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Joe Jones
Jon Stead has claimed that beating Wycombe Wanderers could reinvigorate Notts County's season.
The Magpies have fallen to four League Two defeats in a row to slip into the bottom six, but an improved performance in their FA Cup second-round clash against Peterborough United stopped the rot.
"We are still looking upwards, rather than over our shoulders. This is the same group of players that were producing good performances earlier in the season and were in and around the play-off places," Stead, who is expected to make his first start, told the Nottingham Post.
"We were right in with a chance of doing something with the season and that has not changed. It has been in the space of five or six games that we have dropped off, but you can soon turn that around, in the same space of time.
"It is only a month or two since we were a few points away from second place. Many teams in the division have had good spells and bad spells. There are very few who have been consistent throughout the whole season and we still have the chance to get back in the mix.
"That is something we feel we can do if we can spark ourselves back into good form and get the one result we need, perhaps, to help us to do that. We need to end the bad run we have been on, then we believe we can start to climb the table again.
"If we can get a win, it would immediately change the mood. We were unlucky not to beat Peterborough in the end, but if we can build on that by getting a win over Wycombe, it will only help us to build that belief and confidence."
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Joe Jones
Notts County boss John Sheridan wants his players to "prove" their credentials ahead of a tough run of games.
The Magpies face playoff-chasing Wycombe Wanderers at Meadow Lane on Saturday before travelling to Colchester United (in the league) and Peterborough United (in the FA Cup).
Boxing Day, meanwhile, sees table-topping Doncaster Rovers come to Meadow Lane and, on New Year's Eve, Keith Curle will return to his old club with second-placed Carlisle United.
"I'd like to see it as an opportunity for us, yes. Starting with Saturday, if we can get a good result, it is a chance for us to prove something," Sheridan told the Nottingham Post.
"When you look at the next four games they are all tough. We are playing three of the top seven and Colchester, who are in a false position.
"I like the look of the games. They will test us, but if we can get some good results against teams who are doing well, it will give us a little bit of confidence.
"I believe we can beat any team in the division. But our results do not show that. We have played teams who are up there and have been the better team in those games.
"It is just inconsistency. We are vulnerable when it comes to letting cheap goals in.
"In the last three or four weeks, the goals we have conceded have been very poor and the results have been very poor.
"When opposition teams look at our record, our home form is not good. Teams do come here thinking that we are a soft touch, that we let soft goals in and we will concede chances if they get at us.
"That is what teams think about, when they come here. So we need to rectify that. We need to address that and make life difficult for Wycombe. They are very good from set plays, so it will be a test.
"But if we play as we did for 70 minutes against Peterborough, we have a good chance of winning the game."
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Joe Jones
Louis Laing has admitted that the Notts County dressing room was in higher spirits than it has been for the last few weeks after their 2-2 draw against League One side Peterborough United.
The Magpies are languishing in the bottom six of League Two after four consecutive league defeats, prompting manager John Sheridan to cancel their Christmas party and pledge to play first-teamers in the reserves.
However, Meadow Lane saw the hosts come from two goals down to salvage a draw against Posh in the FA Cup, which kept them in the hat for the third round - and the winner of the replay will get to play Chelsea.
"It's a much happier dressing room. The last month has been pretty tough on everyone," Laing told the Nottingham Post.
"That's football. Sometimes you go through these stages. There's lots we need to work on still.
"We've had a good result. It's nice after four losses on the trot, especially against a League One team.
"It's nice to get a goal for the fans. It's been a hard month for them.
"It's been a hard month for everyone at the club with all the losses we've had. It's nice they stuck with us.
"Sometimes I don't blame them if they don't. It's understandable given how we've been going.
"It's always good to have them behind you. Hopefully they saw a better side to Notts County on Sunday."
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Joe Jones
John Sheridan has welcomed Jon Stead's return to action for Notts County and is eager to get his match fitness back up by playing him in reserve games.
The 33-year-old, whose absence has been sorely missed by the Magpies, came on as a substitute in the last 20 minutes of the 2-2 FA Cup draw against Peterborough United.
