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Joe Jones
John Sheridan has admitted that his Notts County players may be suffering from 'fear' when they go out on the pitch, such is their poor confidence and form.
The Magpies are hovering just about the League Two relegation zone after falling to seven consecutive defeats, as well as missing out on a FA Cup third-round trip to Chelsea after losing to Peterborough United in their replay.
"They probably are playing with a bit of fear because we are losing," Sheridan told the Nottingham Post. "It's hard when you're on a run like this.
"But there's only one way you can get out of it, and that's working your socks off, be brave, be strong, take whatever's thrown at you and get on with it – that's what I say.
"It's all down to the players. You've got to be brave. We're in a very vulnerable position because we are losing a lot of games.
"Before we conceded (against Doncaster in Boxing Day's 1-0 defeat), we looked quite solid and they didn't really cause us too many problems.
"But once we conceded the goal, we got a bit shambolic and calamitous, and did the wrong things.
"We made ourselves vulnerable and they could have scored one or two more.
"We're in a very vulnerable position at this moment in time. That's what happens when you're not winning games – and we haven't won for the last seven on the spin, which is really poor.
"It's not something I thought I'd have as a manager, or thought that I'd be in this position.
"It's something new to me and something that I've got to work my socks off to try to get out of."
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Joe Jones
Notts County have slipped to a seventh consecutive League Two defeat after Doncaster Rovers came to Meadow Lane and left with a 1-0 win on Boxing Day.
The Magpies put in a good performance as they stifled their opponents in the first half thanks to a 4-4-2 diamond formation, like-for-like against the visitors.
Doncaster forward Liam Mandeville carved out a decent chance on four minutes when he clipped a diagonal ball into the box where Andy Williams had sight of goal, only for Scott Loach to race out and smother the effort.
The first real opportunity for the hosts saw Jon Stead flick a header on goal only for Marko Marosi to claim on his line, while Carl Dickinson curled a free kick from 25 yards which Marosi held.
Perhaps the best chance of the half came in the dying seconds as Stead surged into the box and whipped a cross towards Jonathan Forte, only for defender Craig Alcock to get a vital block.
Doncaster boss Darren Ferguson then made a tactical switch at half time, making two substitutions and changing to a 3-4-3 system.
Soon enough the visitors enjoyed more space and they eventually took the lead on the hour through Williams, who headed Tommy Rowe's cross beyond Loach.
Matty Blair could have doubled Doncaster's lead minutes later when he headed another cross from the left on to the foot of a post.
Rovers had two opportunities late in the game to further their advantage as Williams broke away on the counter-attack five minutes from time, only to pull his effort wide.
Then Mandeville found himself in behind the Notts' defence deep in stoppage time, but he squeezed the ball wide from a tight angle.
Despite seven minutes of injury time, John Sheridan's side could not find a way back into the game, and so they slipped to a seventh league defeat on the trot that saw them slip to 21st in the table, just a point above the drop zone.
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Joe Jones
Notts County have met Doncaster Rovers 54 times over the years, with the first fixture coming on the 13th December 1930. On that occasion, an FA Cup tie, the Magpies triumphed 1-0.
It's perfectly poised between Notts and Doncaster, both boasting 23 wins each, plus eight draws.
Our last meeting came on 25 April 2015, a league clash at Meadow Lane, and the Magpies won 2-1.
Our recent form over Donny is not bad - four wins, a draw and just one defeat in the last six.
The club was founded in 1879 and turned professional in 1885. They have spent the majority of their playing history between the third and fourth tiers of the English football league system and are one of four clubs to win the Division 3/League Two title three times, the last being in 2004.
Football League rules state that any team who wins a trophy three times can keep it. However, when Rovers tried to retain ownership of the actual Third Division trophy, the Football League claimed that Rovers could not keep the trophy because the league names had changed from Fourth to Third Division, and so they had not won that particular league three times. Bit harsh...
The team's mascot is a brown dog known as Donny Dog, who wears the red and white Rovers jersey.
Before a scheduled appearance during the game against Huddersfield Town at the Galpharm Stadium on 4 March 2006, police prevented Andrew Liney from entering the stadium in costume, citing unspecified "police intelligence", and refused him permission to wear any part of the costume within 50 metres of the stadium. Mr Liney later received a full written apology for these unfounded allegations from the head of West Yorkshire Police.
The mascot was next portrayed by Tracy Chandler and in June 2011, she was relieved from the position after she posed in her underwear for a Sunday newspaper. Later in the same week she was reinstated back as the club's mascot.
