League leaders Leyton Orient were thrashed 4-0 by Exeter City at St. James Park, as Tom Nichols scored twice from the penalty spot and Alex Nicholls and David Wheeler rounded off the scoring.

The East London outfit remains first but Wycombe Wanderers are hot on their heels, having moved up to second in the table after they beat Hartlepool United 2-1, with the result being Pools's third defeat on the bounce.

Teddy Sheringham picked up another victory as Stevenage manager as his side beat Plymouth Argyle, with first-half goals from Connor Ogilvie and Chris Whelpdale giving the former England star the victory and causing the Pilgrims to slip to third.

Oxford United, who played on Sunday, registered a 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers that saw the visitors climb to fourth.

Portsmouth couldn’t capitalise on their South Coast rivals’ defeat as they could only claim a goalless home draw against Accrington Stanley, a result that sees Pompey drop to fifth.

Morecambe came back from two goals down to grab all three points against 10-man Yeovil Town, after Shaun Jeffers saw a first-half red card in their 4-2 loss – the Shrimpers climb to sixth with 10 points, the same as seventh-placed Exeter, while the Glovers slip into the relegation zone.

Carlisle United came out on top in their five-goal thriller against Barnet, as Derek Asamoah netted a brace to give the home side all three points and climb to 11th.

Matt McClure bagged a first-half brace for Dagenham & Redbridge in their 2-1 away win at Northampton Town.

Luton Town comfortably overcame 10-man Cambridge United, as Luke Guttridge, Luke Wilkinson and Danny Green scored the goals for the away side.

Mansfield Town and AFC Wimbledon shared the spoils in their match, as Chris Clements cancelled out Tom Elliott's opener.

York City condemned Newport County to their fifth defeat of the season, leaving them bottom of League Two after goals from James Berrett, Reece Thompson and Vadaine Oliver won it comfortably for the away side.

Notts County and Crawley Town didn’t play following international call-ups, so the Magpies slip to 22nd and the Red Devils to 18th, albeit with a game in hand.

Results in full (half-time scores in brackets):
Cambridge United 1-3 Luton Town
Carlisle United 3-2 Barnet
Exeter City 4-0 Leyton Orient
Mansfield Town 1-1 AFC Wimbledon
Newport County 0-3 York City
Northampton Town 1-2 Dagenham & Redbridge
Portsmouth 0-0 Accrington Stanley
Stevenage 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 Hartlepool United
Yeovil Town 2-4 Morecambe
Notts P-P Crawley

Here's how the table looks like after matchday 6:

Leyton Orient remain at the top of the league but by a whisker, with Wycombe hot on their heels. Plymouth, Oxford and Portsmouth sit just behind, while Morecambe and Exeter round off the promotion places. Down at the bottom, Newport's dreadful start to the season continues, while Yeovil's fall from grace shows no sign of stopping. Notts are just above the drop zone, but they have a game in hand.

Leyton Orient maintained their winning start to the League Two season, remaining top of the table with five wins from five matches after beating Bristol Rovers 2-0 at Brisbane Road.

Plymouth Argyle beat Newport County 1-0 as Graham Carey's 43rd-minute strike, his fourth of the season, saw the Pilgrims remain in second place.

Morecambe took the lead against Notts County through Alan Goodall, but were pegged back soon before half time by Genaro Snijders’s wonderful long-range strike. Substitute Paul Mullin gave Morecambe the lead for a second time, striking past Roy Carroll into the top corner. Another sub in the form of Alex Kenyon made it 3-1 in the 88th minute, before Jamie Devitt sealed a 4-1 win minutes later.

Portsmouth left it late against Luton Town to claim a 2-1 win at Kenilworth Road, with Gareth Evans putting the hosts ahead. Pompey’s Craig Mackail-Smith then equalised from the spot, before Matt Tubbs struck at the death for the Hatters.

Carlisle United came from behind twice to record a 3-2 victory at Hartlepool United as Scott Harrison put the hosts in front six minutes in. Jabo Ibehre's eighth goal in seven games then made it 1-1 in the second half, before Billy Paynter dispatched a penalty to make it 2-1 to Pool. Tom Miller again levelled the scoreline, but Ibehre's second five minutes from time gave Carlisle all three points.

Oxford United claimed a 2-0 win against Yeovil Town through Danny Hylton and Callum O'Dowda.

Mansfield Town ran out 2-1 winners at York City as Reece Thompson opened the scoring for the hosts, but Matt Green’s subsequent brace ensured that the Stags left Bootham Crescent with all three points.

AFC Wimbledon won by the same scoreline against Exeter City, George Francomb putting the hosts ahead, Ryan Harley levelling the scores minutes later, and Ade Azeez firing the winner for the 1988 FA Cup holders.

Northampton Town and Accrington Stanley shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, with Marc Richards's third strike of the season putting the Cobblers into the lead. A Josh Windass penalty early in the second half then brought the scores level, with no further goals settling the result.

Dagenham & Redbridge and Stevenage also shared a 1-1 draw as the hosts – without a league win this season – took an early advantage courtesy of an Ashley Hemmings goal. Stevenage then drew level through Tom Hitchcock, finishing from Brett Williams' knockdown after Tom Conlon's crossfield pass.

Elsewhere, there were goalless draws between both Crawley Town and Wycombe Wanderers, and Barnet and Cambridge United.

Results in full:
Accrington 1-1 Northampton
AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Exeter
Barnet 0-0 Cambridge
Crawley 0-0 Wycombe
Dagenham & Redbridge 1-1 Stevenage
Hartlepool 2-3 Carlisle
Leyton Orient 2-0 Bristol Rovers
Luton 1-2 Portsmouth
Morecambe 4-1 Notts
Oxford 2-0 Yeovil
Plymouth 1-0 Newport
York 1-2 Mansfield

Here's how the League Table looks like after Matchday 5:

Leyton Orient and Plymouth are the early pacesetters, with Wycombe remaining in automatic promotion contention despite dropping two points, but with Portsmouth snapping at their heels in fourth. Oxford, Hartlepool and Bristol Rovers occupy the remaining playoff slots. It's still early days as just four points separate eighth from 20th - ironically, Mansfield and Notts - but Newport will be worried after claiming just one point from their opening five matches.

To discuss all the happenings in League Two and across the other leagues in the country, visit the Pride of Nottingham English Leagues section and join the conversation.

Notts County travel up to Morecambe on Saturday 29th August for a league clash that sees both sides try to improve their lukewarm form.

The Magpies began the season brightly with a league win at Stevenage and the shock victory at Huddersfield in the League Cup, but poor showings against

Meanwhile the Shrimpers have lost three in five but and saw a late goal deny them victory at Portsmouth, the match finishing 3-3.

The match officials for the game will be referee Ross Joyce, assistants Alf Greenwood and Paul Marsden, and fourth official James Mainwaring.

Referee: Ross Joyce
From: Cleveland

He has never refereed a Notts game.

