Jump to content
Show all categories

Articles

Our website articles
PON_News
Notts County secured a 3-1 victory against Doncaster Rovers at the Eco-Power Stadium. In a post-match interview, manager Luke Williams shared his thoughts on the team's performance and individual player performances.
According to Williams, it was a good performance from Notts County. "We took our chances in the first half," he said. "Doncaster made it difficult for us to build up to the final third. However, we changed our tactics a bit and it helped us." He also mentioned that the goals changed the game and in the second half, Notts County took the game away from Doncaster a little bit. 
"The scoreline probably wasn't a true reflection of the overall game, but we're delighted with it and most of the performance was very good," he added.
Williams further commended the impressive performances of each player. He mentioned that Macaulay Langstaff had come close to scoring a hat-trick and that he deserved the goals for his work rate. "He has come close a few times already, and he was excellent in the game," Williams said. He also mentioned that this player is playing catch up now because he likes to score goals again, so he has to score and have a brace.
Williams also talked about how they don't want to do what is expected from set pieces. "All teams have markers and there is a moment of calm before the whistle goes where players can get set and pick up their markers," he explained. "However, when the ball comes into open play, players have to make decisions and work out whether they should step up or not. This can be difficult."
In addition, Williams discussed how one player came off under his own steam which is a good thing, and now they just have to wait and assess before he can tell anything more. He mentioned that people talk about taking positives from every bad situation, but it's difficult to find one in the opening day. 
However, they can turn that into a positive and remember how terrible they felt when they let the fans down because they went there in numbers and sang all the way through. If they don't want that feeling again, they have to be really focused and concentrate on all the small details.
It was a strong performance from Notts County and Williams was pleased with the result. The team will look to build on this victory in their upcoming matches.
Go visit the Pride of Nottingham dashboard and join in with discussions, articles and other content produced by a friendly group of Notts County fans!
Check out the latest news published by the Pride of Nottingham! From our match report to fan pictures soon to be published and our ARLukomski’s match day vlog - your support means a great deal to us all!
PON_News
Macauley Langstaff scored two goals as Notts County easily defeated Doncaster, securing their first away win of the season. Langstaff, last season's National League top scorer, netted his first two goals of the campaign while Jodi Jones also scored as the Magpies dominated at the Eco-Power Stadium.
After a scrappy start to the game, Langstaff opened the scoring 28 minutes in with a volley from an excellent cross by John Bostock. Doncaster made three substitutions at half-time, but County doubled their lead in the first minute of the second half when Langstaff headed in a cross from Sam Austin.
Rovers briefly rallied, but their hopes were dashed after 54 minutes when Jones drilled the ball in at the near post from a Dan Crowley cross. Langstaff nearly completed his hat-trick on the hour mark but missed a header from David McGoldrick's deflected cross.
Substitute Deji Sotona scored from 10 yards out deep into stoppage time to reduce the deficit, but it was little consolation for a thoroughly beaten Doncaster.
 
Go subscribe to ARLukomski and help him reach his goal of 2,000 YouTube subscribers.
Be sure to share his video to attract more subscribers and views; this support goes a long way within the Notts County community.
PON_News
Notts County secured a comfortable victory against Doncaster on a windy summer afternoon, with Macaulay Langstaff scoring his first English Football League goals and Jodi Jones adding a third. 
Langstaff scored with a volley and header on either side of half-time, while Jones sealed the win with an excellent finish in front of a packed away end. Doncaster managed to score a late consolation goal, but it did little to dampen the spirits of Notts County as they claimed their second win of the season.
Richard Brindley was recalled to the heart of Notts County's defence, replacing Adam Chicksen, after being left out of Tuesday’s draw at Morecambe as a precaution. Brindley was joined by Kyle Cameron and Aden Baldwin in the back three, while Aidan Stone continued in goal after keeping his first clean sheet on the Lancashire coast. On the right, Sam Austin replaced Aaron Nemane, who was named among the substitutes, while Jones continued on the left.
John Bostock returned to the base of midfield alongside Matt Palmer after having his minutes managed in midweek. Langstaff was supported by Dan Crowley and David McGoldrick. McGoldrick was involved in the game’s first notable incidents, scuffing a long-range shot wide under pressure before being shown a yellow card for shooting after the referee had stopped play.
Langstaff appeared to have been pulled back in the build-up to that incident, and frustrations continued moments later when Jones was booked for arguing against a foul given against him. Tyler Roberts should have done better to punish a mix-up between Austin and Baldwin on 20 minutes but got his shot all wrong in front of a packed away end.
After Bostock was cautioned for a foul 25 yards out, Notts County took the lead from a set-piece routine. The ball was returned to Bostock in a crossing position, and he produced the perfect delivery for Langstaff to guide home on the volley.
Langstaff came close to scoring again moments later but was denied by an excellent defensive header which prevented him from converting Austin’s looping cross - the final goalmouth action of the half. Doncaster made three changes at half-time, but it did not prevent Notts County from doubling their lead within a minute of the restart as Austin’s cross from deep was headed home by Langstaff.
It was 3-0 on 54 minutes when Crowley advanced into space and saw his dangerous cross fumbled by Lawlor, allowing Jones to cut inside and find the bottom corner from eight yards. Langstaff came close to completing his hat-trick shortly after the hour mark but could not convert McGoldrick’s cross.
Notts County's number nine came close again on 69 minutes when he controlled Cameron’s pass before volleying against the outside of the post from a tight angle. As the clock ticked over to 75 minutes, Doncaster had not managed a shot on target but then had two in quick succession as Deji Sotona drew a save from Stone before Joe Ironside failed to loop the ball over the keeper.
Cedwyn Scott, who came on for McGoldrick, delivered an impressive response for Notts County with a tremendous shot that forced Lawlor into making an excellent reaction save. Stone still had work to do to preserve his clean sheet, making an excellent save down to his right before comfortably denying Ironside.
In the end, Stone was denied consecutive clean sheets as Notts County failed to clear their lines inside their own area and Sotona scored a last-gasp consolation goal.
We ask a lot, but we really want to encourage that sense of community in our conversations about games. Please share your thoughts in the Pride of Nottingham match discussion!
Check out the Pride of Nottingham webstore to pre-order this season’s Notts County prints! Pick from home or away with more players coming soon.
PON_News
Notts County will travel to the Eco-Power Stadium to play against Doncaster Rovers.

