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Joe Jones
Notts County and Mansfield Town have met 46 times over the years, the first fixture coming 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 17 wins, 14 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 is pretty average, standing at three wins, three defeats, and four draws.
Our last meeting was a win, the Stags beaten 3-1 at Meadow Lane in the first round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on the 1st September 2015.
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.
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Team News
Mansfield Town
Stags midfielder Colin Daniel is doubtful for their League 2 derby game with Notts County on Saturday afternoon.
The 28-year-old, on loan from Port Vale, was forced off with a back injury after opening the scoring in last weekend's 2-1 win at Carlisle United.
Mal Benning impressed after replacing Daniel and could be in line to start, while Emmanuel Dieseruvwe should shake off a knock picked up at Carlisle to feature.
Krystian Pearce and Chris Clements are absent again via suspension and hamstring injury respectively.
Notts County
The visitors will check on Curtis Thompson after the midfielder missed the back-to-back 1-0 home wins against Stevenage and Hartlepool United through injury.
Magpies manager Mark Cooper made only one change in midweek and any alterations will again be kept to a minimum as Notts look to record three straight league victories for the first time since October 2014.
Teenager Montel Gibson made his debut as a late substitute against Hartlepool and he is set to be involved again, with Cooper hinting that more of the club's youngsters might feature in the remaining fixtures.
Can Notts County get the better of Mansfield? Share your thoughts with Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the discussion.
Joe Jones
Notts County manager Mark Cooper has claimed his side must have "cool heads" and "big hearts" if they are to stop rivals Mansfield Town from celebrating a league double over them.
The Magpies have played the Stags twice this season, losing to them in a League Two clash right at the start of the season but then clinching a 3-1 win in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Cooper said: "You want to see the players cope with the occasion and that they don't become flustered by it. We have to compete but be calm.
"You know you will have to fight but you still have to try to play football. First tackles are important but you've got to make sure you don't get sent off.
"You see a lot of local derbies where the first tackle ends in a red card which changes the complexion of the game. We have to have cool heads but big hearts."
Will Notts get points at the One Call Stadium? Share your thoughts with Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.
Joe Jones
Mansfield Town manager Adam Murray has described Saturday’s derby with Notts County as a "blood and thunder" encounter.
The two sides have met twice already this season, with the Stags winning in the League Two encounter back in August and the Magpies emerging victorious in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy encounter weeks later.
Murray said: “With the money Notts spent and the resources they’ve got, they should be a top five team in this league; everybody would agree with that.
“They’ve obviously had some ups and downs this season but it’s a big club and, as much as we hate saying it because they’re our local rivals, it is a club steeped in history.
“It’s got a massive fan base and they probably haven’t had the season they planned this year.
“I know Coops, he was a very good footballer as a player. He did a great job at Swindon, I’m shocked to be honest that it took him so long to get back in the game after what he did there because I know he was working on limited resources.
“He’ll get them playing the right way and get them working for him. Fair play to him, I think they’re unbeaten in four now.
“Everything goes out of the window in terms of form and what kind of season you’ve had. It’s a local derby, it’ll be ‘blood and thunder’ and we’re up for it.”
Who will win in Saturday's derby? Let Pride of Nottingham know your views by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.
Joe Jones
Notts County manager Mark Cooper has praised the club's fans and called on the players to give them a lift by claiming local bragging rights at Mansfield Town.
The Magpies have played the Stags twice this season, losing to them in a League Two clash right at the start of the season but then clinching a 3-1 win in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Cooper said: "It would be nice to give the fans something to smile about. They've been really good since I've been here. It would be good to give them a lift and a good result against Mansfield would do that.
"They will be coming in their numbers and you always want your fans' backing away from home – they always seem to be louder. I am sure it will be a really good atmosphere.
"The first thing you have to do is compete. You have to match the opposition's work rate.
"But the players have to be calm and realise that the team which deals with the occasion the best, usually comes out on top.
"It's about playing the game, not the occasion. You don't want to be taken in by the hype, it's about going to do a job."
Can Notts County get the better of Mansfield? Share your thoughts with Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the discussion.
Joe Jones
Notts County manager Mark Cooper has praised "everybody" for conjuring up a four-game unbeaten run that saw the Magpies secure Football League safety.
