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Joe Jones
One step forward, two steps back. Much like the goalless draw against Mansfield Town was followed up by the 2-0 defeat at Grimsby Town, so was the impressive 2-1 win over Crawley Town followed up by an insipid 2-0 defeat at Accrington Stanley, a club whose name is usually followed up with "who are they" said in a Scouse accent.
Who are they? Oh, just a team that Notts haven't beaten in the league in seven years. A team whose recent record over Notts reads two draws and four wins. A team that the Magpies should be embarrassed to share a pitch with in a league fixture, never mind slip to defeat (the same goes for Morecambe, the very definition of lower-league minnows, yet their recent record over us is damning).
Today, Accrington mustered six shots on target. Notts managed just one. The first goal came from a set piece and a cross swung into the box by Sean McConville and nodded home by Harvey Rodgers, a straightforward passage of play that any self-respecting defence should be swatting away without too much difficulty.
And then came the second goal, which was downright laughable were it not conceded by the team we support - Jonny Edwards was up against two Notts defenders chasing a ball over the top, he beat one for pace, and in the process the tumbling player took out his teammate as if they were skittles - leaving Edwards all the time and space a footballer could ever wish for to charge towards goal.
Adam Collin did well to keep his initial shot out, but the incoming Noor Husin was on hand to rifle home on the rebound completely unmarked. I reckon I could have done a better job of defending that had I been playing with a hangover.
As it stands, Notts are 22nd in the table, one point above Leyton Orient and two above bottom side Newport County. But - and this is the crucial bit - the two sides in the relegation zone have a game in hand. If, at this moment in time, that one game in hand was a win, Notts would be bottom of the league. Of the entire English Football League.
Notts have 17 games left to save their season. Each game is a cup final now, because relegation for the Magpies would be disastrous and humiliating beyond belief. Kevin Nolan, Notts players, over to you.
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Joe Jones
Notts County have played the current incarnation of Accrington Stanley 14 times in their history.
The first fixtures against the "new Stanley" were in August and December 1958, when both sides played in Division Three.
The Magpies drew 1-1 in the first match, before losing 3-0 in the second.
A hiatus of 48 years followed before the teams met again in the fourth tier, now League Two, on 9 September 2006. The result was a 3-2 win to Notts.
The last fixture was earlier this season on September 10, and Stanley won 2-0 at Meadow Lane.
The original town's team, Accrington, were amongst the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888, before resigning from the league after just five years.
A team called Stanley Villa already existed at the time, named as such because they were based at the Stanley Arms on Stanley Street in Accrington.
With the demise of Accrington, Stanley Villa took the town name to become Accrington Stanley.
The club re-formed after World War I and entered the League in 1921 with the formation of the old Third Division North, along with the other top northern non-League clubs.
This original incarnation was dissolved in 1966, before re-emerging two years later. In 2005–06, Stanley won the Football Conference and were promoted to League Two.
Ironically, Oxford United, the team they switched places with, was the team that had been elected to replace the former Accrington Stanley as members of the Football League in 1962 when they were struggling with debt.
Accrington Stanley is perhaps most well known for being mentioned pejoratively by two Liverpudlian kids in a late 1980s advert by the Milk Marketing Board.
Famous people from Accrington include Vicky Entwhistle and Julie Hesmondhalgh from Coronation Street, Yes singer Jon Anderson, cricketer Mike Atherton, Diana Vickers from The X Factor, and Mystic Meg.
Team news
Accrington are still missing Matty Pearson and Scott Brown through suspension ahead of the visit of Notts on Saturday.
Defender Pearson is in the middle of a three-match ban following his sending-off in the 1-1 draw against Carlisle United.
Midfielder Brown must sit out the League Two match and one more fixture as he completes his four-match ban.
Stanley boss John Coleman can field the squad which lost narrowly in the FA Cup at Middlesbrough last week, however.
Notts could name a much-changed team from that which last week defeated Crawley Town 2-1 after being busy in the transfer market.
Kevin Nolan has registered to play for them, therefore becoming player-manager and coming into contention.
On Tuesday they also recruited Tahvon Campbell, Marc Bola, Jorge Grant and Josh Clackstone, while Mark Yeates signed earlier on in the window.