The Magpies will be looking to build on their recent win and draw, which included a win and a clean sheet, whereas the Rovers will be wanting to get their first win of the season and climb the table to build some momentum for their season. Notts go into the game with four points from a possible nine, after losing 5-1 to Sutton on the opening day, beating Grimsby 3-2 in their second match, and, most recently, drawing 0-0 at Morecambe.

One thing that Notts need to be doing differently against Doncaster is creating more in possession and being more clinical, as despite having 75% possession against Morecambe, both teams registered the same number of shots and shots on target. If Notts could do more when they are on the ball then they could dominate score lines.

A big positive from the game on Tuesday, however, is the fact that the Magpies managed to keep a clean sheet. After conceding seven in the first two, with a few defensive mistakes leading to goals, it is good to see an opposition fail to score and for Aidan Stone to get his first clean sheet for his new club.

Doncaster currently sit second from bottom after three games and one point, that draw coming in their most recent game, in a 2-2 game against Mansfield Town. Tom Nixon scored a wonder-strike in the 20th minute to take the Rovers into the lead, which was also their first league goal of the season after failing to score in the previous two. A back post header from Louis Reed brought the game level, but after an outside of the box effort from Tommy Rowe was parried out into the area by the keeper, striker Joe Ironside was there to pounce and restore the hosts lead.

However, Doncaster could not hold onto their lead for the second time in the game, with George Maris striking from distance with ten minutes of regular time to go and both sides left with a point on Tuesday.

Fixtures

Saturday 19th August 2023

Tranmere Rovers vs Salford City
Crewe Alexandra vs Walsall
Forest Green Rovers vs Newport County
Morecambe vs Bradford City
Crawley Town vs Gillingham
Colchester United vs MK Dons
Grimsby Town vs Mansfield Town
Sutton United vs AFC Wimbledon
Stockport County vs Barrow
Accrington Stanley vs Harrogate Town
Wrexham vs Swindon Town

Prediction

I can see Doncaster being quite happy to allow Notts to pass the ball around the centre of the park, although they should be a lot more defensive minded than most of the previous away teams the magpies has faced. If Notts can make them fluster at the back, by using their speed and creative outlets it may lead to a good amount of chances.

Doncaster on the other hand will be wanting to use their height against Notts, it's a common occurence for us to struggle against taller physical teams.

This shouldn't be the case completely, as I feel Notts should be able to play well.

My prediction would be 2-1 to Notts.

Match Odds

Doncaster to win 16/5 - Draw 14/5 - Notts County to win 8/11

Head to Head

Doncaster - haven't had the best of starts, they haven't won so far and have only managed to draw against Mansfield Town. Although, they are a much better outfit at their home ground.

Notts County - come into the game having draw against Morecombe, and their first win at home against Grimsby Town. Notts have enjoyed a large spell of posession based football and will want to make use of that against Doncaster.

Key Man

Doncaster; George Miller - in their recent games, Miller has been a constant threat on goal and one of Doncaster's biggest positives so far this season. If Notts can keep him at bay, it should bode well. However, he's a tricky player that likes to find space when players are least expecting it.

Notts County; Aaron Nemane - his ability to turn the opposition and get into wide areas of the pitch will be a positive threat for the magpies. If Notts can get him into the game to deliver his inviting crosses it should create plenty of opportunties.

League Table

Gillingham is currently leading the League Two table with 9 points, followed by Barrow and Crawley Town, both with 7 points. Milton Keynes Dons is in fourth place with 6 points, while Mansfield Town, Crewe Alexandra, and AFC Wimbledon are tied for fifth place with 5 points each.

Notts County is currently in 15th place with 4 points, while Doncaster Rovers is in 23rd place with only 1 point. Today's results could have a significant impact on both teams' positions in the table. A win for Notts County could potentially move them up several places, while a loss could see them drop further down the table. Similarly, a win for Doncaster Rovers could help them move out of the relegation zone, while a loss could see them fall further behind.