Jon Stead’s goal was the difference between Notts and Hartlepool United on Tuesday, while Liam Noble struck to ensure victory over Stevenage at the weekend.
Prior to that, Cooper’s charges drew 2-2 at Northampton Town and claimed a goalless draw over Wycombe Wanderers.
The former Swindon boss said: "The credit has to go to everybody – the staff, the players and the supporters. They've all got together and we are there as one. That's the only way it can go to get success."
Discussing the Pools game, he added: “Our decision making, the weight of the pass, the option of the pass, the runs the forwards we were making were wrong and that's something we need to get right, but the effort, commitment and organisation was there."
Who deserves the most credit for Notts County's resurgence? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.
Joe Jones
Notts County manager Mark Cooper has pledged to try and keep Liam Noble at the club if he is appointed on a permanent basis this summer.
The midfielder scored his 10th goal of the season in the 1-0 win over Stevenage on Saturday to give the ex-Swindon Town boss his first win at the Magpies helm.
Noble, however, is out of contract in the summer and is said to be attracting interest from Cambridge United and Portsmouth.
Cooper, whose side secured their Football League status with a 1-0 win over Hartlepool United on Tuesday, said: "The club needs to keep players like Liam because he can turn a game on its head like he did on Saturday.
"He's done it on more than one occasion this season and when you are talking about creativity in the final third, he has got that.
"There will be times he gets space and blasts it over the bar, but the next time he gets it, he will put it in the top corner.
"If I am going to be here, then I would love him to stay."
Do you want to see Noble in a Notts shirt next season? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.
Joe Jones
Notts County have secured their League Two status with five games to go as they recorded their second home win in a row, beating Hartlepool United 1-0 in Tuesday's clash at Meadow Lane.
Both sides were quick off the starting blocks in the first half as the visitors forced a corner after just two minutes, while Notts threatened through Jon Stead and Liam Noble, the former nearly nodding a ball into the path of Izale McLeod but being thwarted by a defender, while the latter came close with a free kick.
Noble came close again in the 37th minute, moments after Hartlepool threatened with an effort that Scott Loach had to save with his legs - ultimately neither side could break the deadlock in the first half.
Mark Cooper's side were the brighter attacking force after the restart as Wes Atkinson and McLeod came close in the opening minutes of the second half, and 53 minutes in, the breakthrough finally came courtesy of Stead, who finished off a pullback from Elliott Hewitt.
The Magpies had to withstand a dangerous flurry midway through the second half as Loach saved from Rob Jones and Noble cleared off the line from the resulting corner, but in the final stages the hosts had the upper hand and were able to see the game out.
What did you think of the performance and result? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.
Joe Jones
Tuesday's League Two clash between Notts County and Hartlepool United at Meadow Lane is goalless at the break. 
The visitors won an early corner, which came to nothing, and before long Mark Cooper’s side got into the game and threatened through Jon Stead, whose early header at the back post was blocked before it could get to Izale McLeod, plus several efforts from Liam Noble.
Notts were solid at the back too, with Mike Edwards and Thierry Audel playing steadily and making sure several Hartlepool forays and half-chances were rendered harmless.
When Scott Loach was called into action, as he was in the 34th minute, he was steadfast in between the sticks and made sure his side would hang on to the clean sheet at half time.
In the 41st minute Rhys Oates burst into the box but his effort flew wide of Loach’s left-hand post as the half-time whistle blew on a scoreless scoreline. 
What did you make of the first half? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting th forum and joining the conversation.
Joe Jones
Notts County manager Mark Cooper is expected to have an unchanged squad for the visit of Hartlepool United in Tuesday's League Two clash at Meadow Lane.
It was thought that Curtis Thompson might return to contention after missing the home win against Stevenage at the weekend through injury, but Cooper said at his pre-match press conference on Monday that the midfielder will remain sidelined.
Long term absentees Blair Adams and Will Hayhurst both remain out and are unlikely to play again this season.
Tuesday's visitors are expected to make a number of changes to his line-up after their Football League status was confirmed on Saturday.
Pools claimed a 5-2 victory at Morecambe on Saturday and are now 16th in League Two, 18 points ahead of second-bottom York City.
That means manager Craig Hignett could use the remaining games to rotate his squad with a view to next season and the likes of defenders Dan Jones, Scott Harrison and Michael Duckworth, midfielders Josh Laurent and Brad Walker and striker Rakish Bingham could get a run-out.
