Stuart Maynard: ‘Smash and Grab’ Win Shows Notts County’s Promotion Credentials

Notts County head coach Stuart Maynard hailed his side’s resilience and adaptability following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Swindon Town at the County Ground. 

The win marks the Magpies’ second consecutive triumph, solidifying their unbeaten start to the season and placing them 7th in the League Two table.

In what Maynard described as a classic "smash and grab" encounter, Notts County displayed the kind of defensive solidity and clinical finishing that often defines successful campaigns in the lower leagues. "When you come to places like Swindon, the pitch is really tight," Maynard explained. "They came with a game plan to try and stop us, and I’ve got to give huge credit to them. But what really impressed me today was the character within the group."

Maynard highlighted the contrasting nature of this win compared to their previous 4-1 demolition of Grimsby Town. "If you look at the Grimsby performance, it was beautiful to watch. We moved the ball excellently, and it could have been a bigger scoreline because our quality was outstanding," he reflected. "Today, however, you saw a different side of us, grit, determination, and a goalie who came for crosses and relieved pressure when we needed to."

David McGoldrick, who scored both goals for Notts County, was particularly singled out for praise by Maynard. The forward, who has had to be patient for his first league start, "rolled back the years," according to his manager. "He scored two goals that were right out of the top, top level, and that’s what he can do. It was a great performance from him," Maynard remarked. 

The head coach also expressed satisfaction with the depth and versatility of his squad, especially given the absence of key players like Alassana Jatta and Scott Robertson. "Some might have looked at the team sheet today and thought we were weakened," Maynard admitted. "But when you look at the players that came in, like Diddzy [David McGoldrick] and Hinchy [Jack Hinchy], they did an excellent job in midfield. Everyone was excellent today, the whole team performance."

Maynard was keen to emphasise the significance of grinding out results in League Two, where away victories are often hard to come by. "This will be a really difficult place to come and get three points," he said. "In this division, to get three points on the road is incredible because it’s not easy. We’ve set the target of every game we go into, we want to win games of football. Coming here today and getting three points is brilliant."

Reflecting on the team's overall performance, Maynard acknowledged the need for consistency and improvement, particularly in terms of intensity and ball recovery. "In the first half, I thought our intensity wasn’t good enough," he conceded. "We didn’t get after them when we lost the ball, and we need to be better at that. If you look at our opening three games, we’ve been excellent at winning the ball back quickly, but we didn’t do that today. We need to work on that."

With the summer transfer window having just closed, Maynard expressed satisfaction with the club’s business, despite a few near-misses. "The ambition of the owners at this football club is incredible," he said. "Someone has to pay what we value a player at for them to leave, and if they don’t pay that valuation, they’ll stay at the football club. And that’s as simple as it is."

Maynard also welcomed the arrivals of George Abbott and Jevani Brown, both of whom were signed just before the deadline. "We’ve got versatility, we’ve got players that can play in a number of positions," he said. "You mentioned George Abbott there, he can play right back, left back, centre midfield, pretty much in every position. His energy and athleticism are top top-end, and we’re really excited about what he’ll bring to the team."

Despite the strong start, Maynard was quick to caution against complacency. "We’re four games into the season. The lads have shown great mentality and character, but it’s a long season, it’s a marathon. There will be bumps in the road, and we will lose games of football. The key thing is that when we do, we bounce back straight away."

As Notts County continues to navigate the early stages of the season, Maynard’s focus remains clear: maintaining the resilience, determination, and collective spirit that have characterised their unbeaten start.

Read what David McGoldrick had to say after scoring twice in Notts County's 2-1 victory over Swindon Town. Catch all the details on Pride of Nottingham.

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