It's still early in the season, so there's plenty of time for both Notts County and Doncaster Rovers to improve their positions in the table. However, every point counts, and today's results could play a crucial role in determining their final standings at the end of the season. It will be interesting to see how things play out!
Join in with the Pride of Nottinghams live match discussion, updates will automatically show without the need to refresh, so get involved, we’d love to hear from you!
Join in with other content found within the Pride of Nottingham ‘Topicfeed’, a very useful and handy page to jump straight into content.
PON_News
John Bostock, a former Doncaster Rovers player, is set to return to his old club this weekend as Notts County take on Doncaster Rovers in an away game. In an interview ahead of the match, Bostock reflected on his time at Doncaster and shared his thoughts on the upcoming game.
"Yeah, I had an enjoyable time there," Bostock said. "Although we didn't finish how I would have liked it to have finished, with us getting relegated, but it was a really good time."
Bostock is looking forward to seeing some familiar faces at the game, but he is focused on doing his job for Notts County. "I mean it'd be good to go back to see some old faces but obviously on the other side now to go and do a job," he said.
Bostock has played for many clubs in his career and has had to compete against previous clubs before. He has utmost respect for Doncaster Rovers and the people involved there. "You know, some really great people I met at my time there," he said. "But you know, I'm a County player now, and I'm passionately trying to perform for my team and for us to build something here this season. So it's just another game."
Bostock also spoke about how he hopes to be received by the Doncaster fans. "I don't normally think about how I'm perceived," he said. "But it will be nice to be received well, but you know they're a team who wants to win, and their fans will be behind their players. Our fans will be behind me and us. So yeah, I'll show the club the utmost respect because I enjoyed my time there."
Notts County are confident that they can get a result against Doncaster Rovers. "It is important, it will come," Bostock said. "We're confident it will come. We are tinkering and changing and adapting to obviously the new league. But we know that once we start to really find our rhythm we will be where we need to be you know."
Bostock also talked about how Notts County are working hard to adapt to the new league and find their rhythm. He believes that with performances comes wins and that tomorrow's game against Doncaster Rovers will hopefully be another step in the right direction.
With their confidence and focus, Notts County are ready to take on Doncaster Rovers this weekend and hopefully come away with a win.
Check out and bookmark the Pride of Nottingham match discussion - it’s live, and you can join in by taking a moment to write your thoughts on the game at any stage.
join in with other content found within the Pride of Nottingham ‘Topicfeed’, a very useful and handy page to jump straight into content.
PON_News
Notts County manager, Luke Williams, is preparing his team for their game against Doncaster Rovers tomorrow. 
In his pre-match interview, Williams said, "Yeah, we're trying to get prepared, final preparations today for the game. You never know until the game kicks off how your preparations went, but we feel like we tried to cover everything today."
Williams believes that his team can improve, saying "I think we can improve because both oppositions are very good. I'm aware of that, but at the same time, I think that we made the goals for greens be too easy because they don't need easy goals. 
"They're good enough to score difficult goals, so we certainly don't need to help them on their way." He also praised his team's character in fighting back and getting the win.
However, Williams did have some criticism for his team, saying "And then I think my only criticism really was the focus at times. Just concentrate. I know different things, long travel, and you know the game's close together in a row. Yeah, a little bit. But come on, we need to focus a bit more." He believes that with more focus, his team could have come away with a victory.
Williams also spoke about the difficulty of maintaining concentration and focus all the time. "I think it's tough for any players to concentrate and focus all the time, and I'm sure that it's difficult when you hear me all the time," he said. He also mentioned that some of his players are in their second season with him and that he can only work in a certain way.
Williams is determined to demand improvement from his players and give clear demonstrations of what areas they can improve in. He said "I think I just have to demand improvement and try to give a clear demonstration of what areas that we can improve. Then I need to try and make the correct training so that they can practise the things that I'm talking about." He hopes that by sticking to his way of working, his team will start to find their feet at the level and look forward to some good performances.
Finally, Williams spoke about the incredible feeling of seeing their fans when they turn up anywhere. "Crowd again, yeah it's incredible feeling when we turn up anywhere, and you know we see our people with us this incredible feeling and also the feeling of pressure that you need to give them what they deserve because of the huge effort that they make to travel and the noise that they make," he said. He emphasized the importance of respecting their fans and trying to give them something good to leave with.
Notts County manager Luke Williams is preparing his team for their game against Doncaster Rovers tomorrow and believes that with more focus and improvement in certain areas, his team can come away with a victory. He also spoke about the importance of respecting their fans and giving them something good to leave with.
We would like to thank the amazing support from members, visitors and those who interact with the Pride of Nottingham. The gaffer strives to provide fun and interactive content. However, this wouldn’t be worthwhile without your support. We are incredibly thankful to be part of the Notts County community.
Please do drop a comment below in the comment section. If you don’t already have an account, it simply takes a few minutes, and we would love to read your thoughts on this news story. Even if you decide to do so on social media, we appreciate it! 
PON_News
John Bostock, the Notts County player, spoke about the character and belief of his team ahead of their away game against Doncaster Rovers this weekend.
In an interview, Bostock talked about how Notts County have taken a lot of character from last season into this season. 
"People know if you watch us play we're quite known for our style, try to control games and break things down, and it's quite clear," he said.