Curtis Thompson, however, is suspended after being sent off last Saturday.
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Joe Jones
New Notts County player Mark Yeates has admitted that Alan Sheehan played a big part in convincing him of the club's stature, prestige and setup.
The former Blackpool winger was one of six players recruited by Kevin Nolan and Alan Hardy ahead of the January transfer window's closure.
Yeates told the Nottingham Post: "Sheez and I go back a long way. I went on loan to Leicester from Tottenham as a young lad and he was coming through the youth team there.
"We've known each other since we were kids and, funnily enough, our fathers played together in the League of Ireland.
"Our families know each other well and I think he tells everybody he is a legend in Nottingham so that's no secret for anyone.
"I know he scored a penalty here to help keep them up. Shaun Derry and Keith Curle speak highly of him.
"He is a big character, somebody you would call a man because he is not afraid to say what he feels.
"He's a good mate of mine and I think if he could, he would definitely come back at some point.
"He was close to coming back before and he tried to get me down here with him when Shaun was in charge.
"But I know a lot of players who have been here, like Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Andre Boucard and Gary Liddle.
"There is a long list of lads who have played here and never had a bad word to say about it.
"If anything they speak massively of it. But I know how big the club is from the outside looking in.
"It was always a club that, in the back of my mind, I could always see playing for. Luckily enough it has happened."
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Joe Jones
Notts County boss Kevin Nolan has admitted that he did not want to continue working with Stanley Aborah at the club, due to "the way he carries himself".
The Belgian, who signed for the Magpies in the summer of 2015, left Meadow Lane by mutual consent on transfer deadline day and is expected to rejoin Ricardo Moniz at Dutch club FC Eindhoven.
Aborah's time at Notts following Moniz's departure has been punctuated by spells in and out of the team as numerous managers opted not to make him a first-team fixture.
Nolan told the Nottingham Post: "Stanley has been here for a long time. If you look at his record, he hasn't had a great deal of games before I came in. He has fluttered about a lot of clubs in a lot of years.
"If I am being honest, I thought his training and the way he carries himself didn't suit me as a man. For me it was better that Stan and I parted ways.
"He's a lovely fella, but there were numerous opportunities when I asked a bit more from him and I just feel he didn't take it on board. It wasn't someone I wanted to continue to work with.
"I have to be honest because it's the best policy. As a player I wanted it (honesty), because if you are not highly thought of or wanted, then I wanted somebody to tell me to my face rather than behind my back."
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Chris
I wouldn’t really say that I was surprised to learn about the departure of Stanley Aborah.
That said, I did value what he offered and although some believe that he was difficult to manage, I’m not quite sure I would agree. Who knows for sure?
However, from his opening debut after trialling with Notts, Aborah shown that he had some spark about him.
In games where the Magpies desperately lacked that certain quality, Aborah was there to provide it and until Jamie Fullarton came around, it was really hard to see our midfield without his presence.
There’s no doubt that a player of his quality would be asking for game time, yet it did come as a shock when we all learned why he wasn’t playing.
Whilst the local media speculated it was due to his poor defensive attributes, something else I would largely debate wasn’t fair (who exactly did defend well?) as the entire team was largely poor and for this reason I always felt he stood out unfairly because he tried.
Yet it emerged back at the start of March 2016, that the then 28-year-old Belgian midfielder had ‘asked to leave Notts because he felt he wouldn’t play’, this was after being frozen out of the squad.
The Belgian said: “To me it's not a difficult situation. He came in. I was dropped. Therefore I asked him if he wanted me to leave. I said I don't have to leave but if I could find a club it's fine by him.”
He also accused the then manager Jamie Fullarton of lying about his reasons not to include him in the starting 11.
“The question gets asked to him after a game he doesn’t say this. First he said he makes informed decisions or something like that. Then he said I’m not available. That wasn’t true. He said I was ill, for the York game.”
I genuinely believe that the majority of Notts fans assumed this would be the end his time at the club, yet he would still go on to feature for the Magpies.
This time around he hasn’t featured in the squad as a starter since the FA Cup clash against Boreham Wood, which we won 2-0, but  he did come on in the 2-0 away defeat against Grimsby Town in the 83rd minute.
