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Joe Jones
The first time that Notts County faced Leyton Orient was 102 years ago, when the Magpies travel to Millfields Road for a Division Two fixture. The East London outfit won 1-0.
A total of 78 fixtures have taken place between the two, with the Nottingham outfit holding the upper hand historically, as 31 games have been won by the Magpies, with 28 O's wins and 19 draws.
Leyton Orient were founded in 1881, and have had several name changes throughout the years, including Eagle Cricket Club, Orient FC and Clapton Orient FC. The O's, who play in Waltham Forest, are the second-oldest league club in London behind Fulham.
The club's unusual name is alleged to come from one of the club's early players (Jack R Dearing) who was an employee of the Orient Shipping Company.
During the First World War. 41 members of the Clapton Orient team and staff joined up into the 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment (the Footballers' Battalion), the highest of any football team in the country and the first to join up en masse.
During the Battle of the Somme, three players gave their lives for King and Country: Richard McFadden, George Scott and William Jonas. Prior to the First World War, O's striker Richard McFadden had saved the life of a boy who was drowning in the River Lea as well as rescuing a man from a burning building.
History was made on Saturday 30th April 1921 when the Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VIII, visited Millfields Road to see the O's play Notts County. The Orient won 3-0 and this was the first time a member of royalty had attended a Football League match.
Leyton Orient were involved in a dispute with the Premier League over its decision to allow West Ham to use the Olympic Stadium in London, with the O's expressing an interest in the 2012 Olympics venue, but this has now been settled with a "confidential agreement".
Arguably the most famous fans of the club are Andrew and Julian Lloyd Webber. The album Variations, used as the theme tune for London Weekend Television's South Bank Show, was written by Andrew as the result of his losing a bet to his brother on the result of a Leyton Orient match. Julian later presented a gold disc of Variations to the club chairman at half time during a game with Leicester City.
In addition, David Beckham and Alfred Hitchcock were born in the borough.
Team news
Leyton Orient will be without defender Nicky Hunt against Notts County after he was booked for the 10th time this season in the dramatic win at Plymouth in midweek.
Hunt serves a two-game ban as the O's look to stretch their unbeaten run to three games.
Manager Danny Webb is also waiting to see if midfielder Liam Kelly will be available after he was charged with violent conduct by the Football Association for pushing a ball boy at Home Park.
Elsewhere, defender Yvan Erichot and midfielder Nigel Atangana are doubts after missing Tuesday's game with groin injuries.
Striker Paul McCallum is set to miss out as he struggles with a recurring knee problem while Sammy Moore is a doubt through illness.
Thierry Audel is an injury concern for Notts as he is nursing a thigh problem following the midweek draw with Exeter and will be assessed before the Magpies travel.
Haydn Hollis has been overlooked by Notts boss Kevin Nolan for the last two matches but the defender will hope to come back into the squad, especially if Audel is absent.
Nolan, on his first return to the club who gave him his first management job, also has the likes of Shola Ameobi, Jonathan Forte and Jorge Grant pushing for starting places.
How will Notts fare against Leyton Orient? Share your thoughts on the Pride of Nottingham website.
Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has played down any special significance towards Notts County's weekend fixture at Leyton Orient, describing it as just another game.
The 34-year-old began his managerial career at Brisbane Road in January last year as player-manager but was sacked by owner Francesco Becchetti in April despite his 47 percent win record.
Saturday sees the Magpies gaffer take his side back to his old stomping ground for a relegation six-pointer, with just one point separating the 21st-placed side in League Two and the second-from-bottom O's.
Nolan told the Nottingham Post: "I keep saying it every week, but it's just the next game for us.
"I said to the players that there is not a massive importance because we are playing a team around us. But if we lose this one and then win three on the bounce then this game gets put to bed.
"All we want is consistency, results and to start building a run of good form. We haven't been great away from home and that's something we are trying to put right.
"Obviously there is a bit of history there regarding me and Orient, but that gets put to bed. And if we do our job we give ourselves a great chance of getting three points."
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TheSkipper
Of all the players Notts County have within their squad, it’s often the youngsters who are referred to as being the key in order to survive the drop from League Two.
In January, the club reinforced itself with the arrivals of Jorge Grant, Marc Bola, Josh Clackstone and Tahvon Campbell. However, it was the arrival of experienced veteran striker Shola Ameobi that captivated the fans' excitement the most.
I value the experience that players of Ameobi’s quality bring. Mark Stallard mentioned on BBC Radio Nottingham that Ameobi has the quality to help, noting that the frontman may not be in the prime of his career but if he can regain match sharpness there is no doubt just how significant his arrival would be.
