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Joe Jones
Notts boss John Sheridan says his side must start more aggressively against teams at Meadow Lane if they are to improve on their poor home form.
The Magpies have won just won one of their six league games at home this season, and on Tuesday night Morecambe were the latest side to pick up all three points with a 2-1 win.
"In the last 20 minutes we looked as though we enjoyed it, and got on the front foot," Sheridan told reporters.
"My defenders are also 40 yards from the goal, so why don't we start like that?
"The subs come on, Vadaine (Oliver) unsettles them and doesn't give them freedom. The ball is staying in their half and my full-backs join the game.
"But you can't wait for 70 minutes to do it and if I have to play off the front to get results, then I will look at that.
"It's by no means just about hitting Vadaine, it's about anticipating where the ball is going to bounce and pick up second balls so we can start the play again.
"We did that for the last 20 minutes, but before that we were too deep, we were not reacting, not seeing things early enough and we were on the back foot.
"It shouldn't happen when you are at home. We need to show a bit of nous.
"We weren't at the races. It's probably the quietest I've been as well.
"I keep saying to myself, should I be the way I am on the touchline, very vocal and getting on to the players, expecting them to give me this and that?
"I was quiet on Tuesday but it was one of those nights, when it wouldn't have mattered how much I shouted.
"I've told them we've got to work hard because we are not winning games, and not playing well.
"Even though I don't like saying it, you've got to take it and move on.
"We need to pick ourselves up. We have to improve and be a lot better than we have been in the last two games."
Notts are 10th in League Two and take on Crewe Alexandra at Meadow Lane on Saturday.
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Joe Jones
All the goodwill from Notts County's decent run of form, which saw them flying high in League Two, appears to have all but evaporated as the Magpies slipped to a second consecutive defeat, this time a 2-1 loss at Meadow Lane against Morecambe.
Fresh from the painful 3-1 derby defeat at Mansfield Town last Saturday, it was hoped that it would just be a blip, but now the worry is that, much like last season, the Stags defeat will be the unravelling of County's season.
The first goal in the rescheduled game came just after the quarter-hour mark through striker Tom Barkhuizen, a volley that squeezed under Adam Collin from Michael Rose's cross.
John Sheridan's hopes of getting back into the game then crumbled 10 minutes into the second half when the referee spotted a handball in the area.
Barkhuizen took responsibility for the spot kick and rifled the ball down the middle to put the visitors two goals up, much to the chagrin of all the Notts fans at the Lane.
Vadaine Oliver scored his first goal in a Magpies shirt in injury time, but it proved too little too late as the Shrimps held out, former Nottingham Forest keeper Barry Roche in inspired form for the visitors.
The result sees Notts slip to 10th in the table, but another home game awaits as Crewe Alexandra visit NG2 at the weekend.
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Joe Jones
Notts County boss John Sheridan is looking for a good response from his players against Morecambe tonight.
The Magpies enjoyed a good run prior to last week's derby at Mansfield Town but were brought back down to earth with a 3-1 defeat.
Sheridan told reporters at a press conference: "I've tried to forget about it as much as I can. I am still disappointed obviously especially for the supporters.
"Last season was on people's minds so I wanted to go there and pay them back. I wanted to win the game and get three points, but it wasn't to be.
"The biggest downer was the way we played. Even though I thought we were the better team in the first half and created good chances, I didn't think we played well at all.
"We possibly should have been 2-0 up and I felt the game was there for the taking. We ended up losing 3-1 and the manner of the goals we conceded were very poor.
"I hope I get a response. I don't think we deserved to lose the game on Saturday and I was disappointed for the supporters because it's bragging rights.
"But when we have lost games, we have responded well.
"Like I say, I have a good group of lads. I didn't dwell on it too much. I told them after the game exactly how I felt and I expressed that to the media too.
"I don't want to keep going on about it, but luckily we have another game and a chance to respond.
"It's the first of two home games we have this week, so I want a good response from them."
