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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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Joe Jones
Notts County and Rochdale have met a total of 40 times over the years, with the first meeting coming on the 10th December 1949. During this FA Cup clash at Spotland, the Magpies triumphed 2-1.
The last meeting between the two was on 17 March 2015, a League One clash at Meadow Lane which Notts lost 2-1.
Our record over the years is impressive though - 17 wins, 13 draws and 10 defeats.
Rochdale AFC was formed in 1907, and in their entire history, they have only ever switched divisions six times.
They have had three promotions and three relegations, with promotion coming in 1969, 2010 and 2014, while relegation came in 1959, 1974 and 2012.
The club reached the League Cup final in 1962 – the first time a club from the bottom league division has reached the final of a major competition – where they lost to Norwich City.
Rochdale played 36 consecutive seasons in the Football League's bottom division from 1974 to 2010, the longest time any team has been in the bottom division of the League, with some even derisively renaming it "the Rochdale Division".
The club have the lowest average position of all the clubs which have existed continuously in the Football League since its expansion to four divisions in 1921–22 (76th), and since its expansion to 92 clubs in 1950–51 (79th).
Additionally, they share with Hartlepool United the distinction of having played the most seasons in the Football League without ever reaching the top two tiers (82 seasons through 2009–10).
Rochdale play their home matches at Spotland, which has a capacity of 10,249.
The stadium was built exclusively for the Dale in 1920, but since 1988 the ground has been jointly owned by the football club, Rochdale Council and Rochdale Hornets.
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Notts County are expected to make several changes to the team for the EFL Trophy trip to Rochdale.
Competition rules state that six players who started the abandoned game against Morecambe on Saturday must play.
Assistant boss Mark Crossley nonetheless wants the fringe players to give it their all and put themselves in contention for a starting spot in the derby against Mansfield Town.
"This is a chance for them to give the manager a problem to pick a team for Saturday," he said.
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Joe Jones
This week's Meet the Fans video sees Pride of Nottingham chat to Notts County supporters before the Morecambe game!
Such a shame the game was called off because of torrential rain, but it was still nice to hear the thoughts of Magpies fans, many of whom were in good spirits with their team flying high!
 
 
 
 
 
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Joe Jones
Mark Crossley has praised Stanley Aborah for his "good response" to being left out of the Notts County lineup in the wake of Michael O'Connor's absence.
The Belgian made a rare start against Morecambe on Saturday, a game which was abandoned after 10 minutes because of torrential rain.
Aborah, who replaced rested captain O'Connor, went close to scoring on two occasions before ref Dean Whitestone called a halt to the League Two match.
"Michael picked up a groin strain at Exeter and it's only a strain," Crossley said.
"We just felt that – and Michael did too – that if he did play it could have put him back three or four weeks.
"We decided that Stanley has been champing at the bit to get back in the team so we felt it was the perfect time for Michael to step aside and Stan to come in.
"He started really brightly and showed a really good response to being out of the team.
"And that's what we want. We want a good squad with people ready to come into the team when needed."
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Joe Jones
Mark Crossley has claimed that the decision to halt Saturday's League Two fixture between Notts County and Morecambe was correct as it was too dangerous to continue.
The game at Meadow Lane got as far as the 10-minute mark when referee Dean Whitestone decided to take the players off before calling off the game altogether.
Torrential rain, complete with heavy thunder and lightning, rendered the pitch unplayable, and Crossley believes it was the right call.
"It was unplayable," said Crossley. "Alex Rodman nearly broke his leg not because of a bad tackle but because the ball just stopped.
"It was getting pretty dangerous out there so he (the referee) definitely made the right call.
"I have encountered something like it before across the river when I was playing for Forest against Tottenham.
"But it wasn't rain, it was snow. Fifteen minutes in the snow just came from nowhere.
"Nobody could see the ball so that comes a pretty close second.
"It was unbelievable how much water came down and when the referee was bringing the players off I thought it was because the players were getting hurt by the hailstones.
"But seriously, it was ridiculous. And with the lightning and the forecast not indicating it would get better, the referee made the correct call."
The two clubs will meet on Monday to rearrange the fixture.
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Joe Jones
Notts County and Morecambe have only met eight times in their history, with the first ever clash taking place less than 10 years ago, in September 2007.
The Shrimpers have a slight advantage, with three wins over Notts, three draws and two defeats. Our last meeting, in December last season, ended as a 2-2 draw.
The fixture on 19 September 2009 was former Arsenal and England legend Sol Campbell's only game in a Magpies shirt, while the rematch later in the season, on 17 April 2010, is when Notts mathematically secured promotion to League One.