Having the likes of Ameobi, Kevin Nolan and Alan Smith on our books as players, individuals who have competed at the highest level and had the careers they've had, does look naturally impressive. They process the right type of knowledge, which is beneficial to a club that is lacking leaders on the pitch, especially one that is in a relegation battle.
One thing which struck me recently as I watched Notts play, we tend to be almost one-dimensional and it’s only the senior players who try to overcome this issue.
The only exception has been the return of Curtis Thompson, who is a true grafter, yet position-wise, during our own attacks, players are often unsupported and this limits the chances that can be created.
Ameobi has gotten stuck in, with another veteran player Mark Yeates currently failing to make any sort of impression for the most part of the minutes in which he has featured.
A few good dead balls doesn’t make up for much, yet even he could be a pinnacle player and if Michael O’Connor, Richard Duffy and Robert Milson continue to step up, perhaps it will only be a matter of time for Yeates?
I am unsure how much of a part the inexperienced players can play in our survival, Jordan Richards does seem to be a great young player but nowhere near first team standards.
However, I am dead certain that the veterans at the club can contribute when it truly matters. The depth looks to be the right balance for survival and I am convinced we have more than enough in order to achieve that.
It may be unpopular to suggest seeing Alan Smith, however he can make the odd cameo appearance and provide some real grit in the bulk of midfield.
Nolan at this stage must continue to identify the players that can affect and change games, critics may argue that Smith doesn’t have any future as a player.
They may argue that Yeates and Jon Stead are both past it, however Notts do look much better with them around. Survival will go down to who is the most prepared, so having a squad which is highly unpredictable, full of experience, and eagerly awaiting youngsters who can make an impact when required.
I would hope that the defence, along with Richard Duffy, continues to impress, with Thierry Audel looking all the more like a new signing for the club.
It does appear that Nolan does have the right types of headaches when it comes to his selection, with a surprising comeback against Exeter City. It does show that the players are responding to the training and are well aware of the importance these games have on the future of the club.
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Joe Jones
Notts County boss Kevin Nolan has praised the crowd at Meadow Lane for remaining optimistic even after they went two down to Exeter City on Tuesday night.
The Magpies ultimately claimed a 2-2 draw against the Grecians after injury-time goals from Richard Duffy and Jorge Grant pegged the visitors back against all odds.
Nolan says the players "felt a buzz around the stadium" and it spurred them on to claim a valuable point that keeps Notts out of the League Two relegation zone.
The gaffer told the official club site: "Obviously you don’t feel as confident at 2-0 that you’re going to get back into it, but you’ve got to believe. If you get one you can get two - and we did.
"You felt a buzz around the stadium and that drove the lads on. We deserved at least a point out of the game tonight.
"When you do what we’ve done in the last four or five minutes in this game you can’t get carried away, but what you can take from it is having a team we can all be proud of. We can look at each other and know we’re all in this together.
"We know it’s going to be tough from now until the end of the season but tonight goes a long way towards what we’re trying to achieve - which is to get some consistency and try and get a run going."
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Joe Jones
Most of the time, when a team goes two up in the 89th minute of a match, said team goes on to win the match.
Luckily, this was not the case at Meadow Lane on Tuesday night, because Exeter City were supposedly home and dry after taking a two-goal lead against Notts County with one minute to go, but that was not quite how it panned out once the overweight lady had in fact begun belting out her vocals.
Exeter, a team whose away record ranks among the top in the division, took the lead in the 33rd minute through David Wheeler, who made the most of a Thierry Audel error from Reuben Reid's wayward throughball to bear down on goal and slot past Adam Collin.
The visitors then went down to 10 men late in the second half (sort of late, not late late) with five minutes left as Jake Taylor picked up his second yellow of the game for a sliding tackle on Michael O'Connor by the corner flag in County's half.
Despite this, however, Kevin Nolan's side found themselves seemingly out of the game when Exeter broke through Liam McAlinden, whose drive was pushed away by Collin, but Ryan Harley was left free at the back post and he guided the ball over the line to make it two-nil.
Injury time is when things got really interesting for the Magpies, with four minutes of added time announced, and in the first of those, a free kick was glanced home by Richard Duffy for his second goal in as many games, which instantly put the Grecians under pressure.
And then, a minute later, the unfathomable happened as O'Connor played a superb reverse pass to an unmarked Jorge Grant and his ball across the face of goal struck Jordan Moore-Taylor and found its way into the net to send the home faithful at Meadow Lane into raptures.
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has revealed that he wants Jon Stead to remain at Notts County next season and tips him to get more goals this season.