Arguably the club's most famous fan is One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson. The 22-year-old had agreed to play in a charity game at the Keepmoat to raise money for the Bluebell Wood Charity and was offered a deal by Donny to join the club on non-contract terms after impressing in the game.
Team news
Notts County boss John Sheridan has an unchanged squad as he looks to arrest a miserable run of results at home to title-chasing Doncaster Rovers.
The 52-year-old, whose side have lost their last six league matches and have won only once in their last 11 League Two games, could make changes to his team after the FA Cup replay defeat at Peterborough United this week.
The likes of Carl Dickinson, Louis Laing, Vadaine Oliver, Adam Campbell and Aaron Collins could come into Sheridan's starting line-up.
Sheridan will not be in the dugout as he serves the second of his five-match touchline ban while captain Michael O'Connor completes his three-game ban and Alex Rodman and Stanley Aborah remain out injured.
Defender Craig Alcock will be available to Doncaster boss Darren Ferguson after returning to full fitness.
However, skipper James Coppinger will sit out once again as he serves the second match of a three-game ban following his red card during the 2-0 defeat at Plymouth on December 10.
Ferguson has no fresh selection problems with Gary McSheffrey,, Mitchell Lund, Luke McCullough and Aaron Taylor-Sinclair still missing.
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Joe Jones
John Sheridan says he "will not hide" from any criticism of his management as Notts County sit close to League Two's bottom two.
The Magpies have lost six league games on the bounce and are just one point above the fourth tier's relegation zone ahead of hosting Doncaster Rovers on Boxing Day.
Sheridan admits he expected to be in the promotion hunt when he arrived at Meadow Lane in the summer, but is prepared to stay strong as Notts battle to turn their fortunes around.
"I was confident I'd get us in the play-offs," Sheridan, who is currently serving a five-match touchline ban, told the Nottingham Post.
"I signed a three-year contract; I didn't expect everything to go really well for me in a matter of a few months.
"But I didn't think it'd be going this way. I was positive we'd be at the other end, where we were only four or five weeks ago.
"I don't think I'm a bad manager all of a sudden, but there's something not right. It might be the way I pick my team or the way we play.
"I've got to stay strong. And I will be strong. I won't be hiding.
"I'll accept the criticism. I'll accept we're having poor results. I'll accept the uncertainty going on around the place. But I'll be strong, I won't hide.
"I'll be right at the front. Unfortunately I'm sat in the bloomin stands at the moment, and that's not where I want to be, but I'll still be trying to get the best out of my players.
"I haven't got a magic wand. We're in a sticky position. I've got to stick to my beliefs. I'm confident I'll get us out of where we are."
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Joe Jones
Notts County boss John Sheridan has told reporters that he knows who to keep and who to let go from his playing squad in January.
The 52-year-old has been vocal about his need to strengthen in the transfer window as he looks to usher the Magpies away from relegation trouble.
"I've got players in mind who I want to bring in and who to let go," he told the Nottingham Post.
"I find it very hard when I'm picking my team; I don't like leaving people out.
"That's one thing I am as a manager, I do care about individuals. They all want to play, they all want to be out on the pitch, and they've all got to look after their families.
"I find that hard. I'm just going to make decisions purely for the benefit of us as a club, not because I dislike anyone.
"I've got to make decisions, and I'll have to move people on to bring people in.
"I've had a chat with one or two players and told them. Likewise, I've made enquiries about players coming in because we need to do something."
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Joe Jones
Notts County have revealed that academy manager Mick Halsall is leaving the club after two years at Meadow Lane.
The 55-year-old initially joined the Magpies in 2014 as head of academy coaching before stepping into his academy manager role last September.
Current head of academy coaching Dan Leivers will take interim charge of the academy while Halsall's position is advertised.
"We are all very sorry to be losing Mick, who has done an excellent job with our academy and is a fantastic character to have around," Notts chief executive Jason Turner said on the club's official website.
"On behalf of everyone at Notts County I would like to wish him every success in his future career."
Halsall has also had two separate spells in caretaker charge of the Magpies first team, stepping in when Shaun Derry and then Ricardo Moniz were sacked.
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Joe Jones
Notts County boss John Sheridan has described his team as "a charity case" that keeps giving gifts away to the opposition.
The Magpies missed out on a bumper FA Cup third-round tie at Chelsea after losing 2-0 at Peterborough United in Tuesday's second-round replay.