Hignett, whose side have lost just once in their last nine matches, is also monitoring the fitness of top scorer Billy Paynter as well as Matthew Bates and Jake Carroll.
Can Notts secure their Football League status with a win over Hartlepool? Let Pride of Nottingham know by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.
Chris
Mark Cooper secured Notts County's first home win of 2016, and first under his reign, as a much improved magpies' score late goal against Stevenage.

Jon Stead volleyed home for magpies' in the first half, however his spectator effort was ruled offside.

Stevenage's Fraser Franks produced their best best chance of the game from Chris Whepldale's free-kick, but Notts keeper Scott Loach saved superbly. With time running out, Liam Noble rifled into the corner from the edge of the area to give County the points.

The defeat left Stevenage 22nd in the table, but nine points clear of the relegation places with five games remaining, while County climbed to 18th.
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Joe Jones
Notts County midfielder Liam Noble has expressed his joy at helping his side to their first home victory of 2016 by scoring the winner against Stevenage on Saturday.
The former Sunderland man curled home with just 11 minutes to go of the League Two clash at Meadow Lane to all but secure survival for the Magpies.
Noble also said he was glad to send the Notts fans home happy after weeks of poor performances and results.
He told reporters: "It was a massive win. When the gaffer came in, the Portsmouth game was dreadful really, but we did have chances. We then should have beaten Wycombe as well and then likewise against Northampton.
"But I would have been devastated if we had only taken a point against Stevenage because I thought we battered them. I thought we played really well, but just needed to be a bit more clinical in the final third.
"The lads at the back kept a clean sheet, but it was the lads up front who didn't do it as we should have won by three or four. We'll take the blame for that.
"The fans pay good money to come and watch the lads run around and give all they've got. If we do that and even if we get beat, I am sure they will clap us off.
"But it's brilliant to get the win for them and send them home happy for the weekend. I just hope they will come again on Tuesday and support us against Hartlepool."
Will you be at Meadow Lane for the game against Hartlepool? Share your thoughts on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.
Joe Jones
Notts County owner Ray Trew has revealed more details regarding the imminent takeover of the club, stating that two concrete offers are being considered and should be finalised in the coming days.
Writing on Twitter for the first time in three years on Saturday, the Magpies owner says a UK hedge fund and an Asian corporation are racing “to the finish line”.
Trew wrote: "A phoenix has risen from the ashes after a three year exile to address some of the nonsense that's being banded about on here and other forums.
"To set the record straight, there are two serious buyers left in the hunt. All other buyers have been discarded.
"One of the buyers is a UK hedge fund and the other is a large corporation from Asia.
"Both have met my asking price and now it’s a race to the finish line. I expect an announcement will be forthcoming in days rather than weeks."
Share your thoughts on Trew's comments by signing up to Pride of Nottingham, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.
Joe Jones
Notts County have finally managed to give their fans a long overdue win after overcoming Stevenage 1-0 in their League Two clash at Meadow Lane, with Liam Noble’s sumptuous curling strike giving Mark Cooper his first victory as Magpies manager.
The hosts fashioned the first chance of the game five minutes in, when Ronnie Henry forced a block from a Noble effort, while at the other end Chris Whelpdale dragged his shot wide of Scott Loach’s near post after finding space just inside the box on the quarter-hour mark.
Mike Edwards was next to threaten in the 20th minute, but despite leaping and getting his head onto a free kick, the ball flew wide.
Notts succeeded in getting the ball into the Stevenage net not once, but twice in the first half, but both Jon Stead’s impressive volley and Adam Campbell’s one-on-one finish were overruled by the linesman’s flag.
The second half saw large periods of stop-start play and plenty of boos from the home fans as referee Mark Heywood took to using his whistle quite freely, mostly to penalise the Notts players.
Despite the ref’s whistle-happy demeanour and the stubborn Stevenage defence standing in the Magpies’ way, they succeeded in breaking the deadlock 79 minutes in after Noble gathered possession just inside the box and curled the ball home into the far corner to give his side the win – their first at Meadow Lane of the calendar year.
The result sees Notts climb to 18th in League Two with 45 points from 40 games – 15 points clear of York City, with 30 points from 41 games, and Dagenham & Redbridge, with 28 points from 40 games.