I hadn’t realised this, so it does make sense that we would allow him to depart – it also eases the disappointment because it’s hard to say he would feature under Kevin Nolan.
It’s debatable if things may have been different if we had included Aborah, I guess it's beside the point now but watching him play was generally exciting.
His departure makes me curious as to why other players haven’t been released? Yet that might be explained by if he had requested to be released.
Will Genaro Snijders be next? Can anyone actually say when it was he last appeared in the squad? This is something else I don’t actually recall.
Perhaps he will get his chance finally under Nolan unlike Aborah? Notts do require pace on the wing and he does offer that.
If we can inject forward movement into the squad, perhaps the wing would see more time to pinpoint the perfect pass? As it would seem the recent arrivals offer the lack of pace the squad has been missing.
The departure of Aborah may not be best news for some fans, considering the restraints of the fair play rules – I would imagine the decision on who to allow him to leave would be difficult.
I, and all of us at PON, want to wish him all the best with his career.
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Joe Jones
Notts County have secured the signing of Arsenal left-back Marc Bola on loan until the end of the season.
The 19-year-old signed his first professional contract at the Emirates Stadium last April after featuring regularly for their Under-21s.
Bola, who will wear number 16 at Meadow Lane, told the official Notts site: "It's a pleasure after seeing (manager Kevin Nolan) at West Ham scoring goals.
"He believes in young players and he's experienced.
"Notts County is a massive club and I'm just buzzing to get playing."
Nolan added: "Marc has tremendous potential and his physicality makes him a good fit for this league.
"He will be keen to show what he can do at first-team level and we are delighted to have him here."
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Joe Jones
Notts County have signed West Bromwich Albion attacker Tahvon Campbell on loan until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old came through the ranks at the Hawthorns and became a senior player in 2015.
He is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Baggies but has spent time on loan at Kidderminster Harriers and Yeovil Town.
Magpies manager Kevin Nolan told the official site: "Tahvon comes to us highly recommended.
"He will bring pace and power to our attack, either from wide positions or up front."
He is the second player to join Notts this month after the lifting of the transfer embargo, and the third to register as a player after Nolan made himself available to the squad.
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Joe Jones
Notts County have been moving fast after coming out of their transfer embargo last week, with two key registrations made at Meadow Lane as of Tuesday morning.
The Magpies have made their first signing, with veteran winger Mark Yeates cancelling his Blackpool contract to join Notts until the end of the season.
Yeates, who was out of contract at Bloomfield Road in the summer, told the official Notts website: "I'm over the moon. When I got told about the interest it was a no brainer for me.
"I know a few of the lads in the dressing room and that'll probably make it easier to settle in.
"I just want to get on the ball and try to make things happen - whether that be behind the front man or from out wide.
"I've always been about trying to make chances and I try to chip in with the odd goal when I can."
Notts manager Kevin Nolan added: "It's great to have Mark on board. He has vast experience and adds to our quality in attacking areas."
In addition, the Magpies boss has also registered himself as a player and joins the squad - another move that could not have been done until the end of the embargo.
He will be hoping to use his experience from hundreds of appearances for Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and West Ham United to assist his side as they battle relegation.
Owner Alan Hardy said: "It was always Kevin’s intention to register as a player and I’m delighted to confirm we have now completed the formalities.
"He will of course need to continue building his fitness but, when he’s ready, I’m confident we will have one of, if not the, best midfielders in the league.
"Kevin and I will continue to discuss further transfer targets and I will update fans on our progress in due course."
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Joe Jones
Jonathan Forte has described scoring the winner in Notts County's first League Two victory since October as "a brilliant feeling"
The striker's late goal against Crawley Town on Saturday helped the Magpies to a 2-1 win and lifted the struggling side out of the relegation zone.
"It feels great, we haven't won in a long time so scoring the winner was a brilliant feeling," Forte told the Nottingham Post.
"I had a chance in the first half when I went through one on one and I think I panicked because I saw two players coming in and thought 'right I might have to hit it early'.
"The keeper made a decent save but I think I should have gone the other way. Then I had a header and I'm not really renowned for those but that was unlucky not to go in.