Goals from Gwion Edwards and Paul Taylor in the first eight minutes of the game set Posh on their way to a comfortable victory at the ABAX Stadium.
"The way we started the game, it's a massive downer," the Notts boss told the Nottingham Post.
"I actually think we played well, but we've lost the game. The manner we conceded those goals, the game is over after 10 minutes.
"We've more or less thrown the game away after 10 minutes. To concede the two goals the way we did, again, we're a charity case at the moment. We keep giving gifts away.
"We just keep making silly errors and putting ourselves under so much pressure and it's cost us the game.
"When you give away the first goal, you're fighting an uphill battle. We had a go, but that's not good enough, is it?"
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Joe Jones
Notts County have missed out on the chance to play Chelsea in the third round of the FA Cup after Peterborough United emerged as 2-0 winners in their second-round replay at the ABAX Stadium.
Following a 2-2 draw in the original fixture, Posh wasted no time in surging into a two-goal lead inside the opening eight minutes.
First Gwion Edwards netted in the second minute by connecting with a pinpoint cross and thumping a free header past Scott Loach in the visitors' net.
Six minutes later Paul Taylor doubled their lead after cantering through the Notts defence before unleashing a piledriver of a shot that soared into the top corner.
John Sheridan's side had the chance to pull a goal back before half-time after winning a penalty, but Jon Stead failed to convert from the spot.
Magpies forward Jonathan Forte came closest to scoring in the second-half, but his lob from 18 yards bounced back off the bar.
Ultimately Notts could not launch a comeback and they left Peterborough with the sole consolation of being able to fully concentrate on their awful League Two form.
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Joe Jones
Notts County manager John Sheridan has been handed a five-game touchline ban by the Football Association, starting this evening at Peterborough United.
The 52-year-old was dismissed by referee Eddie Ilderton during the League Two game against Wycombe Wanderers at Meadow Lane after remonstrating with officials.
Sheridan was unhappy that the ref allowed Scott Kashket's 55th-minute effort, from what looked to be an offside position, to stand.
"I'm disappointed in myself for being sent-off, but some of the decision making is atrocious," Sheridan told the Nottingham Post after the game.
"That's the way the game is and that's why I want ex-players to be referees."
Assistant manager Mark Crossley will be leading from the dugout as Notts try to secure a plum FA Cup third-round tie at Chelsea tonight.
Sheridan, meanwhile, will not be back on the bench until County's local derby against Mansfield Town on January 14.
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Joe Jones
Notts County could find themselves in the Championship in the next five or six years if new owner Alan Hardy is able to take them forward, according to former captain John Thompson.
On Monday, it was confirmed that Hardy had agreed a deal with current owner Ray Trew regarding a takeover of the club.
The Magpies are currently languishing in the lower reaches of League Two, but Thompson is hopeful of Hardy taking the Meadow Lane outfit in an upward trajectory.
He told the Nottingham Post: "I'm not surprised there was interest in buying the club at all. It's a fantastic club. They've got great history, a great stadium and a big fan base.
"If Alan Hardy is able to take them forward then there is no reason they can't be in the Championship in five or six years. Of course that would take a lot of hard work though.
"The first thing he needs to do is get fans enthused again. Gates have been falling and there's a pretty miserable atmosphere around the club.
"When I was there, the year we won the league we were getting 9,000 or 10,000 gates. You wonder where those people have gone.
"If he can get them back then it would be huge. He needs to get Meadow Lane buzzing again."
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Joe Jones
Peterborough United manager Grant McCann is expected to name an unchanged side as the League One club hosts Notts County for a place in the FA Cup third round.
Striker Lee Angol completes his three-game ban for his red card in the original tie, when Louis Laing completed the Magpies' comeback in injury time.
Forward Marcus Maddison, who has not featured since that game, remains sidelined with an ankle injury while on-loan midfielder George Moncur is ineligible.
Posh have won five of their last six League One games to sit sixth in the table, 38 places above the Magpies on the football pyramid.
Notts captain Michael O'Connor will sit out the second game of his three-match suspension after he was red-carded against Wycombe Wanderers earlier this month.
Magpies midfielder Curtis Thompson could keep his place, though, after making his first appearance of the season in the 2-1 defeat to Colchester United over the weekend.
County have endured a run of six successive League Two defeats and manager John Sheridan will also be missing Stanley Aborah and Alex Rodman for the trip to London Road.