But Bostock emphasised that character and hard work are just as important as style. "If you can't match that with character belief, hard work and all those kind of words that aren't maybe the most attractive qualities but are the most important qualities, it doesn't marry well you know," he said.
Bostock also spoke about how Notts County nearly let their lead slip twice last season in the playoffs but overcame adversity. "Yet in spite of adversity we overcame it," he said. 
"You know and so when we look around the change room and see faces that were with you in that last year, the new faces that have come on board this year, the way that we're led by the staff and gaffer, we have a lot of character you know."
Notts County started this season on a rough patch against Sutton but bounced back well. Bostock believes that it's not how you start that counts, but how you continue and how you finish. "It's not how you start that counts it's how you continue and how you finish," he said.
With their character and belief, Notts County are ready to take on Doncaster Rovers this weekend and hopefully come away with three points. Bostock also talked about the importance of having the support of their fans. 
"Yeah, I can't tell you how much it means to us as players to have fans like we have, travelling loud," he said.
Bostock also spoke about the journey that Notts County went on last season with their supporters. "You know it was an emotional roller coaster at times, a season that you probably won't see again," he said. "And so to have them behind us week in week out home and away it means the world."
Notts County are confident that they can get a result against Doncaster Rovers this weekend. With their character, belief, and hard work, they are ready to take on the challenge.
Are you a member of the Pride of Nottingham? If not, consider joining us and leaving a comment below! We always look forward to seeing and welcoming new and existing fans to the Pride of Nottingham.
The Pride of Nottingham dashboard is an excellent hub for viewing all our latest content, from articles to forum discussions and more. Get involved by checking it out today!
PON_News
Notts County will travel to the Eco-Power Stadium to play against Doncaster Rovers. 
The Magpies will be looking to build on their recent win and draw, which included a win and a clean sheet, whereas the Rovers will be wanting to get their first win of the season and climb the table to build some momentum for their season.
Notts go into the game with four points from a possible nine, after losing 5-1 to Sutton on the opening day, beating Grimsby 3-2 in their second match, and, most recently, drawing 0-0 at Morecambe. 
One thing that Notts need to be doing differently against Doncaster is creating more in possession and being more clinical, as despite having 75% possession against Morecambe, both teams registered the same number of shots and shots on target. 
If Notts could do more when they are on the ball then they could dominate score lines.
A big positive from the game on Tuesday, however, is the fact that the Magpies managed to keep a clean sheet. After conceding seven in the first two, with a few defensive mistakes leading to goals, it is good to see an opposition fail to score and for Aidan Stone to get his first clean sheet for his new club.
Doncaster currently sit second from bottom after three games and one point, that draw coming in their most recent game, in a 2-2 game against Mansfield Town. 
Tom Nixon scored a wonder-strike in the 20th minute to take the Rovers into the lead, which was also their first league goal of the season after failing to score in the previous two. A back post header from Louis Reed brought the game level, but after an outside of the box effort from Tommy Rowe was parried out into the area by the keeper, striker Joe Ironside was there to pounce and restore the hosts’ lead. 
However, Doncaster could not hold onto their lead for the second time in the game, with George Maris striking from distance with ten minutes of regular time to go – both sides left with a point on Tuesday.
After impressing in the last two games – with an assist, a shot leading to an own goal and the most shots and xG against Morecambe – Notts fans could be looking to play-off hero Jodi Jones to impress once again this weekend. 
The Maltese winger found minutes hard to come by last year, after only recently coming back from big injuries, the player only started eight out of the 19 league games since his loan signing from Oxford United. 
This season, he has found his fitness levels and ability from his time at Coventry, and is a first name on the team sheet for Notts, as shown through his three starts in three games.
One to watch for Doncaster this weekend is striker Joe Ironside, who signed from League One side Cambridge United in the summer. 
The 29-year-old only managed six goals last season but was in a poor side that finished 20th narrowly avoiding relegation. However, the previous season when Cambridge finished 14th in League One Ironside racked up 14 goals and got three assists.
Visit the Pride of Nottingham dashboard page! It’s a very useful area for viewing our site at a glance with all the important parts featured within it.
Also, join our match discussion ahead of the Doncaster Rovers game on Saturday, sharing your thoughts, potential line-up or changes, along with any predictions you may have.
Chris
Julie Henshaw's love for Notts County runs deep. Her parents met through supporting the team, with her mother starting to attend games in 1946 and her father joining her after finishing his National Service in 1947. They travelled to away games on what was known as Bill Reynolds' number one bus.
"My mum and dad met through supporting Notts," Julie recalls. "Mum started going in 1946, just before they signed Tommy Lawton. Dad was finishing his National Service so didn't start going until 1947. They travelled to away games on what was known as Bill Reynolds' number one bus."
Julie's first memory of Notts County was when her father took her brother to Meadow Lane one Easter Saturday. That night, her brother ran around the front room with a rolled-up paper bag, shouting the names of players like Masson, Barker, and Bradd.
"I first remember my dad taking my brother to Meadow Lane one Easter Saturday," Julie says. "My brother would be about 5 or 6, maybe. That night after the game, my bro was running around the front room all night with a rolled-up paper bag, Mason, Barker, Bradd just like commentators on TV."
On Easter Monday, the whole family went to Meadow Lane to see the team play against Bradford Park Avenue. Notts County won 5-2, and Julie has been a fan ever since.
"We beat Bradford Park Avenue 5-2," Julie remembers. "And just never looked back."
Some of Julie's most memorable moments as a Notts County fan include attending Wembley games against teams like Tranmere and Brighton, watching Charlie Palmer score the winning goal against their rivals, and celebrating when the team won the league in 2009/10. She also remembers the uncertainty when it was unclear if Ray Trew would put the team into administration, and the relief when he didn't.