Run down of his last four games:

League Two: Saturday 15 Aug 2015 - Northampton 3-0 Exeter (4 yellows, no reds)

League Two: Saturday 22 Aug 2015 - Bristol Rovers 3-1 Barnet (3 yellows, no reds)

Conference: Sunday 17 May 2015 - Bristol Rovers 1-1 Grimsby (4 yellows, no reds)

Conference: Saturday 25 Apr 2015 - Forest Green 0-0 Dover (4 yellows, no reds)

In his last four games 15 yellow cards and no red cards have been shown.

So far this season in a total of two games he has shown seven yellow cards and no red cards - 3.5 yellow cards per game.

Assistant Referee: Alf Greenwood
From: Yorkshire

Last three games:

National League North: Saturday 22 Aug 2015 North Ferriby 1–1 Hednesford Town

National League North: Tuesday 18 Aug 2015 Gainsborough T 3–1 Stalybridge Celtic

Championship: Saturday 15 Aug 2015 Huddersfield Town 1–1 Blackburn Rovers (1st assistant)

Assistant Referee: Paul Marsden
From: Lancashire

Last three games:

League Two Saturday 22 Aug 2015 Carlisle United 1 - 1 AFC Wimbledon (1st assistant)

National League North Tuesday 18 Aug 2015 Stockport County 1 - 1 North Ferriby

League One Sunday 16 Aug 2015 Wigan Athletic 0 - 0 Doncaster Rovers (Fourth official)

Fourth Official: James Mainwaring
From: Lancashire

It’s hard work being a Notts County fan. This isn’t just an opinion – a poll back in 2007 officially crowned the Magpies as the most stressful club to support in the Football League. Financial troubles, relegation battles, backroom changes – and this is just the last few years.

Thank goodness, then, for the calming influence of Colin Slater. The Notts County correspondent for BBC Radio Nottingham has commentated on Magpies games for the past half-century, his dulcet tones interwoven within the very fabric of the club.

What few people know, however, is that The Voice of Notts County could have so easily become The Voice of Bradford City. Colin was born and raised in Shipley, West Yorkshire, and the Bantams were the first football club he followed.

“I was first taken to football aged nine by my dad and I can remember the game against Barnsley at Valley Parade,” he says, sipping a mug of coffee on a warm spring’s day in West Bridgford’s Café Nero.

The young Colin knew from an early age that he wanted to be a journalist, recalling a civic occasion in Shipley’s town square where he noticed the local press reporting on the event from a vantage point.

He proclaims with pride: “That set me thinking that, if journalists get such a good view, that’s what I want to do because that’s where I want to be!”

Colin carried this ambition with him throughout his formative years, getting a job at the Shipley Guardian after finishing his secondary education at Belle Vue Grammar School – which also taught literary genius John Boynton “JB” Priestley – and, within a few years, becoming the newspaper’s editor.

So, how did he find himself in Nottingham, a city with which he had no prior connection? The answer is as honest as it is pragmatic. “I stayed at the Shipley Guardian for nine years, which was perhaps too long. I wanted a change, and the best offer I got was in Nottingham.”

His role at the now-defunct Nottingham Evening News was twofold – he would be the newspaper’s local affairs correspondent as well as being responsible for Notts County coverage. But his lack of familiarity with the Magpies led to him needing a crash course prior to starting work.

“I had just three weeks between moving to Nottingham and getting to know Notts County’s players, officials, and directors before covering my first game!”

After cutting his teeth for nine years covering the Magpies in print format, Colin moved to BBC Radio Nottingham to provide live audio commentary for his newly adopted team, and the rest, as they say, is history.

One of the most notable things about Colin’s presence on the radio is just how well spoken he is. The word “gentlemanly” springs to mind. Bafflingly, some people have accused him of being “posh” and “privileged” – and this accusation angers him no end, especially because it brings back tragic memories.

Colin explains: “I started my working life on 30 shillings a week – £1.50 in today’s currency. So I get a bit riled when anyone thinks I must have been born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I wasn’t, because my dad, who was a great hero figure to me, died when I was 14, so I know what it’s like to lose my father at a young age and start work fresh out of school for little money. Hardly a gilded sort of life, was it?”

The veteran broadcaster also opens up about Jimmy Sirrell, undoubtedly the greatest Magpies manager of all time, and reminisces about an encounter he had with him following their 2-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in May 1981 – a result which saw Notts promoted to the old First Division.

“I went into the players’ dressing room to have a glass of champagne, and Jack Dunnett, the chairman, came in and invited me up to the boardroom. Jimmy eventually came in and asked if my friend – who drove us down to the game – and I were stopping on the way back. I said yes, then asked him if he was going to stop anywhere.”

Colin laughs, then adopts a Scottish brogue: “His reply was, “Aye! We’re going to stop at the first shop I see which is open, I’m going to get the biggest tin of glue that they sell, and I’m going to keep the players’ feet on the ground!”

As heart-warming as those memories are, there is also an element of melancholy and sadness attached, as virtually no fan under the age of 30 is likely to remember these long-forgotten halcyon days. The Magpies were relegated from the top flight in 1992 and it’s been nothing but slim pickings since, with little more than a half-decent cup run now and then and a fourth tier championship to make up for perpetual strife, anxiety and relegation battles in the lower reaches of the Football League.

And Colin believes the fans should not put up with it any longer: “The ground they have, the tradition they have, the great players they’ve had down the years, all demands that Notts should be in the Championship, and it’s against that yardstick that they will be judged, whoever the manager is and whoever comprises the board of directors. It has to be their target to get back there…” and he makes a point of enunciating each and every letter, “ASAP!”

Share your thoughts about this interview on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans.

Newport manager Terry Butcher has claimed that the Supporters Trust's share launch this week will be a "hugely significant" day for the club.

Trust members will be able to buy shares on the club following the launch at the Riverside Theatre.

The NCST is already running the club, but aims to take over the ownership of the League Two outfit.

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Carlisle manager Keith Curle has claimed that the celebrations after their League Cup win at QPR were to show their thanks to the loyal travelling supporters.

The Cumbrians won 2-1 in one of the shocks of the second round, and were rewarded for the victory with a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool in round three.

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Mansfield Town have agreed a new "incentive-based" contract with Matty Blair following his recovery from a serious knee injury.

The 26-year-old winger joined the Stags from Fleetwood Town in January, but suffered cruciate ligament damage playing against Carlisle United.

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Dagenham & Redbridge defender Matt Partridge has left the club by mutual consent just two months after signing a new one-year deal.

The 21-year-old made three appearances for the Daggers this season, after featuring 28 times for them in the 2014-15 campaign.

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Luton Town will receive over £1m in sell-on fees from Andre Gray's £9m move from Brentford to Burnley.

The 24-year-old moved to Kenilworth Road in 2012 and left for the Bees for a reported £500,000 last summer.

Gray scored 18 goals as the London club reached the Championship play-offs last season, leading the Clarets to pay a club-record fee for him.

Luton will receive £1.1m spread over three seasons, and a further £700,000 if he helps Burnley win promotion.

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York City have terminated Lindon Meikle's contract by mutual consent.