"But I was just happy to get the winner. When they scored it deflated us and I thought 'here we go again'.
"We got ourselves back into it and in the past few weeks that wouldn't have happened. They'd have gone down the other end and scored but obviously this time we've got the goal and we're all delighted."
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has hailed his Notts County players for claiming their first League Two win since October against Crawley Town, while also thanking the fans for their support.
Thierry Audel gave the Magpies the lead at Meadow Lane on Saturday before James Collins appeared to have salvaged something for the Red Devils.
However, Jonathan Forte sent the Lane into delirium when he struck at the death and gave the hosts a 2-1 win and all three points to lift them out of the relegation zone.
Nolan told the Nottingham Post: "It feels good. I have to praise the lads because they have taken on board what we have done.
"They were brilliant from one to 13 because the lads who came off the bench played their part too.
"We were together and the performance ensured that we thoroughly deserved what we got.
"I hope the fans enjoyed it and hopefully there will be more of these afternoons to come.
"It's not great for the heart, I must admit. But I am young enough and fit enough to be able to take it.
"The fans really got behind us and it lifted the players. I thank them for that. The players mentioned afterwards it was the first time they had heard it for a while. It's great and hopefully we can continue."
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Joe Jones
Notts County have climbed out of the bottom two of League Two thanks to their first league win since October, a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Crawley Town.
Neither side broke the deadlock in the first half, although Jonathan Forte came close on two occasions, forcing a save from Glenn Morris before nodding just over the bar.
The visitors were forced to hang tight in the second half, although there was hope for them when Curtis Thompson was sent off in the 72nd minute.
Nonetheless, Kevin Nolan's charges took the lead not long after when Thierry Audel forced the ball over the line when Rob Milsom's corner had caused pandemonium inside the box.
It was no more than Notts deserved after creating numerous chances, with Forte spurning two in the first half.
Crawley, however, hit back in the final 10 minutes when James Collins had space outside the box and cannoned in a terrific effort off the underside of the crossbar from 25 yards.
That had seemingly curtailed the Magpies' hopes of victory, but right at the death, Forte scored on the rebound after Haydn Hollis's original shot had been saved.
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Chris
Notts County have confirmed that the transfer embargo at the club has been lifted.
Alan Hardy revealed the news during a Twitter Q&A on Friday, confirming that the Magpies could sign players again.
Notts were under embargo for failing to make required payments to HM Revenue & Customs and other clubs during the Ray Trew era.
Manager Kevin Nolan said on Thursday he was hopeful the Magpies could sign players "within 72 hours".
The January transfer window shuts next Tuesday.
Who would you like to see come to Meadow Lane? Share your thoughts on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.
Joe Jones
Notts County have only ever played Crawley Town nine times in their history.
The first fixture between the two was just over four years ago, on 10 November 2012.
This milestone first meeting between the two, played at Meadow Lane, finished 1-1.
Meanwhile the return fixture, played away on the 9th March 2013, ended as a goalless draw.
The record stands at five Notts wins, two defeats and two draws.
Our recent record against them is very good, the Magpies winning the last three encounters (all in League Two).
Crawley Town have been a non-league side for the majority of their history – last decade, while Notts were struggling to survive in the old Second Division, Crawley had just been promoted from the Southern Football League.
Crawley have won plenty of silverware in their history, though the majority of it is amateur-based. This changed when they won the Conference National title in 2011 and the League Two title just a year later.
2010-11 was a record-breaking season not just for Crawley, but also for the Conference.
The West Sussex club broke the points total in one season (105) and tie with other teams for most wins in one season (31), fewest defeats (3), and highest goal difference (+63).
Because of this season, alongside the funds they had to buy players and an unlikable manager (Steve Evans), they were known as “the Manchester United of non-league football”.
The town of Crawley is known for being close - just three miles in fact - to Gatwick Airport, the world's busiest single-runway international airport.
Famous people who have links to Crawley include Australian footballer Kevin Muscat (born in Crawley), Gareth Southgate (attended the town's Hazelwick School), English rock band The Cure (formed in Crawley, several of its members attended St Wilfrid's RC School) and Gorillaz lead singer 2D (a fictional character, his back story claims he grew up in the town).