Sheridan said he wasn't happy about bringing Stead on so early after his recovery but confirmed that the striker will play a reserve game against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday.
"Ideally I wouldn't have wanted to use him so early," he told the Nottingham Post.
"He's not played much football. He's been out a while.
"He's trained for 10 days now. He's short on match practice.
"We've got a couple of reserve games coming up and he'll be involved in them.
"It's good to have him back. He's experienced and his presence gives the players a lift."
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Joe Jones
Notts County fought back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Peterborough United in Sunday's FA Cup second-round clash at Meadow Lane.
The deadlock was broken after just three minutes when a Marcus Maddison corner fell to Leonardo Da Silva Lopes and the teenager rifled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Posh then doubled their lead on the quarter-hour mark as Paul Taylor's cross was cleared into the path of Gwion Edwards, who was on hand to drill home past Adam Collin's reach.
It looked like it was going to be yet another long afternoon for the Black and White Army, but not long before the break, Adam Campbell halved the deficit when he lashed past Luke McGee from the edge of the box.
Things got worse for the visitors when first-half stoppage time saw Lee Angol shown a straight red card for shoving Matt Tootle in the face by the touchline.
The second half saw John Sheridan's side up their game and the likes of Jonathan Forte, Michael O'Connor and Aaron Collins all coming close.
County's patience was then rewarded in stoppage time when Louis Laing squeezed home a shot after Peterborough failed to clear a corner kick, and the final whistle blew to signal a replay at the ABAX Stadium in just over a week's time.
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Joe Jones
Notts County and Peterborough have met a grand total of 45 times over the years, dating back to the 1960s.
The first meeting between the two, a Third Division fixture on the 7th September 1961, ended in a 2-2 draw.
Our record win over the Posh is a 6-0 drubbing at Meadow Lane in the 1970-71 season, while our record defeat to them is a 5-1 loss in 1963.
The head-to-head is 12 wins for Notts, 19 defeats, and 14 draws.
Peterborough United are nicknamed "The Posh" because Pat Tirrel, then manager of Fletton United - the current club’s previous incarnation - was reported to say he was "looking for posh players for a posh new team".
Fletton, previously known as the 'Brickies', re-formed as Peterborough and Fletton United in 1923, and both nicknames were in use through the 1920s, although supporters complained that 'Posh' references were sometimes used by newspapers in a derisory manner.
Peterborough and Fletton United folded in 1932, the present club was formed two years later and a Midland League debut against Gainsborough Trinity on 1st September 1934 was greeted with cries of 'Up The Posh' from the crowd.
A few years ago, Peterborough United clashed with Victoria Beckham, aka “Posh Spice”, over the use of the “Posh” nickname.
She had apparently objected to Peterborough's plans to register "Posh" and "The Posh" as registered trademarks, but eventually backed down after realising the club had been using that nickname some 50 years before she was born.
Notts and Peterborough played a blinder of a game on the 28 September 2010 at London Road, the Magpies surging into a two-goal lead courtesy of Ben Davies, before Gabriel Zakuani’s header halved the deficit.
Craig Westcarr restored the away side’s two-goal lead, before Craig Mackail-Smith made things tense for the last half hour thanks to his angled shot.
The game is also known for a 22-man brawl at the final whistle, which resulted in an FA charge for both teams and a £15,000 fine.
Team news
Notts may have leading scorer Jon Stead back for their FA Cup tie at home to Peterborough on Sunday.
The nine-goal striker resumed training last week after more than a month out with an ankle injury, but a late decision will be made on his fitness.
Rob Milson is available again after a one-match ban but fellow midfielder Stanley Aborah remains an injury doubt.
Winger Alex Rodman could overcome a groin problem as the Magpies look to make it through to the third round for the first time since 2012.
Peterborough manager Grant McCann has no fresh injury or suspension concerns.
However, the Posh boss is expected to make changes from the side which lost to Scunthorpe after claiming this week that he is not scared of dropping players who are "not trying."