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Joe Jones
Notts County captain Michael O'Connor is hoping to shake off a groin problem in time for the rescheduled home game against Morecambe.
The Northern Irishman missed Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Mansfield Town and will be assessed by boss John Sheridan, who has no new major injury worries.
Stanley Aborah could continue in midfield if O'Connor misses out again, while Adam Collin recovered from illness to play the full 90 minutes at the weekend and should resume in goal.
Midfielder Curtis Thompson remains sidelined with an ankle injury as Notts bid to climb back into the top seven following their setback at Field Mill.
Morecambe's Alex Kenyon will be sidelined for three months due to knee ligament damage.
The midfielder tore his medial ligament in last week's EFL Trophy win against Stoke City and will be out until after Christmas.
Defender Michael Rose will return to contention after missing Saturday's home defeat to Carlisle due to a one-game ban.
Midfielder Aaron Wildig and Dean Winnard remain doubtful after they too sustained injuries against Stoke and missed out at the weekend.
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Chris
Going into the local derby game against Mansfield, I had stated on the Pride of Nottingham community and to various fans when talking – Notts needed to go aiming to prove a point.
What actually happened, however,  was just more disappointment against our big rivals in the division.
It’s easy enough to write off a defeat, yet things had been building quite nicely and I hope the postponed game against Morecambe and the EFL Trophy loss Rochdale don't become basis for any excuses.
Notts just doesn’t seem to have the fight for local derbies, we go into them with a fair bit of hype from what is released to the local media – yet fall dramatically short when it comes to the actual performance.
After going level at 1-1, you would expect this to be the turning point for a lively encounter, which would have given us some pride.
However, once again Mansfield got the better of us and we really need to set this record straight when we play them at Meadow Lane – losing isn’t the end of the world but surely it’s got to be done to giving some form of fight to the opposition?
Tuesday night will see the Morecambe game take place, and I am sure there will be quotes about undoing ‘wrongs’ or on par with that.
Yet we just need to need to remain grounded and continue the work effort that we have witnessed as of late.
Our away form in the 2016-17 League Two season has helped massively with overturning a lack of optimism in the Notts camp, yet this greatly lacks at Meadow Lane.
Performances just haven’t been up to scratch, however much signs of improvements have or haven’t been made.
We need to avoid allowing the Mansfield game becoming this season's undoing.
Yet whatever the outcome John Sheridan is delivering us a reasonable level of stability, which will only improve with added time and of course his own signings.
I asked in a discussion if we needed a centre back and a striker come January, and the responses seemed to be mixed – yet after talking again to various people, it seems we may need to add a little more strength to the ranks after Mansfield.
Naturally we will need to release some of the players who don’t seem to interest Sheridan, I wonder who the fans think we can afford to release? I expect Graham Burke to be mentioned within there.
I think, however, that he’s the type of young player who we should be pushing for more than we seem to be doing.
Likewise with Genaro Snidjers – I think he should be given a run and a chance to prove himself over a period of games. I don’t mean cup matches, but actual league games where it will highlight far more.
The 2016-17 squad has depth and the ability to win home games, I was worried that after the increase of positivity all it would take is a couple of defeats to return to the level it was at prior and losing in a derby game does exactly that.
Yet despite Alex Rodman’s comments, I do think we have a lot to focus on and we have some good games where the players can prove their point.
And to a degree I still think we are relying on Jon Stead’s form to win us those important games, yet this is exactly why I want to see more of the squad fighting for a chance to start more regularly.
Fans seem to suggest that Sheridan won’t give players a chance, naturally only sticking to his own signings, but at times you must.
Hopefully after a few weeks the Mansfield game won’t be the talking point that it was during last season’s bitter campaign.
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Joe Jones
Notts County winger Alex Rodman has claimed that, while the derby defeat to Mansfield Town was disappointing, fans should look at the bigger picture in League Two.
The Magpies lost 3-1 to their local rivals at Field Mill on Saturday, but a win over Morecambe on Tuesday night will put them joint fourth in the table.
