Stuart Maynard Discusses the Key to Notts County’s Grit and Determination

Notts County head coach Stuart Maynard shared insights into his team’s ongoing success as they prepare to welcome Harrogate Town to Meadow Lane.

The Magpies aim to continue their impressive form at home, which follows a resilient 1-1 draw against Barrow midweek and their recent hard-fought win over AFC Wimbledon.

Maynard expressed confidence in his team’s preparations for Harrogate, noting that recovery and rest have been key to maintaining performance levels.

“We recovered in Barrow the day after, which is very good,” he shared, explaining that this approach minimised fatigue and enabled the squad to focus fully on their upcoming fixture.

“We’re back in training today ready for the preparations,” he added, emphasising the importance of both mental and physical readiness.

While Notts County remains unbeaten away from home in League Two, their home form hasn’t always matched that consistency, with two recent home losses.

Maynard believes luck hasn’t been entirely on their side at Meadow Lane but is optimistic about the team’s potential in front of a home crowd. “At home, I don’t think we’ve had that bit of luck that we’ve probably needed... but once we get in front here, it’s very hard for teams to get back into the game,” he stated.

The home crowd’s energy, he explained, propels the Magpies to play at an even higher tempo when they’re in the lead.

The manager highlighted the squad’s mentality as a driving force, especially in away matches where Notts have frequently scored late goals.

Maynard praised the team’s composure, saying, “We’ve got that calmness this season... when we go behind, we’ve shown that we can come back with that calmness.” He acknowledged that some goals conceded early in games were less than ideal but remains focused on improving defensively, seeing these instances as part of the development process.

“It’s a little bit frustrating sometimes, the types of goals that we’ve conceded, but we’re working hard on the training ground to rectify that,” he assured fans.

Reflecting on their unbeaten away record, Maynard acknowledged that teams playing on home turf often press aggressively from the start, which has occasionally put Notts County on the back foot.

“Teams at home are a little bit more aggressive… willing to come out and put bodies forward,” he noted, attributing early concessions to the intensity opponents bring to their own grounds.

Despite this, he views the team’s resilience and ability to rebound as to their determination and focus.

As Notts County prepares to face Harrogate, who sit a few places behind them, Maynard downplayed the significance of the league table at this stage of the season.

“League tables only really matter once you start getting to the back end... when points become so valuable,” he remarked. Instead, he encouraged a game-by-game approach, with Harrogate now the main priority.

"Every game we go into... we want three points and we believe every game we go into we can get three points,” he stressed, underscoring the team’s commitment to securing maximum points.

Maynard’s optimism is further buoyed by their recent 1-0 home win against AFC Wimbledon, a team he described as one of the best defensive sides they’ve faced.

“The way that we defended our box on the day was excellent,” he noted, commending his squad’s discipline and control. For Maynard, this win serves as both a confidence boost and a sign of the team’s growing strength at home.

As Notts County looks to maintain their strong form, Maynard’s words resonate with the commitment to improvement and resilience.

With Meadow Lane as the setting, fans will be eager to see if the Magpies can add another three points to their tally and build momentum toward the season's second half.

Read our latest Pride of Nottingham article where David McGoldrick shares his thoughts on the Barrow draw, saying "scoring is what I live for."

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