"All the Wembley games against Tranmere Brighton etc," Julie lists as some of her most memorable moments. "The game v our illustrious neighbours and Charlie Palmer scoring the winning goal. The horrible time when we didn't know if Ray Trew would put us in admin. He didn't, as we all know now. Winning the league in 2009/10."
Julie shows her support for Notts County by contributing to the team's Facebook and Twitter pages on match days and cheering for the players as they come out of the tunnel. She also had a huge flag made to take to Wembley when the team played against Harrogate during lockdown.
"I always contribute on Notts Facebook and Twitter pages on match days," Julie says. "Give the lads a cheer and a clap as they come from the tunnel. We had a huge flag made to go to Wembley against Harrogate in lockdown."
One of Julie's rituals as a Notts County fan is having a cooked breakfast on Saturdays, just bacon and egg. And if she wears something and the team wins, she'll wear the same outfit again.
"One of my rituals is a cooked breakfast on Saturday," Julie shares. "Just bacon and egg. And if I've worn something, and we've won, I'll wear the same thing again."
Being a part of the Pride of Nottingham community has enriched Julie's experience as a Notts County fan by allowing her to connect with other supporters and participate in activities such as the prediction league.
"Well it's nice to be in touch with other Notts fans sometimes," Julie says about being part of the Pride of Nottingham community. "And sometimes getting to know those fans. I really enjoy prediction league too."
She believes that what sets Notts County apart from other football clubs is that it is the best club for families.
"Notts is the best club for families," Julie states simply.
Julie's love for Notts County has been passed down through generations, with her 11-year-old Derby-supporting grandson Harvey attending a trip to Wembley with her and her 91-year-old mother. Harvey even had tears in his eyes when Cedwyn scored the winning penalty.
"Our trip to Wembley this year," Julie recalls fondly. "Also attended by my 11-year-old Derby supporting grandson Harvey. And my 91-year-old mum. She's in her 77th year supporting Notts on Nov 3rd. Harvey had tears on his face when Cedwyn scored the winning penalty."
For Julie Henshaw, supporting Notts County is more than just a hobby – it's a family tradition that brings joy and excitement to her life. And she wouldn't have it any other way.
"I just love it," she says simply.
The Pride of Nottingham is a labour of love with costs. If you can, please consider donating. All support is appreciated.
Check out the Pride of Nottingham Match Discussion for the weekend’s away game against Doncaster Rovers. Join in with like-minded fans and share your views on the game both pre- and post-match.
TheSkipper
Notts County secured a hard-earned point in their match against Morecambe on Tuesday, with the game ending in a goalless draw. Despite Notts County's sustained pressure, neither team could find the back of the net, with Jodi Jones coming closest when his volley struck the bar in the second half.
Notts County manager Luke Williams made three changes to the side that triumphed over Grimsby at Meadow Lane on Saturday, introducing Jim O’Brien, Aiden Baldwin, and Adam Chicksen into the starting line-up.
Notts County began the match strongly, controlling possession and asserting their dominance over their opponents. The away support was vocal in their backing of the team, spurring them on to greater heights.
Morecambe had the first half-chance of the game in the ninth minute when Adam Mayor drove forward with intent, but Chicksen was on hand to diffuse the danger and snuff out the attack.
Just five minutes later, Notts County had their first sight of goal when Baldwin released Aaron Nemane down the right-hand side with a well-timed pass. Nemane’s cross found David McGoldrick unmarked on the penalty spot, but his effort flew agonisingly wide of the post.
Notts County then enjoyed a period of sustained pressure and created a number of scoring opportunities. Matt Palmer found Nemane with a precise pass and the winger’s cross picked out Jones at the back post. Jones met the ball on the volley, and it crashed against the bar, much to the frustration of the Notts County players and fans.
As the game drew to a conclusion, it became more end-to-end as both teams searched for a winner. However, neither side could create any clear-cut chances and four substitutions from Williams were not enough to break down Morecambe's resolute defence. In the end, Notts County defended a Morecambe corner right at the death before the final whistle blew, signalling an end to proceedings.
Was the result fair? That's certainly up for debate. But one thing is for sure - both teams gave it their all in a closely contested encounter.
In terms of performance, Notts County looked solid defensively, although Kyle Cameron and Aidan Baldwin both made mistakes which thankfully didn't prove costly. In terms of possession, Notts looked like the far better team and passed the ball around well. A little more movement at times would have been beneficial, but overall their pressing was effective. The main issue was simply their lack of clear chances on goal. Notts played very well overall but need to put games like this to bed.
Morecambe were content to sit back and allow Notts to have possession for large spells of the game. They did pounce when they sensed an opening or opportunity to attack but overall were ineffective going forward. Defensively, they coped well with any threats they faced and limited openings for clear chances.
In terms of tactics, Luke Williams' approach gave Notts control of possession and worked well both defensively and offensively. However, John Bostock was largely missed from midfield despite Jim O'Brien playing quite well. The tactics worked to a degree, but there were aspects that could have been changed to create more opportunities. The fact that Notts struggled to score would suggest that while mostly correct, some in-game decisions could have improved things.
The officials performed well overall, with very little causing concern. They did well to keep the game flowing by allowing challenges that may once have resulted in free kicks to simply unfold. This was noticeable by the lack of added minutes at both ends of each half.