The former Mansfield player failed to score in 32 games for the Minstermen last season, having joined on a free in July 2014.

The 27-year-old striker, who was placed on the transfer list in May, has failed to make an appearance for York this term.

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Northampton Town have signed defender Adam Yates on a one-month loan from Port Vale.

The 32-year-old right-back will provide cover for the suspended Josh Lelan and injured Brendan Moloney.

Yates is Vale's longest-serving player, having made 234 appearances since joining in 2009.

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Accrington Stanley’s Matt Crooks could be a millionaire if he worked on his game, says club manager John Coleman.

The midfielder joined in February after his release from Hartlepool and scored his second goal of the season in the 1-1 draw at Notts.

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To discuss the latest news in League Two as well as English football in general, come to the dedicated Pride of Nottingham forum and join the conversation.

So far this season the old cliché “I wonder which team will turn up today” has applied to the Magpies. Some wonderful displays of close passing and team work capped off with fine finishing have clashed with other performances that have had Notts fans holding their heads in their hands.

At Villa Park the 1500 travelling faithful were on the edge of their seats or leaping in the air as the Capital One Cup second round tie with Aston Villa’s ‘Ups and Downs’ followed rapidly on each other.

In the opening minutes Notts did well to keep a clean sheet. Adama Traore, a £7m signing from Barcelona, made his debut and his mazy runs needed Notts defenders to stack up on him, but he still got through several times.

Villa’s quick passing around the midfield under the prompting of Jack Grealish and Jordan Veretout was impressive but Notts were not phased as the game ebbed and flowed from end to end.

Gill Swerts was doing a great job marshalling the defence and the high line forced several offside calls. Roy Carroll was taking every ball that got through and released Notts on counterattacks. The Notts midfield revolved again through the impressive Stanley Aborah with good support from Jon Stead and Genaro Snijders.

Snijders put Notts in front for the first time with a deflected shot with the excellent Traore equalising. Notts were correctly awarded a penalty on the verge of half time with a foul on Izale McLeod. Stead grabbed the ball and wouldn’t let anyone wrestle it off him before smashing it high into the roof of the net to send the Notts fans for their half-time Bovril in high spirits.

Scott Sinclair then showed good finishing skills to get the first of his three goals but Graham Burke put Notts ahead again with a wonderful curling shot from outside the box.

Then the unfortunate turning point of the game came as Stanley Aborah seemed to have timed his tackle well in the box but referee Chris Kavanagh awarded a penalty and Sinclair beat Carroll with the penalty.

Notts were up against it afterwards as the game went to extra time. There could have been two men sent off but Kavanagh was kind. McLeod on his debut had been kept quiet by the Villa defence and Jimmy Spencer, who looked a long way from full fitness, replaced him.

Carroll pulled off a wonder save and Spencer missed an easy chance to stab home from a Stead set-up but in between Villa scored twice through Sinclair and Joe Bennett to put the game beyond Notts.

Notts’s excellent play had shocked the Premier League team and with a little luck could have held on for a great win. However it had been a Capital Night Out with a display at least as good as the cup games at Anfield and Stamford Bridge.

Ricardo Moniz must be getting closer to working out his best combination and all the new signings are starting get to know each other. Let’s hope that this Notts team will ‘turn up’ on Saturdays as they showed a fighting spirit combined with great ball skills that we’ll need to get up into promotion contention.

With Notts taking on Aston Villa this evening in the League Cup, all eyes will be on Jack Grealish, the young winger whose fruitful loan spell at Meadow Lane and recent performances for Villa have make him a popular figure in the eyes of both sets of fans.

Pride of Nottingham spoke to Kevin, Jack's proud father and a lifelong Villa fan, about his son's upbringing, his early days in football, his loan spell at Notts, and what he hopes the player will achieve in his career.

Hello Kevin, pleasure to speak to you. First of all we'd like to ask you, what are your earliest footballing memories?

I started going down to Villa when I was about eight or nine and got a season ticket when I was 13. The memories that stand out? Seeing them win things like the European Cup… in fact, winning everything bar the FA Cup (we’ll forget about that one). Later on in life, bringing Jack and my other son Kevan down to Villa Park.

How did Jack get into football?

He began getting into football aged four, and within a year he was playing football in a small kickabout team. By age six he was training with Villa, and at age seven they signed him and he’s been there ever since. Quite a few clubs were enquiring about him, such as Crewe, Birmingham, West Brom and Wolves, but Villa’s his club.

How did you know that Jack had something special and could have gone on to play professionally?

When Jack was seven, I went into a bookmaker’s and asked to put a bet on that my son would go on to play football professionally. The guy behind the counter told me to look on the internet, but back in those days (2002) not everyone had it – I was one of those, and I didn’t chase it up!

But it was then, when he was seven, that I knew he had something about him and that he was standing out a bit. He was playing in older age groups and was still holding his own.

What was Jack like at school?

He was good at maths, okay at English, but the football did sidetrack him a bit, he didn’t do as well as he should have done. When he was around 13 years old he was taken out of school two days a week and educated at Bodymoor Heath (Aston Villa’s training ground). And during his last year, all his education was there.

How did the Notts County loan move come about?

I’ve always known about Notts County, everyone knows about them – they’re the oldest league club in the world. On the Wednesday before he was due to go there I got a phone call from Gordon Cowans, Villa’s Under-21 manager, and he said: “Jack’s going on loan to Notts tomorrow morning!” I checked where Notts were in the league and they were near the bottom of the table so I thought: “We’ve got a battle on our hands here!”

At first it was only a loan until Christmas, for around six weeks, but then by late December he started playing some good games, creating and scoring goals and generally having a great influence in matches – and the Notts fans liked him. Also, the rest of League One started taking notice of him. In fact, six clubs came in for Jack while he was at Meadow Lane – two of them in the Championship, but we said no, Notts were good enough to give us a try so we agreed to stay here.

One of those clubs was Peterborough, who were riding high in the league. Jack could have gone on to play at Wembley as a 19-year-old but we stayed put at Notts and as it turned out the team ended up surviving. It was a great move for Jack.

As a father how did it feel coming down to Notts and watching your son play first-team football?

It was brilliant. Before that he was playing in Under-21 games in front of around 60 or 70 fans, and now we were at Notts who were getting four, five thousand fans. It meant something to the fans and we had a reason to play football to try and keep the team in the league.

The lads there, Callum McGregor, Alan Sheehan, JCR, they got on great and he had a great connection with them all. And I really enjoyed going to Notts. I used to never miss Villa games, but where Jack plays, I go and watch him, and we had a great time.

What are your proudest memories of Jack’s time at Notts, and did you have any memorabilia from it?

We have Jack’s away shirt – the purple one – framed in our house, “Grealish No. 7”. I was really happy he got that number as some top players over the years have had that number, it means “let’s see what you can do”. We also have his home shirt (Kevin kindly brought it along to the interview) and we’ll get that framed soon.

The proudest memory would have to be keeping Notts up in the final game of the season. That was a fantastic, unbelievable experience. The whole of Meadow Lane appeared to be there at Oldham.