Football in the town dates back to the turn of the 20th century; however, it was not until 7 May 1920 that Morecambe FC was formed. The club then took its place in the Lancashire Combination League for the 1920–21 season.
The fourteen years from 1960 could be said to be Morecambe's golden era. This included an FA Cup third round appearance in 1961–62, a 1–0 defeat to Weymouth; a Lancashire Senior Cup Final victory in 1968, a 2–1 win over Burnley; and an FA Trophy success at Wembley in 1974, a 2–1 win over Dartford in the final.
Morecambe, a non-league side for most of their history, were promoted to the Football League for the first time in 2007 after winning the Conference Playoff Final, beating Exeter City 2–1 at Wembley in front of over 40,000 fans.
Morecambe was a thriving seaside resort in the mid-20th century. While the resort of Blackpool attracted holiday-makers predominantly from the Lancashire mill towns, Morecambe had more visitors from Yorkshire, due to its railway connection, and Scotland.
Between 1956 and 1989 Morecambe was the home of the Miss Great Britain beauty contest.
Team News
Louis Laing is back in contention for Notts County after missing out against Exeter City in midweek through suspension.
The defender may struggle to regain his place in the team, however, after John Sheridan's side kept their first clean sheet of the season in League Two at St James Park.
Sheridan can also call on the likes of Vadaine Oliver, Adam Campbell, Graham Burke, Stanley Aborah and Aaron Collins should he wish to change things round.
Alan Smith should be fit again soon while fellow midfielder Curtis Thompson could be back from his long-standing ankle problem in another two to three weeks.
Morecambe will check on the fitness of Tom Barkhuizen - the forward scored the Shrimps' first goal in the 2-2 draw at Barnet on Tuesday night but was taken off during the second half due to a calf problem.
Defender Alex Whitmore, on loan from Burnley, will be available again having served the final game of his three-match suspension following his red card against Doncaster earlier this month.
Manager Jim Bentley must also decide whether to stick with on-loan Tranmere striker Cole Stockton, who marked his return to the side following a virus with a late equaliser to earn a point at The Hive.
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Joe Jones
Notts County boss John Sheridan insists that he will not go easy on the players this season, despite their promising position 10 games into the League Two campaign.
The Magpies sit fifth in the table and will claim a fourth successive victory should they beat Morecambe on Saturday at Meadow Lane.
"I am not going to change," Sheridan told the Nottingham Post. "I'll probably be worse than I am now.
"I've told the players they are going to have five or six months of it until we have something to show for it.
"We haven't done anything yet. We are on a good run and I applaud them. They've responded to me really well.
"I've got a good dressing room and they want to do well for each other.
"But the game has changed so much. Players don't get on at each other anymore.
"Assistant managers don't shout and neither do coaches. So unfortunately for the players it's going to be me being the bad cop all the time.
"I don't mind that if it means we are going to get out of this league, which is the main priority.
"I think we can be better, and I've said before you can't play in 15 minute patches here, and 15 minute patches there.
"You've got to sustain it over a long period of time if you are going to come out winners. That's my belief anyway.
"We did it against Plymouth and against Orient, where we were on the front foot a lot.
"In saying that I thought for 45 minutes against Exeter we were on the front foot too.
"But I've got players who will give me sevens out of 10 and if you have a group of them then you will win games.
"They don't have to give me a nine."
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Joe Jones
Notts County boss John Sheridan has praised striker Jon Stead, claiming he would be playing higher than League Two if he were younger.
The 33-year-old is the joint leading scorer in the fourth tier with nine goals after bagging a brace in the Magpies' 2-0 win at Exeter City on Tuesday night.
"The thing I like about him is that even if he is playing poorly, he believes he is going to score," said Sheridan.
"That's a good a sign in a player and in the form he is in at the moment he doesn't have to play well to get a goal.
"Steady is a very good professional who wants to do well all the time. To be like that at his age will hopefully rub off on others.
"He has made a lot of goals himself. They aren't lucky goals. They are top finishes. I can't remember any tap-ins.
"He is making them look easy the way he is finishing. If he was 28 he wouldn't be in this league."
Will Jon Stead fire Notts County into League One? Share your thoughts about this story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.
Joe Jones
John Sheridan has hailed his side's 2-0 win at Exeter City on Tuesday, putting emphasis on the impressive first-half display which he says "won the game".
The Magpies raced into a two-goal lead, courtesy of Jon Stead's brace which took him to nine goals for the season.
In the second half the Grecians rallied round but Adam Collin pulled off a string of saves to finish the game with a clean sheet.