Up next for Notts is an away trip to Doncaster on August 19th. It should be a good day out for fans as Doncaster are a side much like Morecambe that Notts should fare well against. So far this season Doncaster have only picked up a single point after losing their opening two games.
In terms of how Notts should approach this game, it would be good to see Luke Williams play a back three consisting of Kyle Cameron, Richard Brindly and Aidan Baldwin. Adam Chicksen could come in at left wing-back with Aaron Nemane on the right. Defensively, this would provide a good balance between defensive responsibilities and attacking options.
Notts need to ensure that space is explored in such a way that allows them to find someone in an interlinking chain so that when an opportunity presents itself for wing-backs to exploit space they can do so effectively by putting crosses into dangerous areas.
It would be great if John Bostock returns to the starting line-up as he provides many options both defensively and going forward. With Matt Palmer pulling strings in midfield, this would hopefully allow David McGoldrick and Macauley Langstaff to move freely while being marked. If Notts can constantly shuffle around then there should be openings for them to get in behind Doncaster's defence.
Ultimately, Notts must create chances that bring their attacking options into play. More focus needs to go into feeding the ball to Langstaff as he is known to be a threat on goal. So far this season Notts haven't quite worked out how to do this due to the improvements in League Two defenders but working on this would naturally help and give other players a level of freedom that hasn't been seen yet.
Have you enjoyed our content? If so, would you consider making a donation to help fund the Pride of Nottingham website? Each donation, however much, massively helps.
Moving onto the weekend’s game against Doncaster Rovers - be sure to have your say in the Pride of Nottingham match discussion!
PON_News
In a recent post-match interview following the 0-0 draw between Notts County and Morecambe at the Mazuma Stadium, Notts manager Luke Williams expressed his satisfaction with his team's performance. 
"I'm happy enough because I thought we played some quality football," he said. 
However, he acknowledged that there were too many mistakes made during the game. "In a game like this, you have to concentrate, and our level of concentration is not there yet."
Williams went on to explain that the team gave away too many set pieces for the opposition because of sloppy play. 
"We kicked the ball off for a corner and gave a foul, so they could put the ball into the box. This was not necessary," he said. He also mentioned that there were too many routine passes that were uncomfortable for the guy receiving the ball, which slowed everything down. 
"We missed one or two passes that could have changed the game," he added.
Despite these setbacks, Williams remained optimistic about his team's future. "Overall, I'm really happy with how the guys are in general. But we need a few more games to really sharpen up our focus and concentration. Then, I think we can go to a better level."
Williams also praised his team's attacking actions, especially in their previous game against Grimsby. 
"We made a lot of good actions in the box," he said. Even in their most recent game against Morecambe, when the opposition had a lot of players quite deep in the pitch to compact the pitch and deny space, his team still found some good openings. However, they didn't do enough to score.
"There has definitely been 100% improvement because we were strong and tough in the box," said Williams. 
He mentioned that they had to face too many corners and wide free kicks due to their sloppy errors but defended really well. There were periods of the game where they turned the ball over in the final third and won it back very quickly.
Williams also spoke about individual players' performances. In the Lincoln game, one player took some heavy knocks and was suffering in the Grimsby game but managed to get through this one. 
Richard Brindley didn't play in the middle of the back three before but was absolutely outstanding according to Williams. 
Adam Chicksen was also mentioned as being changed because there seemed to be some gaps in the middle of the pitch that he is more experienced and natural at driving through.
While there were some mistakes made during the game against Morecambe, Williams remains optimistic about his team's future. With more focus and concentration, he believes they can go to a better level.
Don’t forget to check out our latest articles published in our news section!
We’re still looking for fans to give us their opinions on yesterday’s 0-0 draw away to Morecambe. Join our match discussion and let us know your thoughts!
PON_News
Notts County secured a valuable point on their travels to Morecambe on Tuesday evening, with the match ending in a goalless draw. Despite consistent pressure from Notts County, neither side was able to break the deadlock, with Jodi Jones coming closest when he hit the bar early in the second half.
On a beautiful evening on the Lancastrian coast, Notts County manager Luke Williams made three changes to the starting line-up that had triumphed over Grimsby at Meadow Lane on Saturday. Jim O’Brien, Aiden Baldwin, and Adam Chicksen were all brought into the team.
Notts County made an impressive start, showcasing their ability to control the game and assert their dominance in the early stages. They tactfully managed possession and effortlessly dictated the proceedings, all while expertly navigating the challenge of the low sun beaming down on the Halo Terrace. The away support was vocal in their backing of the team.
However, it was Morecambe who had the first half-chance of the game in the ninth minute. The ball broke for Adam Mayor, who drove forward, but Chicksen was able to diffuse the danger with some fine covering work.
Five minutes later, Notts County had their first sight of goal. Baldwin played an excellent pass to send Aaron Nemane away down the right-hand side. Nemane’s low cross found David McGoldrick on the penalty spot, but his left-footed effort flew just wide.
