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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has expressed his delight with Notts County's big 4-1 win over Crewe Alexandra in terms of carrying the momentum forward into Tuesday night's FA Cup fourth-round replay at Swansea City.
The Magpies drew 1-1 with the Swans in the first game to secure a replay at the Liberty Stadium, with a fifth-round meeting at Sheffield Wednesday up for grabs.
County's League Two form in January was wobbly but the team got back to winning ways against the Railwaymen in front of a packed Meadow Lane on Saturday.
The result kept the club in the division's automatic promotion places and, on the back of the win, Nolan is eager for the team to get back out onto the pitch promptly.
“I am really looking forward to it,” he told the Nottingham Post. "When you win games you just want to be back out on the pitch.
“There’s a lot of work to be done from now until Tuesday, but we will enjoy this result for a bit.
“I know Swansea had another good result at the weekend so it will be a tough one, but we go there full of confidence.”
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan is hoping that some of the people who made the most of the £2 ticket offer for Notts County against Crewe Alexandra will "have seen enough to come back".
Saturday's League Two game at Meadow Lane saw ticket prices slashed as part of Alan Hardy's one-year anniversary festivities and as a result, a huge crowd of 17,274 turned out at the ground.
Those in attendance were treated to a show of grit, perseverance and class as the Magpies came from a goal down to win 4-1 and Nolan is hoping that the great result will make those who haven't been to the Lane much think about attending more games.
"I thought the crowd were fantastic (on Saturday) and it's a credit to what Alan has done because I don't think we'd have got over 17,000 through the gates this time last year if we had offered £2 a ticket," he told the Nottingham Post.
"That shows how far we have come in a year and hopefully the fans have seen enough to come back. The experience will be in the back of their minds that Meadow Lane is a good place to come, where you get looked after.
"They got a great spectacle with some fantastic goals, play and finishing. It makes people go home with a big smile on their face and I will certainly be one of those."
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Joe Jones
Notts County came from a goal down to record a superb 4-1 win over Crewe Alexandra in Saturday's League Two encounter at a packed Meadow Lane.
In front of a bumper crowd of more than 17,000 thanks to Alan Hardy's "2 for Crewe" offer, the Magpies fell behind to Shaun Miller's goal on the rebound.
However, Notts were level seven minutes later when Noor Husin rifled home a stunning Roy of the Rovers-esque drive from all of 25 yards out.
Elliott Hewitt then put the hosts ahead just before half time before adding a second on the hour in what was a man-of-the-match performance from the versatile player.
With full-time approaching, Derby County loanee Mason Bennett scored on his debut to cap off a memorable win for the Magpies.
Pride of Nottingham was at Meadow Lane for the occasion and interviewed a number of fans about several key topics - find out what the Black & White Army had to say in this week's Meet the Fans!
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Joe Jones
Notts County came from a goal down to record a superb 4-1 win over Crewe Alexandra in Saturday's League Two encounter at a packed Meadow Lane.
In front of a bumper crowd of more than 17,000 thanks to Alan Hardy's "2 for Crewe" offer, the Magpies fell behind to Shaun Miller's goal on the rebound.
However, Notts were level seven minutes later when Noor Husin rifled home in a stunning drive from all of 25 yards out.
Elliott Hewitt put the hosts ahead just before half time before adding a second on the hour, before Derby County loanee Mason Bennett scored on his debut to cap off a memorable win.
Pride of Nottingham has compiled some of the key post-match reaction from Notts boss Kevin Nolan, the players, and the fans.
Kevin Nolan
"I enjoyed it. I thought the lads were fantastic and got what they deserved. It could have been more than four - some of the chances we created and the play at times was magnificent.
"I was a bit upset with the way we conceded the goal, and at that point I was thinking 'Typical us!' because we had started well, but that already seems like a distant memory.
"The goals showed what the team possesses. There was individual brilliance as well as team goals. At times it was a real joy to watch."
Mason Bennett
“I was delighted to get underway and it was a great result.
“The lads dug in after going one down early on and showed great character to react. It was nice to get the three points on the board.
“It was a brilliant atmosphere and the chairman has done brilliantly to knock the price of the tickets down.
“It was a great turnout and the lads enjoyed it. They got the result the fans deserved.
“I was delighted to get on with 30 minutes to go and I got my goal so I was very pleased.”
Players on social media
 