"It was just good to win a football match," Sheridan told reporters. "In the first half you could see we were a strong outfit.
"We won the game in the first half and when we went 2-0 up I expected us to go on and win the game.
"I wasn't pleased with the way we played in the second half, but I don't want to go into that too much.
"Exeter gave us problems, but there were blocks and Adam Collin did brilliant. There was a real desire to get our first clean sheet.
"But the most important thing was the three points."
The result lifted Notts up to fifth in the table as they secured a third successive win ahead of the visit of Morecambe on Saturday.
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Joe Jones
Notts County have edged into the League Two playoff places after claiming a 2-0 win at Exeter City on Tuesday night, thanks to Jon Stead's brace.
John Sheridan's charges got off to a dream start just two minutes in as Exeter's Luke Croll missed his tackle, allowing Alex Rodman to run through on goal.
The 29-year-old then squared the ball for Stead to fire into an empty net and take the lead to a silent St James' Park.
From then on the visitors continued to dominate in Devon, although Magpies goalkeeper Adam Collin had to be at his best to deny Jack Stacey at the near post.
Exeter were struggling to do anything of note, with County containing them easily, and they went on to double their lead on 34 minutes.
A free kick into the box from a foul on Jonathan Forte was not dealt with by the Exeter defence and the prolific Stead was on hand to poke home the loose ball from close range.
Notts then soaked up pressure in the second half and Collin had to be alert to keep Exeter at bay, in particular from Reuben Reid's excellent free kick in the final stages.
Ultimately the Magpies were able to see the game out and even claimed a clean sheet for their efforts, which saw them rise up to fifth in League Two - level on points with second-placed Luton Town.
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Joe Jones
Notts County and Exeter City have met a total of 42 times over their history, the first meeting coming at St James’ Park in Division Three (South) which finished as a 3-3 draw.
The Magpies have an excellent record against the Grecians; out of those 42 games, Notts claimed a result in 33, with 16 wins and 18 draws.
The last game, however, saw Exeter come out on top, condemning Notts to a humiliating 4-1 defeat at Meadow Lane in March 2016.
Exeter was formed in 1901 as St. Sidwell's United and played in the Southern League from 1908 until 1920, when that league's top division was absorbed into The Football League as its new Division Three.
The club was the first ever team to play the Brazilian national team in 1914, a match which was commemorated in a 2014 friendly game against Fluminense.
City took 60 years to achieve their first ever promotion, finishing fourth in Division Four in the 1963–64 season.
Since then, the club have mostly oscillated between the third and fourth divisions, spending five years in the Conference between 2003 and 2008; having been promoted a further four times (in 1976–77, 1989–90, 2007–08 and 2008–09) and relegated five times (in 1965–66,1983–84, 1993–94, 2002–03 and 2011–12).
Famous fans include Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, Adrian Edmondson, Mark Nicol and Noel Edmonds.
Singer Joss Stone signed up as a member of the Supporters' Trust, being introduced to fans on the pitch as a new member during a League Cup match against Liverpool.
In 2002 pop singer Michael Jackson was made honorary director of Exeter City. He visited St James Park with celebrity friend Uri Geller, who was also a director.
The crew of the HMS Defender also adopted Exeter City as their home team and use their strip if playing games whilst on tour.
Provisional team news
Exeter midfielder Lee Holmes could make his first start since the opening day of the season - he has been on the bench for the last two games since recovering from a foot injury, but played a key role on Saturday by scoring the opening goal in the 10-man Grecians' 2-0 win at Stevenage.
Jordan Moore-Taylor, sent off in the first half at Stevenage for a professional foul, serves his one-match ban and Jack Stacey could slot into defence with Troy Brown and Troy Archibald-Henville still out.
Notts, meanwhile, are sweating on the fitness of top scorer Jon Stead, who is nursing a hamstring problem following the win over Leyton Orient.
Magpies manager John Sheridan will give the in-form striker as long as possible to prove his fitness, but he does have Adam Campbell and Vadaine Oliver available should Stead miss out.
Alan Smith is still suffewring suffering from a hip injury but appears to be making progress.
Curtis Thompson is still out of action with a long-standing ankle problem and is not expected to be ready for another two or three weeks.
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Joe Jones
Alongside perhaps film and music, football is the biggest entertainment industry in the world. Megastars such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are known across the planet, with replica t-shirts sporting their names worn in every nation.
It wasn't always like this, however. Just a few decades ago, many of the best footballers in the world often had second jobs to make ends meet, and they could go down the local pub without much of a fuss being made.
John "Jackie" Sewell was one such individual. Beginning like as a Bevin Boy conscripted to work in the coal mines in his native Cumberland, he would grow up to become one of the finest English strikers of all time.