As for goals, the Gillingham goal, where he collected the ball outside the area, beat one defender, then another, then another, and walloped past the keeper – their manager said: “We made him look like George Best!”

The best game he had was Colchester away – scored one, set up a few and I thought he was just outstanding.

This is the second time we’ve spoken to you (we first spoke to Kevin for our Meet The Fans feature at Meadow Lane). What are your thoughts on Pride of Nottingham?

It’s great what you lads do. The way you connect with the fans and give them an insight of things at the club – even bringing me back, even though Jack played at Notts over a season ago, is great. Fans still have fine memories of Jack and what he did at Meadow Lane. I think what you lads are doing, a lot of other clubs can follow.

Do you still keep tabs on how Notts are doing?

We were looking all last season – one of the first questions we asked at Villa in the players lounge after a game was: “How did Notts do?” You had a great start to the season and then sadly the wheels fell off.

Me, Jack and the rest of the family are always keeping tabs on how they do. They’re the club that gave us a go, you’ve got to look out for teams like that. We could have moved on in the January transfer window and tested Jack further but we wanted to stay with Notts.

What are your hopes for Jack’s career?

He’s had a fantastic season last year, signing a new four-year deal at Villa, being voted Young Player of the Year both with his club and with Ireland’s Under-21s, and playing a part in keeping a team up for the second season in a row. Considering where Villa were in January, we looked done for, but it was fantastic – not to mention getting to the FA Cup final and playing at Wembley.

My career ambition is for him to go one better and win trophies at Villa, because that’s his club.

Pride of Nottingham would like to thank Kevin Grealish for his time and for speaking to us. Best of luck with Villa's game tonight, for the rest of the season and of course for Jack's career!

If you want to discuss this interview, or to view the interview in its original video format, head down to the Pride of Nottingham forum, view the YouTube video and join the conversation.

After such a bright start for Notts, the results against Mansfield, Oxford and Accrington Stanley have been disappointing to say the least. Yet, with the spine of Notts County's 2015-16 squad being quite varied, it is a concern of mine about how these players will settle down.

I also wonder just how many are in fact Ricardo's men, as Head of Requirement Guy Branston appears to have ideas above his station.

After the recent media-related misunderstanding at Notts County Football Club – I feel I can call it that – and on the back of the day-long ban of the Nottingham Post, it makes me query several of our summer signings.

For example, if you re watch interviews on the Magpie Player, you will hear many of the signings speak about not having met, seen or spoken to Ricardo Moniz and yet several praise Branston.

It's clear, Moniz would never have heard of Scot Bennett for example - why would he? Yet he is just one of the summer recruits who appears to have been signed by someone other than the Notts manager himself.

Even the summer’s star signing, Jon Stead, spoke about how the deal came about after Branston repeatedly made contact about the striker’s services and future as a player.

It leaves me wondering – will Moniz master this Notts squad?

If all the signings have been approved by our manager, then I would expect to see them near to the first team – yet some appear to have fallen off the radar.

It seems ideal that he would be more trustworthy of the players he introduced to the club, at a stage whereby two defeats and draw in our last three games may call for more changes to the previously selected starting XI – unless this is a case of quantity and not quality.

I really wonder how players like Rhys Sharpe will settle. I mean, where is he? Does anyone recall the tweet whereby the chief scout, I am sorry, I mean "Head of Requirement", actually declared that existing players Blair Adams and the unfairly released Jordan Cranston couldn't boss a certain intimidating lower division striker?

In fact, the tweet also mentioned that "we signed him". Should this not have been a simple recommendation for Moniz?

See, there appears to be a lot more going on at the club and I believe this is the reason why the manager actually publicly spoke about the disagreement with Branston.

I believe that Notts have found a real coup in Moniz; he appears to have the foundations for success, but I believe the internal politics require cleaning up, especially in order for our football to improve.

The club must get a grip on the field of play, cutting down the squad numbers and improving on all the mistakes made within this past month.

Notts is a community club, driven by the fans, so banning the Nottingham Post is completely out of order because it is the fans that would ultimately suffer.

Leave Moniz to call the shots with regards to building a squad worthy of promotion – if this is achieved, I believe we will see the style of attacking play, the one we know our manager can achieve, happen in a regular basis for Notts.

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To voice your opinions on this article, check out the related thread on the Pride of Nottingham forum, and join the conversation.

Football is a game with an incredibly rich history and, as many of you reading this will be aware, Notts County are part of parcel of the sport’s annals. The main identifying trait with this historic institution – a tagline, if you will – is that it’s “the world’s oldest professional Football League club”.

With a history stretching all the way back to November 1862, the Magpies were formed during a time when Queen Victoria was still on the throne, Abraham Lincoln was still President of the United States of America, and Charles Darwin’s magnum opus “On The Origin Of Species” was only three years old.

Charles Dickens had not yet released “Great Expectations” and the London Underground had not yet come into existence. “History of football” and “Notts County” are virtually synonymous.

In fact, Notts County are so rich in tradition that you can write a book chronicling a significant event in the club’s history for every single day of the year. How do I know? Because it has been done – and how.

“Notts County: On This Day” is the brainchild of Nottingham freelance journalist Tim Evershed, a meticulously researched 192-page book containing key events from each day in Notts County’s history that succeeds in educating and enthralling at the same time. Some entries are entertaining, others are upsetting, but all are incredibly engrossing.

Nothing is whitewashed in this book – it’s about as definitive as you can get in terms of capturing the history of the club. The sheer level of research that has gone into this book is staggering. Events that took place in the 1860s are written with the same accuracy and detail as those that happened in 2014.

I can pretty much guarantee that anyone reading this book, from the Generation Z teenager to the veteran multi-decade season ticket holder, will discover things they never previously knew about the Magpies. Just to give you an idea of how thorough the book is – it talks about Albert Iremonger in as much detail as Roy Carroll.

It’s almost baffling to think that there was a period in time when the Magpies not only graced the same pitch as Barcelona, but were able to beat them every time, including a 10-3 thumping, or that a Notts player was responsible for an incident similar in vein to that of Luis Suarez in the 2010 World Cup that would eventually lead to the game-changing decision to introduce penalty kicks in football. Did you know these facts? Me neither.

No qualms about it – “Notts County: On This Day” is an absolute gem of a book, and if you’re a Magpies fan, this book needs to become part of your library as soon as possible.

Notts County: On This Day
by Tim Evershed
Available on http://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/

Hardcover: 192 pages
Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd
ISBN-10: 1785310402
ISBN-13: 978-1785310409
RRP: £9.99

To discuss "Notts County: On This Day" by Tim Evershed, visit the Pride of Nottingham forum thread on the book review and join the conversation.

Portsmouth maintained their unbeaten start to their League Two season after Jayden Stockley scored a 95th-minute equaliser against Morecambe, despite being a man down.

The Shrimps dismantled Pompey in an impressive first-half display, as Tom Barkhuizen, Alan Goodall and Andrew Fleming all scored for the away side.