Notts County then experienced an impressive period of continuous pressure, with an increase in scoring opportunities. Matt Palmer found Nemane with a pass in behind his opposing full back and the winger’s dinked cross found Jones at the back post. Jones met the ball neatly on the volley, and it hammered against the bar - as close as Notts County would come.
After much patient play, Nemane skilfully set up O'Brien for a powerful shot that was brilliantly blocked, resulting in a corner kick. Jones delivered an outstanding cross which Senior quickly cleared with a perfect header merely six yards away from the goal.
Dan Crowley carved out the next chance, burrowing through three challenges on the right wing and lofting a smart ball into Macaulay Langstaff. Langstaff was thwarted by the onrushing Stuart Moore from the Morecambe net.
Morecambe still posed a threat on the break and came very close to opening the scoring in the 70th minute. Mellon twisted and turned in the box before firing right across goal, just inches wide.
The game became more end-to-end as it drew to a conclusion, but neither side was able to carve open clear chances. Four substitutions from Williams were not enough to help Notts County break down the Morecambe defence and, in the end, Notts County were left defending a Morecambe corner right at the death.
Shortly after the ball was cleared away, the final whistle blew to signal the end of a tough encounter at Mazuma Stadium.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on the goalless draw against Morecambe! Leave a comment on our match report and let us know what you think inside our Match Discussion. Click this link after leaving your comment to read our full analysis!
Check out the Pride of Nottingham ‘Topicfeed’ for a quick and easy way to post directly to the Pride of Nottingham’s forum content. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Chris
League Two is starting to take shape, with teams eager to maintain a level of consistency. Right now, anyone can beat anyone and Tuesday night should make for an interesting encounter throughout the games scheduled to take place.
The prize for Notts County is not just the ability to take home 3 points but to assure the County faithful that their opening game was just a small blip.
This game is likely to be decided by whoever scores first, and I feel that Morecambe will have to be tidy at the back in order to prevent Notts County from scoring. A lively striker who can gain support will be required if the Magpies are to win this game.
Fixtures
Tuesday 15th August 2023
Doncaster Rovers vs Mansfield Town
Accrington Stanley vs Barrow
Crawley Town vs MK Dons
Grimsby Town vs Salford City
Forest Green Rovers vs Swindon Town
Colchester United vs AFC Wimbledon
Crewe Alexandra vs Newport County
Tranmere Rovers vs Harrogate Town
Sutton United vs Gillingham
Stockport County vs Bradford City
Wrexham vs Walsall
Prediction
Morecambe demonstrates an impressive level of intensity, although they encounter difficulties when facing opponents with greater speed. In their game against Mansfield, they found control after using the flanks to their advantage. The Shrimps showed great commitment in their defensive efforts, but encountered difficulties when it came to dealing with set pieces and direct runs into their own half. 
Notts County, on the other hand, put pressure on themselves when being forced to play the ball back. If they can be direct, using the centre of the pitch and flanks creatively, Notts County may be able to create chances that Morecambe may struggle with. I think a draw is highly likely.
1-1 would be my prediction for the game.
Match Odds
Morecambe to win 3/1 – Draw 14/5 – Notts County to win 3/4
Head to Head
Morecambe – Morecambe currently have 3 points after winning their opening game against Walsall, yet lost to Mansfield. They currently sit 14th and are in a similar situation to Notts County but remain ahead as of now due to goal difference.
Notts County – A win could help Notts County relax as they could shoot up the league depending on the results. Luke Williams' side will be mindful of their opening defeat against Sutton United away from home in their opening game but this would give the Magpies' the chance to correct this.
Key Man
Morecambe; Michael Mellon – He will be vital within their procession and attacking play, I feel he will offer the most outlet for Morecambe and Notts County must keep him quiet throughout the game.
Notts County; David McGoldrick – I genuinely believe he will be the difference in this game, with his experience. We need someone who can mix play, by both defending and offering assistance with advanced play. For me, an eager David McGoldrick is exactly what we need.
League Table
Bradford City have the chance to really kick-start their season, provided that they can beat Stockport County who have struggled so far.
The Accrington Stanley game against Barrow will be an interesting outcome, as both teams will want to win. With the home team sitting 8th currently, and Barrow 2nd in the league.
Crawley Town have the chance to upset league leaders MK Dons, who are tipped for automatic promotion this season. It will be a difficult game for Crawley, as MK Dons have a very attacking-minded team. Gillingham has the opportunity to do Notts County a favour if they can beat Sutton United. 3rd place vs 7th place, a mutual may prefer a draw but a win for Gillingham in my eyes would be the preferred outcome.
Salford City travel to Grimsby, which may see the Mariners' move away from the bottom half of the table.
It's very early days, with everyone fighting to get those vital 3 points.
Check out the Pride of Nottingham match preview if you enjoyed reading this additional insight into tonight’s Morecambe game.
Join us in our Match Discussion inside the Pride of Nottingham forum; share your thoughts and opinions on the game before and after.
Chris
Notts County will be heading to Mazuma Stadium for their midweek trip to face Morecambe on Tuesday evening. 
The Magpies are coming off a confidence-boosting performance and result against Grimsby Town, where they collected their first points back in the English Football League with a win in their first league home game of the campaign. 
On the other hand, Morecambe suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Mansfield Town at the One Call Stadium.