Midfielder Aborah has not featured since the first-round tie at Boreham Wood due to a number of niggling injuries while winger Rodman is also suffering from a series of minor setbacks.
The reward for the victor tonight is a bumper third-round FA Cup tie at Premier League leaders Chelsea.
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Super_Danny_Allsopp
Were you looking for an early Christmas present? Perhaps Notts County and Alan Hardy have given you just that.
After protracted negotiations lasting several months, Ray Trew has agreed to sell the club and his 100% stake to Magpies supporter Alan Hardy.
Whilst nobody is expecting immediate fireworks, it will be a relief for most Notts fans to see new ownership of our beloved club.
A lot of people will be hoping for an end to the winding-up orders and so on, which I’m sure Mr. Hardy will deliver on, but what else can we expect from the new owner?
I took a delve into Mr. Hardy’s twitter, to get some clues:
Not a fan of Nike, but potentially a kit deal with Adidas? Alan Hardy has also done business with Adidas before.
Promotion of Notts as a family club. Having kids regularly accompany himself to games at Notts, Alan will surely have a few ideas on how to improve the matchday experience for the younger Pies.
Knowledge of the youth and grassroots football around Nottinghamshire. Notts have been accused of not having scouts look at some of the younger talent in and around Nottingham, this might be about to change.
Developing our own players, and giving them a chance. Although somewhat successful more recently (Hollis, Thompson, Richards), there is a lot of room for improvement and perhaps this could become a key part of a successful Notts County FC.
A quick mover. Usually in his car.
But somewhat questionable fashion taste… you can’t win them all.
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Joe Jones
Notts County have released a statement confirming that Ray Trew has sold the club to Alan Hardy.
Trew put the club up for sale back in February and, on Monday, the official club website said "a deal with Mr Hardy was the best option for all parties and will now work towards finalising the agreement and completing the transfer of ownership in due course."
Hardy, the owner of Nottinghamshire Golf and Country Club and a Magpies supporter, said: "I am delighted to confirm that I have reached an agreement with Ray Trew to purchase Notts County Football Club.
"This follows a series of discussions over the weekend. As part of the agreement, I will be ensuring the club is able to settle a High Court hearing scheduled for Monday.
"There is still a considerable amount of work to be undertaken in the coming days and, together with my team, we will be working around the clock to conclude our agreement and make a more formal announcement in the near future.
"I wish to emphasise my passion, desire and commitment to all Notts County supporters to drive this club forward."
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Joe Jones
John Sheridan has warned his Notts County players that they are free to leave the club if they don't like his style of management.
The Magpies fell to their sixth consecutive League Two defeat as Colchester United claimed a 2-1 win at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
Notts now sit one point above the drop zone thanks to Saturday's loss, in which eight of Sheridan's summer signings were involved.
"I've brought a few players in here at the start of the season, and on paper they looked good signings and everyone thought they were the right decisions," Sheridan told the Nottingham Post.
"But now, I've got to question myself - have I brought the right players in, am I picking the right team?
"I've got two weeks before the transfer window opens, and I've got to work very hard to bring the right people in and hopefully I can do that.
"I'm not someone who picks on my players. Whatever I have to say, I say in the dressing room, I don't make it public.
"They know where they stand with me, but if some aren't happy and are not comfortable at the club and with me being manager, they can knock on my door and I'll try and get them out as quickly as I can."
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Joe Jones
Notts County have fallen to a sixth successive League Two defeat after Colchester United claimed a 2-1 win in Saturday's clash at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
The Magpies took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark when Richard Duffy flicked on a Carl Dickinson corner and Elliott Hewitt snuck in to nod home from close range.
Colchester were level within just seven minutes, however, as Denny Johnstone whipped a cross into the path of Kurtis Guthrie, who headed past Adam Collin into the Notts net.
Tom Eastman nodded over in the opening stages of the second half for Colchester while, at the other end, U's keeper Sam Walker denied Dickinson at his near post.
In a game of few concrete scoring chances, it took an own goal to settle things as Owen Garvan curled a free kick into the visitors' box in the 75th minute.
John Sheridan's defenders struggled to cope as a scramble ensued, but the ball ultimately came off Duffy and rolled into the net, putting the U's in the lead for the first time.
Notts threw everything forward in a bid to claw back at least a point, including the goalkeeper, but the hosts saw the game out and condemned the beleaguered Magpies to another loss.
The result means Notts sit 20th in the League Two table, just one point outside the bottom two.
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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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