A dashing, athletic young man, he spent his formative years playing for hometown club Whitehaven Town, but his talent was such that he was scouted and eventually signed by Notts County in 1944.
During his early days at Meadow Lane, Sewell would work down the pit at Whitehaven and, on Friday afternoon, catch the local train to Carlisle.
With his boots in his bag, he would then make the arduous journey south to Nottingham, changing at Derby, and by the time he arrived at his destination, it was Saturday morning. If he was lucky, and it was a home game, he would get a lie-in.
"I used to be walking down Arkwright Street in Nottingham in the early hours of Saturday morning," Sewell told the Nottingham Post in 2012.
"I stayed in digs with a lady called Mrs Rogers and her family and they always waited up until I arrived. I could hear her when I walked down their path "Jackie's here, Jackie's here" she'd say and I would sleep on a settee bed.
"The war was on at the time. There were always people in the armed forces on the train and here I was going to play football, with a pair of boots under my arm and a small bag.
"I remember my mum always used to tell me not to fall asleep on the train, but I did once on the way home after a game and missed my stop in Whitehaven. I never told her this, but I jumped off the train and had to walk about four miles back."
Eventually his football prospered to the point that he could move to Nottingham, setting up home in Bulwell, but he continued working as a miner in Bestwood until his career really took off.
And took off it did - during his time at Notts, he scored a massive 104 goals in 193 games, and helped the club win the Football League Third Division South championship in 1949-50, elevating the Magpies above Nottingham Forest.

His time at Meadow Lane coincided with one of the most exciting times in County's history as they signed superstar striker Tommy Lawton from Chelsea in 1949 to play alongside Sewell, and the club regularly drew crowds of over 30,000 fans.
In 1951, Sewell decided to make a step up in his career by signing for Sheffield Wednesday, which drew criticism from fans just as a star player move does nowadays - and the reported fee of £34,500 - although conflicting reports put the fee as high as £35,000 - made him the most expensive player in the world at the time.
The Owls were relegated that year, but with Sewell's help, they won the Division Two title in 1952 as their star striker struck 23 goals.
His form for Wednesday led to an England call-up, and he made his international debut against Northern Ireland at Villa Park in November 1951, playing alongside the likes of Nat Lofthouse, Billy Wright, Tom Finney, and Alf Ramsey, who later managed England to World Cup glory in 1966.
Sewell also played - and scored - in what was deemed The Match of the Century, as the Three Lions took on Hungary at Wembley in 1953 and were shockingly defeated 6-3.
The inside-forward then upped sticks again, signing for Aston Villa in 1955, and with the West Midlands outfit, he enjoyed the crowning moment of his career as he helped them win the FA Cup in 1957 by beating Matt Busby's Manchester United 2-1 at Wembley.
Between 1959 and 1961 he then played for Hull City before opting to travel further afield, spending time in Africa in Northern Rhodesia - now Zambia - with City of Lusaka FC.
Sewell then became one of the few footballers in history to play for two different nations as he lined up for the Zambia national team after the country gained its independence from Britain in 1964.
Hanging up his boots in 1965, Sewell soon moved back to Nottingham and remained passionate about his football and his beloved Notts County, attending games and chatting to fans on a regular basis.
On Monday 26 September 2016, it was confirmed that Sewell had passed away aged 89, and tributes poured forth from the world of football, praising a wonderful footballer and gentleman who lit up every club he played for.
It is with a heavy heart to bid farewell to one of Notts County's greatest heroes, an individual who truly lit up Meadow Lane and gave the fans some wonderful football.
Rest in peace Jackie Sewell, 1929 - 2016.

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Joe Jones
Jon Stead wants Notts County to be "in a really strong position" in the League Two table this time next week.
The Magpies finally claimed their first home win in the league after seeing off Leyton Orient 3-1 on Saturday, which has put them in ninth place.
This week will give Notts the chance to get six more points as they travel to Exeter City on Tuesday before welcoming Morecambe at Meadow Lane on Saturday.
"We knew it was going to be a big test because they are a good side and they will be up there," Stead said of Saturday's victory. "They've made some decent signings and they're a strong outfit.
"We're happy with the way we're going about things. We're picking up points, which is important.
"We go into a long week now, a long trip to Exeter, hopefully we can get points there. And then it's another big one on Saturday.
"We can be in a really strong position come the end of next week.
"The tension has been quite high since the start of the season at home because we've not performed.
"It's not so much the win, it's because we'd not performed very well.
"But we performed a lot better for longer periods on Saturday, which is pleasing."
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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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