Morecambe led 3-1 before the break, with Gary Roberts clawing a goal back for the hosts minutes before half-time.

Roberts scored again in the second half before Enda Stevens received a second yellow in the 72nd minute, seemingly dooming his team to an unassailable task, but Stockley snatched a draw for his side moments before the final whistle.

Leyton Orient continue to lead the fourth tier table, with a 3-2 win over Newport County, but Plymouth Argyle remain hot on their heels after seeing off Northampton Town 2-0.

Yeovil Town pulled off an impressive comeback from two goals down with a 3-2 win over Luton Town, Ryan Bird's second-half brace helping the hosts to all three points.

Aaron Pierre netted a 95th minute equaliser for Wycombe Wanderers against Dagenham & Redbridge in a 1-1 draw, after their goalscorer Matt McClure was sent off for picking up two yellows.

Teddy Sheringham picked up his first win as Stevenage manager in a 2-0 win over Hartlepool United, Fraser Franks and Brett Williams grabbing the goals to end the visitors’ winning start to the season.

Bristol Rovers continue to climb the table as Lee Brown, Matt Taylor and Jermaine Easter's goals helped the Pirates to an impressive 3-1 win against Barnet.

Roarie Deacon's brace was enough for Crawley Town to see off Cambridge United, the 23-year-old’s first goals for the club adding to Gwion Edwards’s late tap-in for a heavy 3-0 win.

Jabo Ibehre’s goalscoring run continues as his 67th-minute equaliser rescued a point for Carlisle United against AFC Wimbledon, Andy Barcham’s goal nine minutes before the break not proving enouth.

Kemar Roofe's second-half penalty gave Oxford United a share of the spoils in their 1-1 draw against Mansfield Town, with ex-Notts man Craig Westcarr giving the Stags an early lead against the U’s.

Finally, Exeter City and York City played out the only goalless game in this weekend's round of League Two fixtures.

Results in full:
Bristol Rovers 3-1 Barnet
Cambridge Utd 0-3 Crawley
Carlisle 1-1 AFC Wimbledon
Exeter 0-0 York
Mansfield 1-1 Oxford Utd
Newport 2-3 Leyton Orient
Northampton 0-2 Plymouth
Notts County 1-1 Accrington
Portsmouth 3-3 Morecambe
Stevenage 2-0 Hartlepool
Wycombe 1-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
Yeovil 3-2 Luton

The table is as follows:

As previously mentioned, Leyton Orient lead the table with four wins out of four, with Wycombe two points behind them in second. With it being early days, there's a lot of movers all over the place, as Plymouth edge themselves into third place and Bristol Rovers rise to fourth, while Hartlepool, Portsmouth and Cambridge all slip. Notts drop to 16th while, at the foot of the table, Newport slip to 23rd, with Dagenham & Redbridge propping up the table in 24th.

To discuss all the happenings in League Two and across the other leagues in the country, visit the Pride of Nottingham English Leagues section and join the conversation.

Notts County have signed striker Izale McLeod from Crawley Town for an undisclosed six-figure fee.

The 30-year-old, who scored 21 goals last season as the Red Devils were relegated from League One, has put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Meadow Lane.

McLeod was unveiled to a warm reception at half time during the Magpies' league game against Accrington Stanley, which finished 1-1.

Chairman Ray Trew told the club's official site: “We’ve been trying to sign Izale for the last month and eventually we were able to strike a deal with Crawley which we’re very happy with.

“Obviously we still have a few issues with the team which we’re addressing. Ricardo wants a proven goal scorer and we’ve got that for this level. At Huddersfield we played exceptionally well but we’re always searching for players who are going to improve the playing squad .”

McLeod has plenty of experience in English football and can count Charlton Athletic, Derby County and Portsmouth among his former clubs.

To discuss the signing of Izale McLeod and voice your opinions, visit the dedicated Pride of Nottingham player thread and join the conversation.

Just four times this season Notts players and fans will head to away games for venues which will be new to all of us. In chronological order they are Morecambe’s Globe Arena; Wimbledon’s Kingsmeadow; Barnet’s Hive Stadium; and Newport’s Rodney Parade.

I write my first contribution to these pages shortly before driving to Morecambe for the match on August Bank Holiday Saturday. It isn’t going to be the first time that Notts have played there but the two previous visits were to Christie Park, before the move to the Globe Arena in 2010.

Who can ever forget the last visit, on 19 September 2009? Not because of the result, the Shrimps winning 2-1, but because it marked the one and only appearance in the famous Black and White of Sol Campbell who had won 73 caps – and been a rock in England’s defence – in a glittering career, chiefly with Arsenal and Spurs.

I wonder how many Notts fans can truly say “I was there”? I first met Campbell on the day he signed, interviewing him in the Meadow Lane boardroom but spending much longer enjoying a fascinating private conversation. After his 90 minutes at Morecambe I asked for a second interview.

The truth of the matter was that, though he’d used the time between signing and making his debut seeking to get fit, he by no means contributed an impressive debut display, which probably accounted for his reluctance to be interviewed. Eventually he agreed but seemed ill-at-ease and didn’t have much of interest to say.

Three days later Campbell walked out of Meadow Lane and before the end of September his contract was cancelled by mutual consent. And a few days later he returned to Arsenal. I’ve often wondered since whether I should have read more into his post-match demeanor – did it signify he’d already made his decision to pack his bags?

Campbell never made any secret about the fact that he’d largely been persuaded to sign by the Notts director of football, Sven-Goran Eriksson, the two of them having got close during their time together with England. Sven could never be drawn into discussing Campbell’s abrupt departure.

In the match, Morecambe scored either side of half time with Jim Bentley getting the first in 36 minutes and Paul Mullin the second on 52 minutes. Not until the 71st minute did Ben Davies reduce the arrears but Notts failed to find an equaliser.

It’s worth pointing out that the defeat put Notts eighth in League Two, with no hint they were going to storm to the title at the end of April with a brilliant 5-0 rout of Darlington at their Arena.

So it was by no stretch of imagination a wholly convincing start to the 2009-10 campaign, though expectations were high after a spate of summer signings.

Doesn’t that resonate with what’s happening right now, in the early days of 2015-16?

Between 2009 and now the wheel has turned full circle for Jim Bentley. Then he scored.

Now 39, he’s Morecambe’s manager, having been appointed in 2011.

This article was written By Colin Slater, BBC Radio Nottingham, Notts County Correspondent.

Colin Slater is our guest columnist on Pride of Nottingham, this is an exclusive piece. To discuss his article, visit the PON Forum by clicking here.

Local derbies are nothing unfamiliar for me. As a kid growing up I saw Notts County take on Mansfield countless times when we were in the old Division 2 and in League 2.

My most vivid memory comes from November 2002 at Meadow Lane. In those days we were watching names such as Mark Stallard, Paul Heffernan, Darren Caskey and Kevin Nicholson take to the Meadow Lane pitch in the hope that bragging rights would be theirs.