"Derbies are one-off games and they mean a lot to both sides, but I don't think it's going to have an impact on us overall in terms of the season," Rodman told reporters.
"I think we are in a good vein of form and despite losing here, we will kick on and hopefully we will do that on Tuesday against Morecambe.
"It's never nice to lose 3-1, but we have two homes games now coming up.
"We've been on a really good run and the derby game probably came at the wrong time.
"The atmosphere and the game is so hyped, but it's one of those things. We will put it behind us and move on."
The Stags loss ended a run of four straight away wins in the league for John Sheridan's team.
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Joe Jones
Notts County manager John Sheridan has ripped into his side for throwing the game away after losing 3-1 at local rivals Mansfield Town on Saturday.
The Magpies spurned a number of chances in the first half as the Stags drew first blood in the second half through Matt Green.
Despite Alex Rodman's equaliser, Green's late penalty and Darius Henderson's injury-time cherry on top left Notts reeling in yet another derby defeat.
Sheridan told reporters: “I am very disappointed to lose the game and the manner of the goals we gave away was ridiculous and is beating me up.
“It is ridiculous how we’ve conceded three goals here today and we need to sort it out quickly.
“I said to them at half-time the game is there for you if you want it, raise your tempo, go and win it.
“But Mansfield came out second half and played a bit more in our face.
“My team talk today was if you win today you’re in the top three with a game in hand. If someone was telling me that and it was there to aim for that’s all you need.
“Players are a different breed today, and we need to get someone who is going to be ugly for an hour and a half, get on people’s backs for an hour and a half instead of just listening to me all the time as I am getting sick of saying it.
“We have thrown that game away. We gave ourselves a lifeline with the goal, but I just can’t condone the goals we are conceding.
“We should have gone in 2-0 up at half-time, but sometimes you don’t take them and it comes back to bite you on the backside.
“It was a lethargic performance and the tempo was too slow first half, even though we were in control.
“I am gutted for the supporters. We had a big following and it was a big game for them.
“It was an absolute disgrace of a penalty to give away. It’s just about reacting quickly instead of delaying. Fortunately we’d got away with one before.
“I want to get out the division this season. I want us to be a good team that people talk about.
"I don’t want people to see us conceding soft goals. I don’t want to be sitting 10th or just doing better than we did last season.
“I think we are a good enough team to do well, but not conceding goals like that.
“Luckily we have a game on Tuesday and on Saturday, two home games, and if we can get six points from them, it will be a bit of comeback.”
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Joe Jones
Notts County were left to rue a host of missed chances as they were beaten 3-1 by Mansfield Town in Saturday's derby at Field Mill.
The Magpies began brightly and came close to scoring within the first 20 minutes as, 10 minutes in, Jonathan Forte cut in from the right and forced goalkeeper Scott Shearer to turn the ball onto the near post and out for a corner.
In the 18th minute, the home side failed to clear a free-kick and Jon Stead turned well to fire goalwards, only for Stags captain Lee Collins to head off the line.
Despite their first-half pressure, Notts were level at the break and, on 54 minutes, substitute Matt Green scored with his first touch when he reached a Pat Hoban knockdown in the box and saw his effort find the net off a deflection off Richard Duffy.
It seemed like John Sheridan's charges had rescued a point when Alex Rodman scored with another deflected finish from a Vadaine Oliver ball eight minutes from time.
But in the 90th minute, Matt Tootle tripped Mal Benning in the box and Green dispatched the penalty high into the top-left corner to register his brace and put Mansfield within touching distance of a win.
In fact, there was still time for fellow sub Darius Henderson to outmuscle two defenders in the box and steer home his first goal for the club.
The result means that County's run of four straight away wins has been brought crashing to a halt.
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Joe Jones
Nottinghamshire rivals Notts County and Mansfield Town have met 47 times over the years.
The first fixture between the two was in October 1937, a 2-0 win for the Magpies in Division Three (South).