 
The Black and White Army
Northants Pie:
It was a not bad attacking performance, likewise a not bad defensive peformance, being critical we need to release Jorge Grant earlier, countless times he had made brilliant runs on the left wing and every time the ball seemed to fall to either Hewitt or Hunt, neither of whom have the awareness to see such a pass.
Hewitts energy is faultless, his positional sense though needs to be better, especially when defending, but as a team I didn't think we defended that well, mainly caused by this lack of awareness as other players were being dragged nto areas they shouldn't have been in.
We miss Tootle as both he & Jones push the opposing team backwards but with only Jones doing this Crewe's left winger was cheating which allowed them an out ball most of the time.
Our ball watching at times is criminal and you could see Crewe trying to expose this whenever they had a chance.
Having said that going forward, Ameobi was class, his first touch is brilliant and the referee failed to spot a lot of fouls commited on him yesterday. Stead ran his nuts off as always, like with Ameobi the Crewe defenders were all over him like a rash, looked better once Bennett came on and took over the running.
Alessandra will always give you an out ball but we miss Hawkridge in that position. Husin was class, always has time and has the ability to find time, a lone undermined skill that the best always posses.
Grant got far more into the game once Bennet came on as he had someone on the same wavelength as him and these both helped Husin also as he was understanding the runs they made.
If we could clear up the defensive mistakes then we'd beat any team we come up against in my opinion.
Liampie:
Good all round performance today, i was well impressed. The second half saw notts really get going and we played some good stuff. i think the formation really allowed us to play comfortably, i know we started awfully but we grew in confidence after equalising.
Anti-Red:
First complete team performance that I have seen for a very long time. The start had me dreading what might become but I thought Notts responded how they should and as a result quickly took back control of the game.
Liampie:
i thought the midfield just over ran crewe yesterday, it was good to see hewitt, husin and grant all linking up well.
Chris:
The early goal for Crewe seemed to help us more than it did them.
It was very poor defending by Duffy, I had no idea what he was thinking and it's those decisions by him which usually cost us the most. He managed to settle down, yet I do feel his shaky start did impact us for a bit.
The midfield ran the show, they urged forward and created chances after chance.
It wasn't a case yesterday of 'will we score' it was 'when will we score'. Going into the lead before half time was massive too, it meant we could come out and play our usual passing game. Second half we looked class, the link-up play especially! The addition of Bennett had me thinking we could score even more, as Alessandra seemed to be left unmarked after and he really did deserve a goal.
That said, fans now know why he's been pushed onto the wing after the amount of chances he had to score.
I'm very impressed!
Upthepies:
Has Kevin been working on shooting in training or something? All the goals ended up being taken very well. The roar when we equalized was matched by Notts going 2-1 up.
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ARLukomski
Notts County put in one of their best performances of the season in front of the biggest Meadow Lane crowd of the 21st century in Saturday's 4-1 win over Crewe Alexandra.
The Magpies endured a wobbly start as Shaun Miller drilled home on the rebound after just eight minutes for the breakthrough.
However, Noor Husin struck back on the quarter-hour mark with a ferocious long-range effort before Elliott Hewitt put the hosts ahead just before half time.
Hewitt then got his second of the game and County's third by finishing off a great team move on the hour mark and Derby County loanee Mason Bennett added the cherry on top late on.
Notts vlogger and Pride of Nottingham contributor ARLukomski discussed the fixture ahead of kickoff, gave his thoughts as the game went on, and talked about the performance and result after the final whistle.
Follow ARLukomski on his YouTube channel by clicking here.
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Chris
Notts County put in one of their best performances of the season in front of the biggest Meadow Lane crowd of the 21st century in Saturday's 4-1 win over Crewe Alexandra.
The Magpies endured a wobbly start as Shaun Miller drilled home on the rebound after just eight minutes for the breakthrough.
However, Noor Husin struck back on the quarter-hour mark with a ferocious long-range effort before Elliott Hewitt put the hosts ahead just before half time.
Hewitt then got his second of the game and County's third by finishing off a great team move on the hour mark and putting the Pies out of reach.
Derby County loanee Mason Bennett then added the cherry on top late on with his debut Notts goal to wrap up a wonderful afternoon for the Black and White Army.
Pride of Nottingham was at the Lane for the occasion and took photos of fans - check our gallery to see if you're in this week's Faces of PON!


