now, a long trip to Exeter, hopefully we can get points there. And then it's another big one on Saturday.

"We can be in a really strong position come the end of next week.

"The tension has been quite high since the start of the season at home because we've not performed.

"It's not so much the win, it's because we'd not performed very well.

"But we performed a lot better for longer periods on Saturday, which is pleasing."

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John Sheridan has claimed that Notts County deserved their first league win in front of their home supporters this season as Leyton Orient were beaten 3-1 at Meadow Lane.

After a goalless first half, Jonathan Forte had opened the scoring in the 53rd minute and Jon Stead quickly doubled the advantage moments later.

Louis Lang was sent off for the home side and Paul McCallum halved the deficit with four minutes remainiing, but Aaron Collins hit a spectacular third to seal the win for the Magpies.

Sheridan told reporters after the game: "It was an excellent performance to get the first win at home.

"We didn't want it to carry on for too long and I'm just pleased we've got it over the line playing against a good team, a strong outfit who I think will be one of the teams up there at the end of the season, so I think we deserved the victory.

"I'm chuffed to bits for the players and the supporters.

"In the second half, I thought we were controlling the game. I think the sending off gave us a little bit of a scare, and they get a goal, but the third goal is a great goal from Aaron.

"If I'm being critical, I would like to have had a clean sheet just for the players, because we still haven't had one, but I can't be too hard on them."

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Notts County boss John Sheridan has urged his charges to be vocal with each other and not worry about "falling out with each other".

The Magpies have endured a lukewarm start to the season, with an impressive away showing cancelled out by a record of zero wins at home.

With Notts in search of a first home league win at the fifth time of asking, when Leyton Orient visit this weekend, Sheridan plans to lead by example.

"I will express myself on the touchline, that's just the way I am. But I'm seeing things and I just don't feel as though they're getting dealt with on the pitch," he told reporters.

"I was vocal myself as a player, and I just think you need that on the pitch.

"When you're in a game and you've got yourselves in front, you do little things to help you. It's only being vocal and communicating with each other, more than anything else.

"It's something I think we lack as a team and it's something we've got to get in the team. I'm doing it for the simple reason that I think it will make us a better team.

"Any manager you speak to will say the same; it's not like it was years ago.

"They don't get on at each other as players; I think they're frightened of falling out with each other.

"That's just the way football is. It's the same at a lot of clubs.

"Years ago, if you weren't doing your job, if you weren't at the races, they would make sure you knew – whether it was the manager, but most of the time it was other players who you were playing with."

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Notts County chief executive Jason Turner has issued another set of updates for fans as the 2016-17 season is now in full swing.

Here are just some of the points he has raised - for the full column, please visit the link on the official website.

Notts County replica shirt stocks:

Annoyingly, and despite my best endeavours, I am unable to provide much of an update on the arrival of our away shirts or the next batch of home shirts. I have contacted JD Sports on a daily basis, but they have still not been forthcoming with any dates.

I have spoken to two other league clubs at length who are in exactly the same position, and we are all exasperated at the endless time we have expended on our kit suppliers. The clubs are working collaboratively as we look to resolve this unacceptable situation once and for all.

To ensure that we are never in this situation again, I have already met with a number of reputable potential kit providers for next season and hope to conclude an agreement in the near future.

Cleanliness of seating areas at Meadow Lane:

I reported last month that I personally carry out stadium inspections prior to home matches, and had noticed that some seating areas required further cleaning to bring them up to my expected standards. Our Head of Operations and his staff have prioritised this over recent weeks, and I am now confident that this issue has been rectified.

Reduction in number of cash turnstiles:

As more and more supporters are now purchasing their match tickets in advance at discounted pre-match day prices, we will now gradually start to reduce the number of cash turnstiles around the stadium. This will continue to be measured as the season progresses, and I would again urge those of you who pay on a game-by-game basis to purchase your tickets in advance if possible. Eventually, if you still wish to purchase on the day of the game, you will be required to purchase your ticket from the ticket office before going to the turnstiles.

Notts County academy players on loan:

On the football front, youngsters Montel Gibson and Jack McMillan have recently returned from their loans at Romulus and Boston United respectively. I’m told that both players found the experience valuable. Luther Wildin this week followed in their footsteps by joining Grantham Town on loan, initially until mid-October, and we wish him all the best for his spell with the Gingerbreads.

Mike Edwards testimonial gala dinner:

To end his testimonial year, Mike Edwards is holding a gala dinner at Meadow Lane this Friday, with Paul Merson joining as guest speaker for the evening. Tickets are still available at £35 per person, and if you are interested in attending please email mikeedwardstestimonial@gmail.com. Have a great evening, Eddie!

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Notts County manager John Sheridan wants his side to forget about being "pleasing on the eye" and to simply "be brave" and "dig in" in order to win at home.

The Magpies, who have yet to win at Meadow Lane this season, will try to get all three points at the fifth attempt when they host Leyton Orient this Saturday.