Out of the 44 games, Notts have the upper hand with 18 wins, 16 defeats, and 13 draws.
Between 1989 and 2001, the two sides met six times – and Notts won each time.
County's record over the last 10 meetings, however, is pretty average, standing at three wins, three defeats, and four draws.
This record is embellished by the fact Notts have beaten Mansfield twice in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in the last two years.
In reality, the Magpies haven't got a league win over the Stags since August 2005.
The last fixture was particularly painful for Notts as they were routed 5-0 at Field Mill - their worst defeat against Mansfield in their history.
The Stags were formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans, changing their name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910.
Mansfield won the Football League Trophy in 1987, in their first game at Wembley Stadium. After a 1–1 draw with Bristol City, they won the cup 5–4 in the deciding penalty shootout, thanks to Kevin Hitchcock saving two penalties.
That remains the only cup win in their history, though they did win the Division Four title in 1974-75, Division Three two seasons later, and the Conference in 2012-13.
Famous people from Mansfield include Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington, media presenter Richard Bacon, FA Cup-winning goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic and award-winning fashion designer Elspeth Gibson.
Betting odds
As the home side, most bookies are favouring Mansfield to win, with odds of around 6/5 and 5/4 for a Stags victory. This is despite them being 14th in League Two and without a league win since August.
Notts, meanwhile, are in the region of 11/5 for a win, while a draw is also around 11/5 - generous odds for an in-form team who have won five of their last seven league games.
Find out the latest betting odds between Mansfield and Notts.
Team News
Jack Thomas and Kyle Howkins could return to the Mansfield Town squad for the derby visit of Notts County.
Midfielder Thomas and centre-half Howkins have only returned to full training this week after recovering from groin and hamstring injuries respectively.
However, Stags boss Adam Murray has not ruled out the possibility of either of them being involved in Saturday lunchtime's clash.
Alex Iacovitti, on loan from Nottingham Forest, will miss out once more as he is still away on Scotland Under-21 duty.
Notts will check on the fitness of captain Michael O'Connor and goalkeeper Adam Collin.
The former sustained a minor groin injury last week while the latter had to withdraw from the warm-up at Rochdale ahead in the EFL Trophy due to illness.
Stanley Aborah is likely to come into central midfield should O'Connor miss out while Scott Loach is ready to fill in should Collin remain absent.
Magpies manager John Sheridan's only other concern is Curtis Thompson, who is still coming back from an ankle injury.
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Joe Jones
Notts County forward Jon Stead has been named the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month for September.
The 33-year-old has bagged five goals in as many games to take his season’s tally to nine.
Notts County manager John Sheridan told reporters: “He’s played a massive part for us so far this season.
"To be fair to him, he’s made a lot of the goals himself. We know he’s got that ability - he’s played at a high level for most of his career and I’m very pleased to have him in my team.
“I’m very pleased for him that he’s won it - it’s recognition for his really good start to the season."
Stead, whose current scoring spell is his best since playing at Huddersfield in 2003-04, said: “I’m very happy - I’ve had a decent month and scored goals.
"Sometimes, especially with managers, you can get this award and then things go horribly wrong! Hopefully there’s no curse involved and I can carry on scoring.
“It’s nice to be recognised across the division. I think the last one I got was at Huddersfield, so it’s only taken me another 13 years to get one!"
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Joe Jones
So the time has come once again to look forward to a heated derby between Notts County and Mansfield Town, their biggest rivals in the division.
As with all derbies, the two league fixtures between rivals will tend to stand out in any given season - even a poor campaign for a team can retain some pride if they have claimed good results over their rivals.
The 2015-16 season will go down as one of County's most miserable in history - high expectations quickly turned to relegation worries, turmoil behind the scenes, and many fans simply proclaiming they could take no more, especially given the rot that preceded in the previous two years.
And of course we have the derby results. Who could forget those? Neither Notts nor Mansfield fans, that's the answer - but for completely different reasons.