Peterborough's match against Oldham last week was postponed due to a frozen pitch which means defender Jack Baldwin will be unavailable.
Baldwin was booked for the fifth time this season against the Iron and is joined on the sidelines by Jermaine Anderson.
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Joe Jones
John Sheridan wants an improved showing from Notts County as they welcome Peterborough United to Meadow Lane in Sunday's FA Cup second-round clash.
The Magpies will get a welcome distraction from their League Two troubles this weekend as they welcome League One Posh to NG2 in a bid to determine who goes into the hat for the fabled third-round draw.
Sheridan says that, as Notts have already taken big scalps this season, they can cause an upset against Peterborough, even if he is unsure about whether Jon Stead is fit enough to take part.
“Getting through against a team like Peterborough would give us a big confidence boost, and prove to us again that we can beat really good teams”, the 52-year-old explained.
“We’ve already taken something from games against some of the best League Two sides, like Portsmouth and Luton. When that pair came to our ground, we were better than them. So we’ve shown we can do it.
“I’m looking for the boys to show a bit of endeavour and a will to win. I’ll feel more positive about things if we give a good account of ourselves in this tie.
“Even now, I get excited about reaching the Third Round of the FA Cup. If you’re in the hat then there’s a real buzz about the chance of a big tie. That’s the magic of the cup.”
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Joe Jones
Notts County boss John Sheridan admits he's cancelled his players' Christmas party, adding that they agree with his reasoning.
The Magpies sit 19th in the League Two table after a poor run of four consecutive league defeats, and Sheridan thinks the players are not in a position to be celebrating.
"Listen, you've got to take your mind off football, I'm all for that, but I don't think we're in any position to," he told the Nottingham Post.
"I think we've got to work a lot, lot harder and focus on what we're trying to do – and that's trying to be successful in this league.
"There's still a long, long way to go. There's plenty of points, and there's nothing stopping us from getting back in the mix.
"I just feel, and the players feel, like it's best if there's no Christmas do.
"There will be a time when we can celebrate, and I think the players are backing me on it.
"It will save them some money. And I think the players know it's not a punishment, so they have responded the way I want them to respond.
"They know we have got to get things right, so I don't see it as a problem whatsoever and hopefully it will work out the way we want it to."
Media reports have claimed that the players were paid late this week, but Sheridan has vowed to stay away from "the politics".
"I don't get involved in the politics and other people have to take care of whatever is going on off the pitch," he said.
"I just concentrate on the pitch, and it's a big game for us, it's an opportunity to get into the next round and the possibility of getting a big team.
"That's all I'm concentrating on, I don't get involved in politics whatsoever. I don't want it to distract us, I don't feel it has. We've trained okay and we carry on."
Notts take on Peterborough United in an FA Cup second-round clash at Meadow Lane on Sunday.
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Blink1862
It's quite serious to think that the club is yet again in another relegation battle. Whether this will be long-winded like prior battles or simply a case of the Magpies finding their feet under John Sheridan remains to be seen, but it's obvious by now that this sorry state of affairs will take years to fix.
Whilst an increased amount of fans are becoming hacked off with Sheridan, and a minority standing behind the decision to protest for “fresh change” in the direction that club is being lead, there's one thing which is clear - talk of the sale only leads to “uncertainty” and “unpaid debts”, which multiplies that by whatever percent you could imagine.
I was, and remain, uncertain about the future of Notts, even after the club parted ways with the sixth manager since the disappointing loss of Steve Cotterill (not including Paul Hart and Mick Halsall who took temporary charge as caretaker managers). My feelings only increased after the appointment of Jamie Fullarton, as many didn't quite understand the decision behind the appointment.
Can the club be saved with a simple fix? It's not as easy as waving a magic wand.
Likewise you can't pull the wool over people's eyes, and you certainly can't tell fans how to feel – after all they're the reason the club is in operation no matter how you see it.
Yet it will literally take years to put right all that has gone since Munto Finance took over, even more so under the lacklustre Trew era.