With three wins out of four on the road, Sheridan is hoping that his charges will graft as they did in their 3-2 win at Cheltenham Town.

"Our home form is vital if we want to be right up there, but we are not going to win every game," he said.

"We've looked better away and we are scoring goals, but I've said it before you have to be brave at home.

"I don't want to be pleasing on the eye all the time, I'd like to dig in and just get results sometimes.

"That was the case against Cheltenham and I was so happy for the players."

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Jon Stead has called on his Notts County teammates to get into opposition teams' faces more at Meadow Lane in a bid to get an overdue home win.

The Magpies have been on top form on the road, winning three out of four away matches.

However, their home form is poor, without a single league win to their name this season.

"We need to be better at home, and I can't put my finger on what it is," Stead told reporters.

"We've played well for very small stages at home, but against Cheltenham we did the right things for a longer period.

"We were causing them problems by getting in their faces and that's something we've not really done that well at home.

"That will be the focus for the week ahead which is starting on the front foot

"We need to get the crowd enthused by what we have been doing because it's been too one-paced, too lethargic and it's cost us."

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Notts County striker Jon Stead has described how mastering the "chop" has proven beneficial in terms of his play - even though it winds up his teammates.

The forward used the move - feinting to shoot with one foot before manoeuvring it quickly to the other - to get past Daniel O'Shaughnessy ahead of his first goal for the Magpies against Cheltenham.

"We had a session on Thursday when I must have chopped about 11 times and the lads were absolutely screwing," Stead, who helped his side beat the Robins 3-2, said.

"They were not happy because it got them every single time.

"It's a tough one because if you half feint to shoot then the defender has to make the block and you see it week in, week out, across the leagues.

"I'm lucky that I can go either way like I showed Hartlepool when I chopped onto my left.

"So I will keep using it as long as defenders don't start wising up to it. I'm just not quick enough to push it past people like Jonno (Jonathan Forte) does."

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John Sheridan has praised Notts County's fighting spirit after they clinched a thrilling 3-2 victory at Cheltenham Town on Saturday.

The Magpies were pegged back twice at Whaddon Road but Jon Stead struck the winner in the 56th minute.

Notts held on valiantly until the final whistle, with the playing falling to the turf tired but pleased at their exploits.

"I knew it would be a very tough game because they are a decent side," Sheridan told reporters.

"They hit the frontmen early so I knew we were going to have to defend.

"The most pleasing thing is that we defended really well.

"I didn't think it was a great game but it was obviously exciting because it was 3-2.

"We had to put our bodies on the line and as a team we defended really, really well.

"To score three goals away from home is always a plus and it was nice for us to take the lead for a change.

"I'll look at the goals again, but they (Cheltenham) will beat a few teams. It's a tight little pitch and they are good at what they do.

"I'd like to win a few more games like that when we don't play great, but show that fighting spirit."

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Notts County have settled a year-long row with their former academy manager just before the case was due to go to an employment tribunal, it has been reported.

Mick Leonard, a former goalkeeper for the Magpies and the individual who headed their youth programme, was sacked in June last year as Academy Manager for alleged gross misconduct.

According to ITV News, Leonard - who has denied any wrongdoing - appealed, but the two sides were able to reach an out of court settlement.

The sum involved hasn't been disclosed and the club has reportedly declined to make any comment.

Leonard had been coaching at Meadow Lane since 2008 prior to his dismissal.

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Notts County have been linked with a move for former Juventus defender Martin Caceres, if a report on the internet is to be believed.

According to Breaking Football Update - and you can read the piece here, to prove we're not making it up - the Magpies are said to be interested in the 29-year-old Uruguayan, who has won La Liga and the Champions League with Barcelona, as well as five Serie A championships with Juve.

Caceres, currently a free agent, has been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Swansea City, and can sign for a club outside the transfer window.

It remains to be seen whether one of the most highly sought after free agents in football would turn down a club in a top tier league, perhaps in European competition, for one plying its trade in League Two and taking on mighty teams such as Morecambe and Stevenage.

However, football is a strange old game, and if it does indeed happen, you heard it on Pride of Nottingham first.

Maybe he likes the black and white strip so much after rocking the stripes at Juve?

After we sign Caceres, should we also go for Emmanuel Adebayor? Maybe put a cheeky bid for Eden Hazard while we're at it? Share your thoughts about this story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

Michael O'Connor has urged Notts County to have a look at changing tactics when playing at home and treat each game as if they were the away team.

The Northern Irishman compared his side's away form, in which they have won two of three this season, to their home form, which hasn't yielded a single win.

 "Away from home we are set up to counter-attack whereas at home we are asked to get on the front foot straight away," the Magpies skipper told reporters.

"Maybe that's something we can have a look at.

"Do we need to play as the away team at home because our results have been better?

"But we will get it right."

Notts travel to Cheltenham Town on Saturday.

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