It is unlikely that either of those two will win every single remaining game and overturn their inferior goal difference to drag Notts back into relegation worries, but to be completely safe, the Magpies just need two more points from their next six games to ensure that they mathematically cannot finish in the bottom two.
What did you make of the game and the result? Share your views with Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.
Joe Jones
Notts County midfielder Rob Milsom has urged his side to finish the season strongly and build towards promotion in 2017.
The Magpies - and their long-suffering fans - have endured a wretched season comprising of multiple managerial changes, the club being put up for sale, a combination of public fallouts among various elements of the club, and many abysmal performances on the pitch which has put the team among the bottom five of the entire Football League.
"It's not just a dead end to the season because there are players who are out of contract and will want to earn them," said Milsom.
"Okay, maybe there is not so much to play for in the league, but personally there is and especially working towards next season.
"What goes on at the back end of this season is going to carry on into next and we want to give the fans hope for next season.
"If they can see a huge improvement now and then achieve what we set out to do this season – which is challenge for promotion – then they will be happy."
Will Notts get promoted back to League One before the end of the decade? Let Pride of Nottingham know your thoughts by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.
Joe Jones
Notts County and Stevenage FC have only ever met eight times, the first meeting coming on 17 September 2011 at Broadhall Way (known as the Lamex Stadium) - the result on that day was 2-0 to the Magpies.
Our head-to-head record is pretty simple: four wins for Notts, four wins for Stevenage, no draws. Our last two games have both resulted in wins, the last meeting taking place earlier this season.
Stevenage in their current form have only been in existence since 1976, but there have been numerous incarnations of the club that stretch back over a century.
A club called Stevenage FC was formed in 1894, but they soon adopted the name Stevenage Town.
In 1951 the club were founder members of the Delphian League. In 1956 they merged with Stevenage Rangers to form Stevenage FC, before reverting to Stevenage Town four years later.
They had some success in the Southern League but folded in 1967, after which Stevenage Athletic were created in their place a year later. This incarnation again knocked about in the Southern League but went bankrupt in 1976.
This brings us to Stevenage Borough, formed shortly after Athletic's demise, and this time they managed to prosper and work their way up the leagues until finally reaching the Football League in 2010, at which point they took the whole thing full circle by dropping the Borough from their name and becoming Stevenage FC.
Despite their relatively short history, Stevenage have won a number of trophies and competitions, including two FA Trophy cups in 2007 and 2009.
The Lamex Stadium holds 6,722 people, 3,142 of which can be seated. To put it into perspective, three full houses at Stevenage could fit into the Meadow Lane stands with 45 seats to spare.
The highest attendance recorded at the stadium was 8,040 for a match against Newcastle United in the FA Cup fourth round on 25 January 1998. A temporary stand was erected behind the away end to increase the stadium capacity to 8,100, enough to satisfy FA requirements.
Two films were set in and around Stevenage: "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" and "Boston Kickout". "Spy Game" was partly filmed in Stevenage but set in Washington DC.
A number of famous sporting figures were born in Stevenage, the most notable of which are Lewis Hamilton, Jack Wilshere, Ashley Young, Ian Poulter, Kevin Phillips and Jason Shackell.
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Notts County manager Mark Cooper is facing somewhat of an injury crisis for his side's League Two clash against Stevenage FC at Meadow Lane, as he will be missing Curtis Thompson, Rob Milsom, Graham Burke, Blair Adams and Will Hayhurst.
After Izale McLeod's lively performance as a substitute at Northampton Town, the ex-Swindon Town boss could decide to slot him back into the starting XI.
Striker Greg Luer is a doubt for Stevenage after going off with a knock in Tuesday's goalless draw with Yeovil Town, which has left Boro 10 points clear of the drop zone with six games to go.
Byron Harrison recovered from illness to replace Luer and could start again, while midfielder Chris Whelpdale made his first appearance since Boxing Day following a groin problem and could also start.
Midfielder Keith Keane missed the Glovers game with a knock and could again be a doubt, while Steven Schumacher and Dave McAllister are long-term absentees.
Predict the scoreline and scorers for the League Two clash between Notts County and Stevenage by signing up to Pride of Nottingham, visiting the forum and joining the conversation.

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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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