The 33-year-old has scored 11 times during the current campaign and gave the Magpies the lead on Saturday when they ultimately claimed a 2-1 win over Cheltenham Town.
Nolan previously spoke of Stead being the subject of a bid from the United States in January which the boss did not sanction.
With the veteran striker being out of contract at the end of the season, Nolan is now hoping that he will commit to a new deal given his usefulness to Notts.
Asked if he would like to keep Stead for next season, Nolan told the Nottingham Post: "Without a shadow of a doubt because he brings so much to the squad.
"His intelligence off the field as well as on it and his game management is a real asset to us.
"The goals then speak for themselves and I think you will see a few more fly in from now until the end of the season.
"He's really enjoying his football and hopefully now we will start seeing the best Jon Stead because he's just got one focus which is Notts County."
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has revealed that Notts County's players are full of confidence following their 2-1 win over Cheltenham Town and are eager to get back into action against Exeter City on Tuesday.
The Magpies have fate back in their own hands as they sit three points clear of 23rd-placed Leyton Orient, who have played the same amount of games as Notts, and five clear of basement side Newport County, who have a game in hand.
With the feelgood factor back at Meadow Lane, the gaffer says his charges feel "like they can beat anyone" if they put their minds to it and play as they did on Saturday against the Robins.
Nolan told the club's official site: "They'll want to bounce back. When you win a game, the first thing you want to do is get back out on the pitch and it's the same when you lose because you want to eradicate that defeat.
"Exeter have been on a fantastic run of form. I've watched a lot of videos over the last 48 hours and they play well. They do things right more often than not and that's why they've had so much success.
"But, if we do what we did on Saturday, we can certainly win this game. We're looking forward to what will hopefully be another good spectacle that goes in our favour.
"The players know if they get to the levels they did on Saturday, they can beat anyone. They are starting to believe what I believed when I first came through the door - that this team is well capable of staying in this league."
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Joe Jones
Notts County and Exeter City have met a total of 43 times over their history, the first meeting coming at St James’ Park in Division Three (South) which finished as a 3-3 draw.
The Magpies have an excellent record against the Grecians; out of those 43 games, Notts claimed a result in 35, with 17 wins and 18 draws.
Our recent form (last five) is not too bad, with two wins, two draws and one defeat.
Exeter was formed in 1901 as St. Sidwell's United and played in the Southern League from 1908 until 1920, when that league's top division was absorbed into The Football League as its new Division Three.
The club was the first ever team to play the Brazilian national team in 1914, a match which was commemorated in a 2014 friendly game against Fluminense.
City took 60 years to achieve their first ever promotion, finishing fourth in Division Four in the 1963–64 season.
Since then, the club have mostly yo-yoed between the third and fourth divisions, spending five years in the Conference between 2003 and 2008; having been promoted a further four times (in 1976–77, 1989–90, 2007–08 and 2008–09) and relegated five times (in 1965–66,1983–84, 1993–94, 2002–03 and 2011–12).
Famous fans include Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, Adrian Edmondson, Mark Nicol and Noel Edmonds.
Singer Joss Stone signed up as a member of the Supporters' Trust, being introduced to fans on the pitch as a new member during a League Cup match against Liverpool.
In 2002 pop singer Michael Jackson was made honorary director of Exeter City. He visited St James Park with celebrity friend Uri Geller, who was also a director.
The crew of the HMS Defender also adopted Exeter City as their home team and use their strip if playing games whilst on tour.
Team news
Notts have no fresh injury concerns and a fully-fit squad ahead of the visit of Exeter.
Magpies manager Kevin Nolan could keep faith with the side that started Saturday's 2-1 home win against Cheltenham, although he has plenty of options.
Carl Dickinson was back in the squad for that game after recovering from a knee injury but he had to settle for a place on the bench, while Adam Campbell and Haydn Hollis were both left out altogether.
Jorge Grant, on loan from Nottingham Forest, made an impression during his late cameo from the bench at the weekend but it remains to be seen whether the midfielder did enough to force his way into Nolan's XI.
Reuben Reid will once again feature in the Exeter attack after recovering from illness to lead the line in the 3-0 defeat to fellow promotion hopefuls Plymouth Argyle.
Reid will be joined in attack by Ollie Watkins who recovered from a foot injury in time to face the Pilgrims, with Liam McAlinden and Robbie Simpson again likely to have to settle for a place on the bench.
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Chris
The atmosphere at recent Notts County home games really has been impressive, especially given the situation we have found ourselves this season.
The optimism around Meadow Lane has made both the 2-1 wins over Crawley Town and then Cheltenham Town all the more enjoyable.