For anyone who was there on that cold November night, watching Darren Caskey curl a free-kick into the corner of the family stand net has to be one of the greatest moments Meadow Lane has ever witnessed – it’s certainly one I cherish. As a young lad of 12, it was the stuff dreams were made of when you practiced free-kicks on the school playground. These players shaped my love for the club with their drive and ambition. There wasn’t an abundance of glamour or style in our performances; it was doggid - with plenty of graft, passion and the occasional moment of magic.

So in 2015 on a decidedly warmer August evening, I returned to Meadow Lane with my Dad for yet another derby with Mansfield. My expectations for this one differed – partly because I’m older, without the same childish optimism or unrealistic expectations and also, because the team taking to the field under Ricardo Moniz is of a different breed and style to the one from 2002.

It’s apparent to all Notts fans that Moniz is trying to eradicate the days of long ball football and I for one am delighted with that. This new Notts team have been easier on the eye in their opening games against Stevenage and Huddersfield and have ability in abundance. One player who has caught my eye has to be Stanley Aborah, simply because he has confidence on the ball and the ability to change a game in seconds with flair and a killer pass.

So, would the current crop deliver against Mansfield this time around?

The simple answer was no. The feeling around Meadow Lane before kick-off was excitement and optimism and I have to credit every supporter who turned up on the night – the atmosphere was electric and Meadow Lane was bouncing. Sadly, the performance from the Notts players didn’t live up to the hype and expectation. Mansfield controlled the game from start to finish with Notts looking nervy and rusty throughout. Chances were at a premium, with tiny glimmers from Jenner and Burke but nothing to trouble Mansfield.

I have to congratulate Mansfield on their approach to the match. They were sharper, quicker and in my opinion, hungrier for the three points. Every time there was a 50/50 ball, you always felt Mansfield would win it. Their goals were nothing special however and were avoidable from a Notts perspective – undone by an Chris Clements strike and a soft headed goal from a set piece late on by Tafazolli. Sadly from the stands it was the same old problems – sloppy goals conceded and not enough potency up-front – something that Moniz is only too aware of. Also, it was another poor performance at home – all too familiar from last season. One criticism I have of Moniz is his apparent reliance on 4-3-3 – it simply doesn’t work in League 2 against physical sides like Mansfield.

We were outnumbered in midfield countless times which resorted to us playing long balls from back to front and surrendering possession. Had we played a simpler 4-4-2, I feel we could have competed far better than we did.

I am however, confident that we have a great squad on which to build and we only need one or two more names to make it stronger. Easier said than done, but we need that 20 goal a season striker Moniz is searching for, and we need another commanding centre back. All I can hope for is that the return leg at Field Mill sees a turn in fortunes and we return to winning ways against Oxford on Tuesday.

Onwards and upwards!

Anyone who kept an eye on League Two last season will have deduced that it is almost impossible for a Club to sustain a high performance level allied to a top league position for the duration of a long exhausting 46 match season in a league which takes no prisoners.

Chairmen and Managers who make the strategic decision to invest heavily in a compact squad of just 16 or so (relatively) costly players may well see their Club jockeying for a top seven position up until Christmas only to find that injuries, suspensions and heavy pitches begin to take their toll in January.

As a consequence they are forced to bring both youth team players through the ranks quicker than is wise and loan players in what turns out to be more often than not a desperate but vain attempt to maintain league position. They watch their hopes of promotion fade quicker than the February sun.

And in their position, you have to ask yourself whether you really want to further jeopardise your chances of promotion by increasing the risk of injury or suspension, by committing your top players to FA Cup, Carling Cup, and Johnson’s Paint Trophy games on top of the 46-game gruelling league campaign.

When Big Sam Allardyce managed Notts County, he made no secret of the fact that he had absolutely no interest in Cup competitions, as his focus was solely on achieving promotion. At least his honesty saved fans a few quid as only the die-hards were willing to part with their hard-earned cash to watch a half-hearted effort on the pitch.

As I write this article on the coach travelling to Huddersfield for our Carling Cup match, I have to confess that I don’t have any idea what Ricardo Moniz’ cup ‘policy’ is going to be.

Will he want to give his ideal starting eleven another competitive 90 plus minutes to continue the gelling process?

Will he want to give those ‘fringe’ players who are knocking on the door a chance to impress him that they should be in the starting eleven for the next league game?

Will he want to give those players who have been injured some valuable rehab game minutes?

Or will he send out a blend of youth players, second-stringers, and those he wants to put in the shop window in the hope that a watching scout will see a potential loan target and reduce our wage bill by a few pennies?

(See after-game comment at the end of this article.)

Neither the Carling Cup (in its early rounds at least) and certainly not the JP Trophy games will attract large enough crowds to swell Clubs’ income levels significantly. Many season ticket holders stay away from these matches on principle, not understanding why their outlay at the beginning of the season shouldn’t include Cup games.

And the FA Cup matches won’t generate a dream, money-spinning, tie against Premiership opposition until the third round, at the very earliest.

So all that is left to generate any big interest in the early rounds of all three cup competitions is the prospect of a tasty local derby to draw in crowds looking to savour a crunch game.

Which brings us to this year’s opening round of the Johnsons Paintdrying Trophy, when Notts host their noisy neighbours, Mansfield Town. When I first heard news of the draw, I just thought: What a pity. The two teams will have already played each other earlier in the month in a league match and Mansfield are hardly a ‘glamour’ team.

But, thinking on, I realised that this tie actually has the prospect of generating added commitment on the pitch as well as enthusiasm in the stands because, unless the league game results in a draw, the losing side and its fans will be out for revenge and, quite possibly, there will be one or two individual scores to be settled on the pitch as well.

So what at first seemed (to Notts fans, at least) a disappointing 1st round JPT draw, may well turn out to be quite a feisty confrontation.

I, for one, am looking forward to it!

(After-game comment: As we all now know, RM sent out his strongest team at Huddersfield and what a brilliant display of commitment, vision, and ability we were treated to! I consider myself privileged to have been there to witness it.)

The Magpies will have to put the disappointment behind themselves, after their recent game against Mansfield. All focus must be on the task at hand, whilst of course pushing for all three points.

Oxford United will most likely allow Notts to play, so it should make for an entertaining game within the lower tier.

It’s important neither side sit back, as both teams are prone to making their own mistakes.

Run down of their recent games.

Saturday 8^th August – Oxford 1 Crawley 1
Tuesday 11^th August – Brentford 0 Oxford 4 (League Cup)
Saturday 15^th August – Luton 2 Oxford 2

The Players – Fact Sheet

Highest Goal Scorers; Danny Hylton 2, Kemar Roofe 2, Johnny Mullins 1 and Liam Sercombe 1.

Persistent Foulers; Alex MacDonald 2 Yellow Cards, Liam Sercombe 1 Yellow Card and Ryan Taylor 1 Yellow Card.

The Key Players.

Danny Hylton, Danny Rose, Kemar Roofe, Liam Sercombe and Jake Wright.

Danny Hylton is a lively striker, who has the ability to get quick chances off and generally causes his opposition trouble.