That said, there were things which needed changing prior to mystery millions that mistakenly got pulled into the club rather than paying the costly milk bill.
However, Munto had the basics right even though they represented more fiction than Sherlock Holmes, Jessica Fletcher and Hercule Poirot.
The thing is, the community surrounding Notts was more close-knit without the millions. The majority of players cared, even during Munto with the newly signed players, but when you pay peanuts and give your better players away on freebies, surely the garden path isn't such a mysterious destination?
Certainly there will be fingers wagging, voices debating who's to blame but this really beside the point.
What matters is how you learn from your mistakes, how you move forward and ultimately how you address concerns.
So when rumours of the club's takeover is reported as imminent, focus on the daily business, get the players prepared for the weekend's game (or whenever it is). Make uncertainty the last thing they think of, breed confidence and support those who do the supporting.
By the time HMRC comes knocking, it will only make matters worse because even unsuccessful clubs that pull together have a better chance of riding out any storm - and of course it helps paying bills on time.
Will this season be a write-off? Only the management and the board of Notts County can answer that, yet the clubs needs to snap out of this losing streak and pull itself back together. The only award that the club would win at the most is that of “most stressful club”.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the contributor are his own and are not necessarily representative of Pride of Nottingham.
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Joe Jones
Notts County assistant manager Mark Crossley has called on his players to show the club and fans "what they are made of" to get out of their current malaise.
The Magpies lost their fourth consecutive league game on Saturday after they fell to a 3-2 defeat at Barnet, causing them to slump to 19th in the table.
"In the first half we were pretty pleased," Crossley told the Nottingham Post.
"We had two great chances to go 2-0 up and Vadaine (Oliver) said in the dressing room he has to score the two headers then the game is out of sight.
"We knew what we would get from Barnet but we didn't deal with it in the second half.
"The players are low in confidence and now it's about time they took some responsibility.
"We work through the week on strengths and weaknesses of the opposition and you can't legislate for miskicking the ball and making the wrong decisions.
"In the second half, that's what happened. They've got to dig themselves out of it. You can defend players, but they have got to show us what they are made of."
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Joe Jones
Notts County have slumped to a fourth consecutive loss in League Two as they left Barnet on the receiving end of a 3-2 defeat on Saturday.
John Sheridan's struggling charges took the lead after 15 minutes when skipper Michael O'Connor curled the ball into the far corner of the net following a short corner routine.
The Magpies were dominant and could have added to their opener on a number of occasions, but Vadaine Oliver and Genaro Snijders failed to score from good chances.
However, the hosts equalised at the Hive on the half-hour mark when John Akinde turned inside the box and forced a save from Adam Collin, before Bira Dembele drilled home the rebound.
Luke Gambin then put the Bees ahead in the 64th minute with a deflected effort and claimed his second, and his side's third, ten minutes later by crashing into the top corner on the run.
Notts did not give up, with Jonathan Forte scoring from close range in the 77th minute to make it 3-2, but it was too little too late for the visitors.
The result puts the Magpies 19th in the League Two table, four points above the drop zone.
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Joe Jones
Notts County and Barnet have met each other just 14 times over the years.
The first fixture came on 1 November 1997, with the Magpies earning a 2-1 away win in Division Three.
Notts have eight wins against the Bees, with four defeats and three draws.
The last fixture between the two was on 19 April this year, with Jon Stead's early penalty at the Hive Stadium cancelled out by three second half Bees goals for a 3-1 home win.
The club was founded in Chipping Barnet, then part of Hertfordshire, in 1888.
Several incarnations of the club existed before the third Barnet FC, created after the First World War, came to be - this entity continues till today.
Barnet have won the Football Conference a record three times - in 1991, 2005, and 2015, as well as finishing second three other times.
Aside from a runners-up medal in the 1971-72 FA Trophy, their silverware cabinet is restricted to minor trophies.