The Ricardo Moniz hype was swiftly brought down by the Stags' 2-0 win over the Magpies at Meadow Lane in August 2015, and the Dutchman never really recovered from that.
Then we have 16 April 2016, one of the darkest days in Notts' history, when they went down 5-0 to their rivals at Field Mill.
Sure, there was a Johnstone's Paint Trophy win in there too, but let's face it, they're not taken particularly seriously, so as signals of progress and intent, it's all about the league fixtures.
The harsh reality is that Notts have not beaten Mansfield in the league since 2005 (seven fixtures came and went since then, to be precise) which is not good form at all.
However, things seem to be much different now. In John Sheridan, Notts have a good no-nonsense manager who, despite a few teething problems, has done a good job of getting the club competing on the pitch again - and results have been coming too.
I would go as far as to say that the Magpies are better placed to go into a derby than they ever have, so for the first time in a while, I am feeling positive of us getting a good result at Field Mill.
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Joe Jones
Mark Crossley has pledged to help take Notts County back to "where it belongs" as he targets a promotion challenge this season.
The Magpies are flying high in League Two, having won five of their last seven games, and optimism is higher at Meadow Lane than it has been for a while.
Crossley, Sheridan's right-hand man at Notts, is up for the challenge of rescuing the club from the doldrums of the fourth tier.
"The club certainly shouldn't be where it is (in League Two)," the Barnsley-born ex-goalkeeper said.
"The club is too big – you don't get this kind of set-up at this level. So it's our job to try to take it back where it belongs. We are trying to do that.
"But first things first, we are trying to stabilise and get a squad together that can challenge, then we can move on from there."
Up next for Notts is Saturday's derby at Mansfield Town - an early kickoff - before taking on Morecambe in Tuesday's rescheduled fixture.
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Joe Jones
John Sheridan has bemoaned Notts County's defending in Tuesday's EFL Trophy tie at Rochdale, but insists he can take good things from the game.
Jonathan Forte put the Magpies ahead at Spotland but two second-half goals from the hosts gave them the spoils.
"We've had some good chances especially in the second half, but I am really disappointed with the goals we conceded," Sheridan said.
"It's just people making the wrong decision at the wrong time.
"They had a five to 10 minute spell when they got the advantage.
"But I thought we responded really well and created some good opportunities to get back in the game.
"I thought we played well. I don't like losing, but I can take good things from the game."
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Joe Jones
Notts County have succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Rochdale in their EFL Trophy Group F clash at Spotland.
The Magpies took the lead in the 25th minute when a free-kick from the right was turned goalwards by Haydn Hollis and saved by Josh Lillis, but in the scramble that followed, the ball was bundled over the line by Jonathan Forte.
John Sheridan's side took their one-goal lead into half time, but Dale began the second half more brightly and grabbed an equaliser just after the hour mark.
A Steven Davies header was blocked out to the edge of the area and picked up by Oliver Rathbone, who picked out Davies on the left of the area with a measured pass.
Davies then found space to square the ball for Sanmi Odelusi who slid in to direct the ball home.
From then on Rochdale turned the screw and were ahead seven minutes later when a long ball into the box was pulled down by Davies and he slotted beyond goalkeeper Scott Loach.
Notts tried desperately to claw back another goal that would have forced penalties, but the hosts held firm and secured the win.
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Joe Jones
Mark Crossley insists that the EFL Trophy should not be seen as a waste of time, claiming that the opportunity to play at Wembley makes the tournament worthwhile.
The competition has been under criticism by fans for the inclusion of Premier League academy teams this year.
However, the Notts County assistant manager is treating it seriously, and wants his players to treat tonight's game at Rochdale with respect.
"We want to win the game it's as simple as that," he told reporters.
"The game against Hartlepool down here showed that it was the start of something good for us.
"It was our first win at home so we always take it very seriously.
"I have been with a manager who has won this competition (in John Sheridan at Chesterfield), so when you get to the semi-final and the final, it's special.
"You get to play at Wembley so what more do lads at this level want?"
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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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