Team news
Rob Milsom is a doubt for Saturday's game - he did not reappear for the second half of last weekend's defeat at Grimsby Town having suffered severe swelling on his foot.
Stanley Aborah impressed as a substitute against the Mariners and is pushing for a start.
The Magpies are still under a transfer embargo, although that could be lifted over the weekend.
After their match against Portsmouth was cancelled last week, Crawley manager Dermot Drummy has no fresh injury concerns.
Striker Matt Harrold is the only long-term absentee with an Achilles injury.
Conor Henderson is in contention to start after renewing his short-term deal at the club until the end of the season.
Drummy could also hand a debut to defender Josh Lelan, who joined the Red Devils on Thursday.
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Joe Jones
A lot of Notts fans, myself included, were celebrating when Alan Hardy became the club's new owner, finally putting an end to the Ray Trew era, and there was a weekend of relative joy when the losing run was snuffed out at the 11th attempt with a face-saving goalless draw against local rivals Mansfield Town.
However, the harsh reality are that the Magpies are still in very deep trouble. After 27 League Two games played, we're 23rd in the table, on 23 points. The other teams occupying the bottom five places have all played a game less than us.
And despite the temporary relief of the derby draw, we cannot sugarcoat the fact that we haven't won in the league since October, and have suffered 11 defeats in 12 league games.
The players are, on paper, more than good enough to beat anyone on their day - we beat Portsmouth back in October, which was a pretty impressive win. But over the last few months, to say standards have slipped is as much of an understatement as saying Leicester City did okay to win the Premier League last season.
Confidence in the team has been shredded, and especially with how long it's been since the side won, the players have turned into a shadow of what they can really do - beat the likes of Pompey.
And if that wasn't the cherry on top, the transfer embargo means we cannot even bring any fresh legs into the team, players that haven't had to endure the last few months and maybe bring some fresh optimism into the dressing room.
The transfer window shuts in just five days, so it'll be a nervy end to January for the club's fans, coaches and directors. If the embargo doesn't get lifted in time, not only can we not sign any new players, but Kevin Nolan won't be able to register himself as a player, and we have no emergency loan window to fall back on after FIFA removed it just last summer.
Whether we can sign players or not, Nolan and the players are in for one of the most challenging spells of their footballing careers. Let's hope, for the sake of the club, that they can pull it together and drag the club to safety, because under Hardy's tenure, I believe the only way is up.
Whether that will be up from League Two or up from the National League, it remains to be seen.
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Chris
Despite the transfer embargo at Notts County, there are still rumours about potential signings coming to Meadow Lane should the situation be resolved.
In the mist of the rumour mill, is exactly the type of player the Magpies have famously became linked with under the Ray Trew era.
By this, I refer to former Premier League players with a notably well-known name, yet with rather indistinctive careers.
With Notts desperately seeking new signings - players of whom can make a significant impact - it's no doubt going to be a rush in order to sign anyone and this all depends on if the embargo is lifted within enough time to get rubber stamps (Football League approval).
So upon hearing that we are being linked with former Chelsea and West Ham player Carlton Cole, it really does make my mind race as to if he would be any better than what we have had previous seasons.
Yet I realise it could simply be a case of a temporary means, with all hinging on the previously mentioned restriction and of course if he would even join a League Two team.
So who is Carlton Cole? Here is a quick fact file.
Name: Carlton Michael George Cole
Born: 12/10/1983 – Croydon, England
Age: 33
Position: Striker
Cole emerged through the Chelsea academy, establishing himself as a first team player in 2001.
During 5 years he earned a total of 25 appearances for London club, netting 4 times.
He had brief stints on loan with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic, and Aston Villa. Scoring 8 times in a combined 55 appearances.
Later he joined West Ham in the 2006/17 season for an undisclosed fee. Whilst with the Hammers he enjoyed the best time in his career, scoring 55 times in 256 apperances.
Since this he hasn’t featured much, however he joined Celtic in 2015 – later arriving at Sacramento Republic in the American second division.
It’s questionable and debatable weather or not Carlton Cole has the ability to feature regularly or form part of a successful striker force. It would be interesting to see if he could work alongside Jon Stead, however I remain unconvinced.
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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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