Danny Rose is Oxford's creative player, he likes to be direct and isn't afraid to get into challenges or avoid passes when he is being marked. Likewise, Kemar Roofe and Liam Sercombe like to be direct themselves, with a natural ability on the ball the pair team up well and offer United quite a lot of width.

Jake Wright is their anchor within defence, he tries to keep the game simple but tackles well.

Style of Play, Strengths, and Weaknesses.

Oxford United appear to be your typical lower league team, they try to counter breaks after their opposition have thrown men forward. They’re patient and slow at building, yet can inject pace when the need is required. However, to a degree their approach is somewhat scrappy.

The main strength is from their creative players, they look for alternative options when their game plan does not seem to work. They invite play onto themselves, so that they can then hit back with their own attacks and generally try to frustrate their opposition.

With regards to weaknesses, for me it’s all about their scrappy play. Good teams will be able to flood their back line, which would put pressure onto themselves.

Their keeper Sam Slocombe didn’t really impress me within their highlights, he seems to be a risk for me as he didn’t control his area well and when he came to making basic saves – He tended to drop the ball and generally created tension within his own defensive, which lead to Luton Town scoring against them.

If Notts can penetrate through the centre of the box, allowing players to shoot from the edge of the box – Potential tap ins may occur, but crosses is another area whereby the Magpies can exploit.

Blair Adams made his first Notts County appearance this season, returning from injury in Friday nights 2-0 defeat by Mansfield and says Notts players must put their bodies on the line when defending in dead ball situations. Notts have conceded from set ball deliveries in the opening games this season and also at the end of last season.

He says "It's something we have to work on. You've got to want to head the ball away for the team, put your face in where it hurts. It's something we need more of."Commenting on his return injury Blair added that although being a bit rusty he will improve and feels he can form a successful defensive partnership with half time substitute Graham Burke.

He added "I'm pleased to get 90 minutes. I've had a couple of setbacks. I'm looking to get my fitness back now".

"I'll be up and down the wing and hopefully chipping in with a few assists".

"When Graham came on I thought we linked up quite well. It's promising. The quality of his crosses are a huge asset."

"You saw when he came on he put three or four unbelievable balls in."

"It was a shame we started lethargically. They got out the traps quicker and that should have woken us up a bit".

"We weren't at our best but we've got a good chance to put it right this week".

Tuesday 18^th August, Notts County travel to the Kassam Stadium to play Oxford United. Notts go into the game after losing our local derby against Mansfield 2-0.

The U's come into the game having enjoyed their own cup success away from home against Brentford where they won 4-0, they also battled bravely against Luton Town to get a share of the points.

Both teams will be eager to acquire the maximum points available, so that they kick start their season.

The Match Officials for the game against Oxford United will be Rob Lewis, with his two assistants Richard Hulme and Nick Hobbis. The fourth official will be Timothy Wood.

Due to the fact we are at the start of the season, it seems pointless to mention stats and so, I will include some details about the officials.

Match Officials

Referee; Rob Lewis
From – Shropshire

After looking at previous games whereby Rob Lewis has featured as a referee, it would suggest that he is a very adequate match official. In fact, last season he only issued 2 red cards and several match reports highlight his control and decisions through the game as being generally spot on.

Assistant Referee; Richard Hulme
From – Somerset

Sadly yet again, there is very little information regarding Hulme as an assistant referee.

Assistant Referee; Nick Hobbis
From – West Midlands

Nick was born in Birmingham and has spent numerous seasons officiating games as an assistant referee.

Fourth Official; Timothy Wood
From – Gloucestershire

Do you have an opinion on the game? - Match Thread

The Lady Pies beat Bristol Academy 1-0 in FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup competition last Sunday.

Notts Ladies had previously lost to Chelsea in the Womens FA cup final at Wembley and again to them, rather surprisingly as they are currently bottom of the league, in FA WSL 1 league the following week.

Rachel Williams first half goal was enough to win the match.

Ellen White also had a couple of chances go wide and Jess Clarke had a goal disallowed for being offside.

Lady Pies manager Rick Passmoor said "this win will have helped restore confidence".

“We’ve had a bit of a tough time, but we had ten days to recharge the batteries” he said.

“We then sat down and had a real big heart-to-heart about what can we do and where we can get better and a lot of it is just about confidence and hopefully today will go towards that."

“We needed to get the belief back. We can’t turn into bad players and a bad team overnight."

“We have to look at the mentality of the lead up to the FA Cup and how much it took out of them, and then reassuring them and showing them lots of evidence about how they played in the first half of the season."

“Today was about getting that win, getting the confidence back. We had the chances and hopefully there is a bag full of goals coming.”

Bristol didn't create many chances and substitute, Frankie Fantom-Brown was stretchered off with 20 minutes remaining leaving them to play with 10 players but their manager, Willie Kirk, accepted that the better team on the day had won.

Attendance - 490.

Another late Tuesday night is calling for football fans to encourage their sides onto victory; Pride of Nottingham is taking a look into the fixtures set to play-out on the 18^th of August – as Notts prepare themselves for Oxford away from home.

Meanwhile a host of teams will be hoping to lead the League Two table come the end of the night, as several top teams feature against difficult teams.

Five teams start the night with perfect records, having all won their opening two games.

* Important Game – ** Key Game

Tuesday 18^th August 2015

Accrington v Mansfield – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (0-1)
AFC Wimbledon v Cambridge – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (1-2)
Barnet v Northampton – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (1-1)
**Crawley v Portsmouth – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (2-3)
Dagenham & Redbridge v Exeter – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (0-2)
Hartlepool v Newport – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (1-0)
Leyton Orient v Stevenage – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (2-2)
*Luton v Bristol Rovers – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (2-0)
Morecambe v Wycombe – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (0-1)
*Oxford v Notts County – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (0-1)
**Plymouth v Carlisle – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (2-1)
York v Yeovil – Kick Off 7:45pm – Score Prediction (1-0)

My Stand-Out Games

Crawley v Portsmouth
Luton v Bristol Rovers
Plymouth v Carlisle

Crawley will be hoping to get their first win of the season against promotion chasing Portsmouth, it will be potentially high scoring with the home side looking to capitalise on the return of out of favour striker Izale McLeod. The former Pompey star will be hoping to establish himself back within the Red Devils and encouraging a win may see him gain his wish. Despite predicting the score in favour of Portsmouth, I don’t think they will have it all plain sailing.

At the start of the season Luton were tipped as one of the front-runners for promotion; however, their League Two campaign has been nothing but easy. Whilst Bristol Rovers will be hoping for back to back wins on the road after beating Yeovil Town 1-0.

Plymouth Argyle will have a tough home game against Carlisle, as both sides will be hoping to avoid defeat. On paper, advantage seems to favour the home side who are in some decent form but have been struggling to iron out defensive woe’s, which has prevented them from retraining a perfect start to the season. Carlisle has the ability to push sides, which they will be hoping to make the most of on Tuesday.