A number of Barnet players have gone on to represent Premier League clubs. They include Dougie Freedman, Marlon King, Andy Clarke, Linvoy Primus, Maik Taylor, Mark Gower, Jason Puncheon, Yannick Bolasie and Albert Adomah.
Players who came to the club towards the end of their careers include Jimmy Greaves, Mark Lawrenson, David Hillier, Alan Pardew, Eddie Newton, Paul Warhurst, Steve Kabba, John Oster, Jonathan Fortune, Edgar Davids and Lee Cook.
Team news
Barnet are still without suspended defender Alie Sesay for Saturday's visit of Notts County.
Sesay completes a three-match ban for his red card in the draw against Grimsby Town earlier this month.
Michael Gash, James Pearson, Shaun Batt and Gavin Hoyte are all long-term absentees.
Defender Bondz N'Gala this week left Barnet after two years to join National League side Eastleigh for an undisclosed fee.
Notts County's leading scorer Jon Stead has resumed training after more than a month out with an ankle injury but the trip to The Hive will come too soon for the nine-goal striker.
The 33-year-old is likely to play against Chesterfield next week in a reserve-team match ahead of putting himself back in first-team contention for the FA Cup clash with Peterborough on December 4.
Fellow striker Vadaine Oliver is available again after suspension while winger Alex Rodman could overcome a groin problem.
Rob Milsom will serve a one-match ban after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season in the home defeat to Cambridge.
Midfielder Stanley Aborah is doubtful while Curtis Thompson is still out as the Magpies look to arrest a three-game losing run in League Two.
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Joe Jones
Notts County manager John Sheridan says his team will "be fighting" when they travel to Barnet on Saturday, and believe they can beat anyone in League Two on their day.
The Magpies have lost three in a row in the league, failing to score in each game, and fell into the bottom half of the table, while just a month ago they were in play-off contention.
Martin Allen's side, on the other hand, have picked up 12 points from six games to climb to 11th and are in good form.
"Barnet will think it's a good time to play us but we'll go there believing we'll get something from the game," Sheridan told the Nottingham Post.
"We'll be fighting. I want us to pick up. If we play as we can we can beat anyone in the league. If we play like we did at Blackpool and Newport we'll get nothing."
Sheridan also praised Allen, who previously managed the Magpies, for changing the mentality of the Hive Stadium side.
"I like Martin. I get on well with him," he said.
"He gets his players really pumped up. They've had a great result against Plymouth (on Tuesday) and John Akinde is on fire. We've got to deal with him on the day.
"He's a great threat. Martin will have them believing they can get out the league."
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Joe Jones
John Sheridan has revealed that Jon Stead is back in training for Notts County.
The 33-year-old striker has not played since mid-October because of an ankle injury and his absence has been missed by the Magpies.
"Jon trained this morning. He's coming along fine," Sheridan told the Nottingham Post.
"He's worked hard to get back but he won't be playing Saturday.
"We'll see about him playing in the reserves next week.
"He's got eight or nine days before Peterborough and he's desperate to get back.
"When he's back, he's back, but at this moment in time we've got Barnet to worry about.
"When they're injured, they aren't much use to me, without being disrespectful to any player. When I feel he's ready to play, he will."
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Joe Jones
John Sheridan is confident that things will turn around for Notts County as he aims to stick to his guns going into this weekend's game at Barnet.
A month ago, the Magpies were flying high following a 2-1 win at Portsmouth, but since then they have stumbled to a goalless draw and three defeats on the trot in the fourth tier.
"People are probably bored of me repeating it, but I know I've got to get my act together and so too have the players," Sheridan told the Nottingham Post.
"I am gutted at the moment. It's a serious position and football is a funny game because a month ago we were looking quite healthy.
"Then a month later you are down and things look really difficult. I've got to stick to my beliefs and stick to what I believe will be successful for us.
"Hopefully we can get back to winning ways sooner rather than later. I've got to support the players and that's the most important thing for me.
"I have to back them and I am hoping things will turn around starting with a tough game against Barnet."
Notts currently sit 15th in the League Two table, four points off the playoffs but four points above the drop zone.
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