Performances may require further work, with spells in both games being quite stale at times – the important factor is the fact we are able to win games.
It's especially good to see two home wins back to back, and it just goes to show how things legitimately seem to be turning around when you consider that it wasn't that far back that we had lost 10 league games in a row.
For me Accrington Stanley is always a difficult game for Notts, I wasn’t overly disheartened by the result but the performance was bad by all accounts.
With Kevin Nolan quietly working in his management style and with the January signings at his disposal, it would seem the club has adapted, working as a priority fully focused on making our home form and Meadow Lane a place where we can be entertained.
It’s still early days, yet the passion has been restored in the stands and even speaking with fans, you can see an eagerness for the new era to be successful.
In our most recent match against Cheltenham Town, it started quite slow and scrappy.
Neither side looked all that convincing going forward, however Notts did look the better of the two even early on. With the players working hard on the pitch, chances fell and it created more reasons for our fans to sing their hearts out.
The goal made a massive difference, under our new boss Notts does seem like a team wanting to have fun on the pitch.
If you took a few moments to look around the stands, you would see just how much of a relief it was that we had scored – not because we desperately require wins in order to secure safety within League Two but because it felt like there is a massive difference around the club.
I wrote a tweet after the Accrington game after seeing fans disheartened, and I suggested that perhaps Meadow Lane would be where we found the form to find safety.
Certainly, I feel far more optimistic about home games now, than I do about away games.
Yet all the remaining games are of huge importance and we don’t need Adam Collin or Mark Yeates to inform us fans of this.
In fact, I would hope all the players focus on their performances and when the media come across to enquire about upcoming games – it would be welcome if they let this do their talking.
This past part might sound a little blunt, however I am now at the stage whereby I would just want to see safety and continue to enjoy the feel good factor. I don’t fault anyone trying to be optimistic, it’s simply down to the fact I’ve heard it all before.
Our next four games will confirm just how important things will be, if Notts can continue to pick up wins and perhaps a draw or two – things will look vastly different.
The league table now allows for breathing, hopefully after Exeter, Leyton Orient and even Yeovil Town this will be more so the case.
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Joe Jones
Richard Duffy has claimed that Notts County have "nothing to fear" when Exeter City visit Meadow Lane on Tuesday night.
The Magpies are looking for their third consecutive home win following their 2-1 victory over Cheltenham Town at the weekend, in which Duffy scored.
Exeter have the best away record in League Two, with a massive 10 wins out of 16 fixtures on the road so far, but the former Wales international is up to the challenge.
Duffy told the Nottingham Post: "They've got the best away record in all four divisions I think. They will come here full of confidence.
"They've been on a great run although they lost to Plymouth at the weekend. But we have nothing to fear given the way we played in the first half against Cheltenham.
"We saw the game out in the second because they are not an easy team to play against. They are direct and you have to defend for your lives."
Duffy had kind words to say about the turnout in the game against the Robins, adding: "The crowd got behind us and it was probably the best first-half performance of the season.
"It was great support for where we are in the league. The teams around us are getting nowhere near that, so a big thanks to the fans for turning up."
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Joe Jones
Notts County boss Kevin Nolan has revealed that Jon Stead was in fact the subject of a bid from the United States, but was not willing to let his top scorer go.
There were rumours going round in January that the striker was on the radar of an American club, but ultimately he stayed put at Meadow Lane.
Stead scored his 11th goal of the season against Cheltenham Town on Saturday, which proved crucial as the final result was 2-1 and helped the Magpies create some distance between them and the bottom two.
Nolan told the Nottingham Post: "He's had a great opportunity to go and play across the water and it would have been life changing for him and his family. But I just told him that I could not let my top scorer go.
"I brought people in who can work with him, but nobody who could replace him. He's been first class since I came in and I just thought it looked like a different Jon Stead.
"There's been a lot of speculation but we finally put that to bed earlier this week. He has been fantastic since I came in so I am delighted for him."
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has described his Notts County charges as "absolutely fantastic" after their 2-1 home win over Cheltenham Town on Saturday.
The Magpies moved three points clear of League Two's relegation zone as Jon Stead and Richard Duffy scored, while Manny Onariase's late strike did not prove more than a consolation in the end.
Nolan told the official Notts site: "I've got to take my hat off to the boys - they were absolutely fantastic.
"We created a lot of chances, which is very pleasing, and hopefully we can now start to chip away at the goal difference we've inherited over the last few months.
"The more games we win, the more the confidence comes back.
"Attention now turns to the next game. We've got to make sure we're professional and ready for Tuesday (against Exeter City).
"It's going to be another tough one and it's about building momentum."