Notts County find themselves back in the fourth tier of English football’s pyramid for the first time since their first-ever relegation to non-league in 2019. 
Last campaign, the Magpies went toe-to-toe with Wrexham, ultimately losing out on automatic promotion by four points. However, their celebrations wouldn’t be delayed for much longer. A day out at Wembley ended in promotion after an eventful encounter against Chesterfield. The game ended 2-2 after extra time before Luke Williams’ side triumphed 4-3 on penalties.
In pre-season, County won four friendlies, against Nuneaton Borough, AFC Telford United, Boston United and Alfreton Town, drew against Shrewsbury Town and lost against Stoke City and Nottingham Forest. Williams has been in charge at Meadow Lane since June 2022 and has taken charge of 51 matches in total, winning 35, drawing 11 and losing just five.
Key players to watch out for from Notts County include summer arrival David McGoldrick who returned to Notts County having previously represented the club in 2003/04 and 2005/06. Since then, the 35-year-old has racked up a total of 559 appearances to date, including 63 (and 10 goals) in the Premier League for Sheffield United. A proven goalscorer at any level he’s played, the former Derby County man has netted over 150 times so far in his career.
Forward Macaulay Langstaff enjoyed a monumentally successful campaign last time out, scoring 42 league goals and picking up a number of accolades including National League Player of the Season, Fans’ and Players’ Player of the Season and records set for most goals in a Notts County season, most goals in a National League season and most Player of the Month awards in a National League season.
At just 31-years-old, John Bostock has accumulated a wealth of experience throughout his career to-date. As well as plying his trade in Belgium, the USA, France and Turkey, the midfielder represented England at U16, U17 and U19 level, playing alongside Jack Wilshere, Andros Townsend and Jonjo Shelvey.
On Morecambe's side, some key players to watch out for include Stuart Moore who has played all three games so far this season as goalkeeper. Donald Love is another player to watch out for as he has played all three games so far this season as defender. In midfield Tom Bloxham has played all three games so far this season. Up front Michael Mellon has played all three games so far this season as striker.
Ahead of the game, Derek Adams spoke of his awareness of County's flexible approach to different games. It should be an exciting match!
We encourage readers to get involved with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion, both pre- and post-match. We would love to know your thoughts!
Be sure to check out the Pride of Nottingham dashboard for all the latest content and an easy-to-view glance at the whole site.
PON_News
Notts County winger Jodi Jones is "over the moon" after his team secured a much-needed win. 
"More importantly, we had the three points. We really needed it," he said in his post match interview. "We had a bad start last weekend, but that's been brushed aside now, and I think we put in a good performance today for the fans."
Jones was also pleased with his own performance, saying that he was happy to see his name on the line-up. "There's a lot of competition. We've got fantastic players in the group, you know," he said. 
"You never know if you're going to be starting or not because the way everybody trains is fantastic. So when I see my name on the line-up, it just makes me really happy because I try my best, I work hard in training, and it's finally paying off."
The fans were also a big part of the win, according to Jones. "The fans were fantastic. They were behind us all the time, the whole way," he said. "It felt like a proper game and their fans were decent as well, to be fair, but our fans were fantastic and without them, we wouldn't have won today."
Jones is also optimistic about his future with Notts County. "I feel good. It's the first time in a very long time that I felt good," he said. "When I came here last season alone, I felt like I was finally getting back to my best. And when I did sign the contract here, I did say that there was plenty more to come from me. You know, I feel like the fans haven't seen the best of me yet, and I still believe that because I still got plenty more in my locker and I can't wait to show it the rest of the season."
He also addressed concerns about whether his goal would be counted as an own goal. "It better be my goal," he said with a laugh. "To be fair, I thought about it when someone told me that it might be an own goal. And I'm pretty sure it was going towards the goal when it happened so yeah, I'm not too sure. But you know, I'm more happy with the three points and the boys' performance."
Overall, the 25-year-old winger is feeling positive about his team's prospects for the rest of the season. "That's fantastic," he said when asked about their aim for this season. "You know that was our aim last season to get here. And like I said we didn't have a great start being back here last weekend, but we knew we had to put it right today."
Join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion and share your views on the upcoming game against Morecambe! We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads! Show your support by following us on these platforms and stay up-to-date with all the latest content from Pride of Nottingham.

About PON

Pride of Nottingham

Pride of Nottingham is an independent fansite devoted to Notts County, the world’s oldest professional football club. Created in 2013, it has served as a source of Magpie news, features, match previews, reports, analysis and interviews for more than three years.

Useful Links

Support PON

Enjoy our content? Want to help us grow? Your donation will go a long way towards improving the site!

donate-pon.png

Meet the Team

Chris Chris Administrators
super_ram super_ram Global Moderators
DangerousSausage DangerousSausage Global Moderators
CliftonMagpie CliftonMagpie Global Moderators
TheSkipper TheSkipper Media

Social Media

Home
Dashboard
Sign In Register
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Pride of Nottingham uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. To approve, simply continue using the site or click 'I accept' Terms of Use.

  I accept