Thoughts on Oxford United vs. Notts County

Despite the performance strung together at home on Friday night, I think Notts will be eager to make amends and will no doubt be a very good side away from home.

Notts will have problems within their squad selection and potentially will lead a completely new line-up at the front, with Jon Stead likely to miss the game. Jimmy Spencer is most likely to start, with the issues continuing at the back due to key players being missing.

Oxford has collected two very hard fought draws, with them highlighting their ability to score in previous games.

Comparing the sides head to head, Notts narrowly lead with 9 wins but also share 9 draws, whilst Oxford have won 8 of the ties themselves.

Much like the Stevenage game, I suspect the difference will be down to who scores first and yet, if the Magpies show a little bit of their cup spirit away from home against Huddersfield Town. Then perhaps I cannot write them off so easily, if Oxford United do open the account within our game first. Let’s hope it proves to be a bright display and no matter what, both sets of fans go home happy and entertained.

Ricardo Moniz has made it clear that his Notts County side need to be more clinical and incisive in attack if they are to progress in League Two this season. The Magpies succumbed to a meek 2-0 defeat at Meadow Lane against bitter rivals Mansfield, a loss that changed the mood among the Notts faithful from euphoric to funereal within 90 minutes.

Aside from the two poorly conceded goals, another worrying thing for Notts was how little they offered in the final third – Stags goalkeeper Brian Jensen was barely tested all game.

Moniz said: “We were not able to create anything in the first half… in the first two games I was critical about that. In difficult games where it's so close you need the escape.

"In the first half, Jenner, instead of shooting, he had to pull the ball back. In the second half we had the cross from Burkey but it's not enough to be a favourite team (to go up) when we are so limited up front.

"This is not an offence to anyone, but you need that extra quality against a compact wall of defenders.

"Jon was too isolated in the first half. He needed support from Jimmy Spencer – he was fresh. They have to create chances but they depend on the crosses and Mansfield were very organised at the back.

"We had the cross from Burke and two possibilities with Jenner. This is not enough. Blair Adams and Scott Bennett have to overlap so we can create more."

Notts have the chance to redeem themselves almost instantly with Tuesday evening’s visit of Oxford United.

After a great start to the season Notts County came back down to earth with a resounding bang following Friday nights dismal performance in the 2-0 defeat at home to local rivals Mansfield Town.

Saturday's fixture also took place with 8 teams claiming victories out of 11, 5 of which have managed to retain a perfect start, as Wycombe, Leyton Orient, Portsmouth, Northampton and Hartlepool United claim back to back league wins.

Here are Friday's and Saturday's results.

League Two Results

Friday 14^th August

Notts County 0-2 Mansfield Town

Saturday 15th August

Barnet 0–2 Wycombe Wanderers
Carlisle 4–4 Cambridge
Crawley 1– 2 AFC Wimbledon
Dagenham and Redbridge 1–3 Leyton Orient
Luton 2–2 Oxford
Morecambe 1–0 Accrington
Newport 2–2 Stevenage
Northampton 3–0 Exeter
Plymouth 1–2 Portsmouth
Yeovil 0–1 Bristol Rovers
York 1–2 Hartlepool

There were 2 home wins, 6 away wins and 3 draws.

Upcoming Fixtures

Tuesday 18th August 2015

Accrington v Mansfield
AFC Wimbledon v Cambridge
Barnsley v Northampton
Crawley v Portsmouth
Dagenham and Redbridge v Exeter
Hartlepool v Newport
Leyton Orient v Stevenage
Luton v Bristol Rovers
Morecambe v Wycombe Wanderers
Oxford v Notts County
Plymouth v Carlisle
York v Yeovil

League Two Update

Game number two of the 2015/16 season and Portsmouth continued their promotion hopes by winning at Plymouth.

Leyton Orient ,Northampton and Hartlepool all won and share top spot with Portsmouth on 6 points, behind Wycombe wanderers on goal difference.

Mansfield drop to 7^th after temporarily occupying top spot, with 4 points the same tally as 6^th placed Cambridge.

Notts now lie 9^th with 3 points.

Yeovil, York, Barnet and Dagenham and Redbridge are in the bottom places all losing their first two games.

-

Notts next game is away at Oxford on Tuesday.

Oxford are placed 16^th with 2 points, having drawn their 2 opening games.

Still very early days but a Notts win will put them right back in the promotion mix, a defeat will add to Friday nights despondency.

The Magpies host Mansfield at Meadow Lane later today, the fixture is one which both sets of fans have been looking forward to and it should be an action packed game, with Stag fans flooding down to the ground to support their team.

Mansfield will be looking to claim their first victory of the 2015/16 season, whilst also trying to protect their current undefeated record. With only one game in, the Stags will be required to find the determination to bring out the best of their play.

Whilst, Notts must continue with their impressive form within this local derby.

Run down of their recent games.

Saturday 8^th August – Mansfield Town 1 Carlisle United 1
Tuesday 11^th August – Sheffield Wednesday 4 Mansfield Town 1
 

The Players – Fact Sheet.

Highest Goal Scorers; Ryan Tafazolli 1, and Malvind Benning 1

Persistent Foulers; Adam Chapman 1 Yellow Card.

The Key Players.

Matt Green (if fit), along with former Magpie players Craig Westcarr and Kristian Pearce.

There's doubts over Green's chances to start the game against Notts, however he is a very mobile striker who can stride into play and literally create chances, with the natural ability to finish.

Mansfield have a fairly experienced squad, balanced out with ambitious signings and a core of physical players, with grit for the lower league. Adam Chapman is another player in which Notts should be aware of, however I left him out of the key players because of his inconsistency.

Craig Westcarr requires no introduction, he is a player who can drift in and out of games. His ability to read movement, the game and of course a certain level of luck has made him a dangerous asset for whoever he features for.

If Kristian Pearce plays to his potential, he will be the rock within the Stags defence. However, it is notable that Mansfield do possess other players of similar ability. Facing up against your former club usually brings the best out of players and I genuinely feel Pearce will be a player advancing Magpies must be aware of.

Style of Play, Strengths, and Weaknesses.

Adam Murray has impressed me with the amount of business and quality in which Mansfield have introduced to their ranks, it leaves questions to if they do require additional strength, but they have assembled a decent side for this division. They're an attacking side which shows no fear of going forward, but are prone to being a little physical to say the least.

Mansfield haven't started off that badly considering, I feel the current results are down to players getting used to each other and although they took the lead against Carlisle, they didn't threaten them enough in my opinion.

They like to lump the ball forward, making sure that teams have to match their physical attributes in order to find more time on the ball. Naturally, they attack via the flanks but also through the centre the park.

The Stags main strengths come from their ability to get forward, whilst the key figures offer strength allowing them to avoid being push overs.

Free flowing, fast paced football seems to bring pressure to the Mansfield defence and I have noticed the prone mistakes at the back from set pieces like corner kicks. Notts will have to use all their experience to avoid altercations, as Mansfield will no doubt attempt to rough up play, but if Notts keep the ball down, move quickly I feel this will be far too much for an newish assembled Stag side.