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Joe Jones
Notts County have extended their gap above the League Two relegation zone to three points after a 2-1 win over Cheltenham Town in Saturday's game at Meadow Lane.
The Magpies began brightly and took the lead in the 24th minute when Michael O'Connor unlocked the Robins defence with a delightful pass which curled into the path of a charging Jon Stead, who bore down on goal under pressure and rifled past Scott Brown into the roof of the net.
Just nine minutes later, Kevin Nolan's side had doubled their lead with the kind of goal which has often been their undoing this season, so it was a relief to see it scored at the other end of the pitch as Mark Yeates swung a corner into the box and Richard Duffy shrugged off the opposition defenders to nod home.
Notts could have been three to the good just before half time when Stead raced through one-on-one, but Brown blocked well this time.
Despite a tactical shuffle by Cheltenham boss Gary Johnson, which saw his side improve, Notts remained a threat as substitute Jonathan Forte hit the post and Tahvon Campbell skewed the follow-up wide in the 75th minute.
Manny Onariase managed to grab a late goal for the visitors to set up a nervy finish for the home crowd, but the Magpies held firm and secured all three points which gave their first against the drop a much-needed boost.
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Joe Jones
Notts County and Cheltenham Town have faced off just nine times in their history, and all meetings have come in the 21st century.
The first clash was on 28 September 2002, when the Magpies played away at Whaddon Road and won 4-1.
The last game, meanwhile, was earlier this season, a 3-2 win at Whaddon Road with Jon Stead bagging a brace after Jonathan Forte opened the scoring four minutes in.
As it stands, the Magpies have 5 wins, 2 defeats, and 2 draws against Cheltenham.
Cheltenham Town was founded in 1887 by Albert Close White, a local teacher.
However, the town has prior football history - in 1849, the first use of three official referees in a match, two in field and one in tribune, was recorded in Cheltenham.
Promoted to The Football League as Conference Premier champions in 1999, Cheltenham have played as high as League One, the third tier of English football, spending a total of four seasons there.
Their best FA Cup run saw them reach the last 16 (fifth round) in 2002.
The last piece of silverware won by the club was the National League title in 2015–2016.
Its league status was lost with relegation in 2015, only for the team to return, as champions, a year later.
Two former Notts managers, Steve Cotterill and Martin Allen, have also done time at the Gloucestershire club.
Team news
Notts County boss Kevin Nolan hopes Thierry Audel will be fit to give him a full squad to choose from against Cheltenham Town.
Audel limped off injured during the first half of the defeat at Accrington last weekend and the Frenchman will be assessed.
Fellow defender Carl Dickinson has returned to training this week and is available along with midfielder Curtis Thompson, who served a one-match ban against Stanley.
Former Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi could be in line for his home debut after joining the Magpies last week on a deal until the end of the season.
Cheltenham manager Gary Johnson must decide what shape to select his team in.
Last week's more positive side drew 1-1 at home to Newport, having most recently won 3-2 at Luton in a defensive 5-4-1 formation.
Recent signing Liam Davis made his debut last week and is expected to retain his place.
Danny Wright could be pushing for a recall after appearing against Newport as a substitute.
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Joe Jones
Notts County goalkeeper Adam Collin has admitted that the season has been tough so far, but believes that the Magpies are "steadying the ship" following Kevin Nolan's arrival.
The 32-year-old joined Notts in the summer following a career which began at Newcastle United and saw him turn out for the likes of Rotherham United, Carlisle United and non-league Workington AFC.
He told the Eastwood & Kimberley Advertiser: “The move to Notts County came about as soon as John Sheridan and Mark Crossley were appointed as the new management team.
“I was out of contract after a successful three years at Rotherham United and they got in touch asking if I would like to come in as No.1 goalkeeper.
“It’s been a very tough season so far. We started well and then all of a sudden the wheels fell off and we lost 10 games in a row.
“We were conceding too many goals and not scoring enough and now, with a change of manager, we look to be steadying the ship and getting back to looking a solid team.
“The new manager has come in and looked to make us harder to beat and more solid. We have good players we just needed a settled shape to the team and to be more organised.”
Collin also spoke about playing in the derby against Mansfield and keeping a clean sheet, as well as feeling pride at having youngsters from his academy in attendance.
He added: “The derby was a great game to play in. The atmosphere was fantastic and to get a clean sheet and to make a good save off the deflected shot was the highlight for me, plus to have quite a few of my young goalies from the academy there watching was a big bonus.”
The AC1 Goalkeeping Academy is based in Mansfield and currently has around 30 youngsters learning the ropes - for more information click here.
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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.

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