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Chris
Notts County came from a goal down to record a superb 4-1 win over Crewe Alexandra in Saturday's League Two encounter at a packed Meadow Lane.
In front of a bumper crowd of more than 17,000 thanks to Alan Hardy's "2 for Crewe" offer, the Magpies fell behind to Shaun Miller's goal on the rebound.
However, Notts were level seven minutes later when Noor Husin rifled home in a stunning drive from all of 25 yards out.
Elliott Hewitt put the hosts ahead just before half time before adding a second on the hour, before Derby County loanee Mason Bennett scored on his debut to cap off a memorable win.
How did the game pan out from a tactical perspective? Pride of Nottingham's Chris takes a look with this weekend's Tactical Talk.
Was the result fair?
As I made my way to Meadow Lane yesterday, each time I encountered a fan that I know, they spoke about how confident they were about Notts hammering Crewe.
I really didn’t think this would be the case, yet on the pitch, Crewe’s opener of the game lifted Notts and it urged them on to better themselves.
The win was incredible for such a huge attendance and it was pleasing to see fans re-finding the buzz of winning ways.
We should have scored more when you think about it, so nobody can argue it wasn’t deserved.
How did Notts play?
The first 10 minutes we started very shaky, the Crewe goal had me thinking ‘here we go’ but I was proud of how Notts responded.
Our midfield took much of that burden and drove towards Crewe with sheer determination! It wasn’t a case of ‘will we score’ but ‘when’.
Ending the first half, Notts had played some very entertaining stuff at times and the 2-1 lead was vital.
It was what I would describe as a complete performance from the back to the front, as Collin looked great in goal and our attacking play looked lethal – we really did play with a lot of confidence.  
How did Crewe play?
Exactly as I expected and had mentioned within my scouting report.
They used their physical side to attempt to intimidate Notts, whilst using scrappy play to get the edge over us at the beginning.
On the ball they played some good football and always seemed capable of giving us a game. However, at the back they were woeful and failed to cope with our play.
Overall, it wasn’t a ‘bad’ performance on their part – Notts were simply too good and refused to bow down to them, yet they played quite well in spells.
Did our tactics work out?
Absolutely! I would have liked to see Mason Bennett start. However, we got a glimpse of what he could do against a defence, which was as if a rabbit was caught in the headlights.
The formation, just common sense at this stage and it gives us much more time on the ball in midfield – it allows our players to get a good understand of how to play.
We attacked understanding what Crewe had about them and balanced our play according to that. Tactically Kevin Nolan was spot on and he adjusted well even when the game was completely in our hands.
How did the referee perform?
He seemed to like the attendance more than perhaps the Notts board, I felt some of his decisions were quite poor and at times just baffling – yet he wasn’t noticeable once we had control of the game.
It could have easily been different on another day, yet a focused Notts squad took the niggles from his performance away.
Who do we play next?
Next up Barnet – Notts will have to put on a repeat performance as the last two games have really impressed us fans and it will be for The Bees’ to attempt to derail the progress that had been made on the pitch.
How should we play them?
We should approach them with the same belief and, focus as we did against Crewe.
When Notts click on the field, there’s no denying how good or entertaining we can be and this match will be another perfect opportunity to build on from that had gone missing in the two home league defeats.
It’s vital that we go into the game fully focused, so no blunders to open with – as the Duffy mistake against Crewe could have changed the game completely.
Barnet will see our fixture against them as a way to prove themselves and quite possibly as a way to gain further momentum as they attempt to gain safety within League Two.
For this reason Notts will have to focus on playing a solid game at the back, and build on any chances when going forward – allow the midfield to control the game and carve open those chances we do have the ability to create.
I’d welcome seeing Mason Bennett start, we’ll know more about what type of options he will give us and I think Jon Stead has earned a break.
Ameobi and Bennett would be the right options for me in attack against Barnet. As the game slows down, it will naturally open up and this is when we can reintroduce players such as Stead.
It will be about remaining focus, and hopefully a good performance against Swansea City on Tuesday night might encourage our lads further – yet if we do bow out gracefully from the FA Cup, let’s not be downhearted.
We have a job to finish in League Two and, I have complete faith that we do have the ability to complete it.
Crewe fan views
 
 
 
 
 
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Joe Jones
Notts County put in one of their best performances of the season in front of the biggest Meadow Lane crowd of the 21st century in Saturday's 4-1 win over Crewe Alexandra.
The Magpies endured a wobbly start as Shaun Miller drilled home on the rebound after just eight minutes for the breakthrough.
However, Noor Husin struck back on the quarter-hour mark with a ferocious long-range effort before Elliott Hewitt put the hosts ahead just before half time.
Hewitt then got his second of the game and County's third by finishing off a great team move on the hour mark and Derby County loanee Mason Bennett added the cherry on top late on.
Relive the key moments of the superb win with the official Notts match highlights, which we've shared on Pride of Nottingham for you.
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan says Notts County "got what they deserved" as they recorded a stunning 4-1 victory over Crewe Alexandra at Meadow Lane on Saturday.
The Magpies were watched by upwards of 17,000 people at the ground and, even though they conceded after just eight minutes, rallied round for a comprehensive win.
Shaun Miller opened the scoring after a defensive hiccup, but Noor Husin equalised with a Roy of the Rovers-style wondergoal on the quarter-hour mark.
Elliott Hewitt then grabbed a brace and Derby County loanee Mason Bennett added a fourth for an all-round fantastic day for the club.
"I enjoyed it," Nolan told the official Notts site.
"I thought the lads were fantastic and got what they deserved. It could have been more than four - some of the chances we created and the play at times was magnificent.
"I was a bit upset with the way we conceded the goal, and at that point I was thinking 'Typical us!' because we had started well, but that already seems like a distant memory.
"The goals showed what the team possesses. There was individual brilliance as well as team goals. At times it was a real joy to watch.
"Richard Thomas [assistant manager] works tirelessly with them about being patient in those areas and finding the quality, so the third goal has come straight off the training ground. It doesn't happen by accident.
"It was nice for Mason to come on and give us an injection of pace and something different to what we already have. I'm delighted that he got a goal on his debut."
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Joe Jones
Notts County put in one of their best performances of the season in front of the biggest Meadow Lane crowd of the 21st century in Saturday's 4-1 win over Crewe Alexandra.
The Magpies charged just £2 for tickets for this League Two fixture, which went on to sell out on Friday afternoon, as part of Alan Hardy's one-year anniversary celebrations.
From multi-decade season ticket holders to first-time attendees, the bumper crowd was rewarded with a great display against the Railwaymen after overcoming a wobbly start.
On eight minutes, a mistake in the County defence was seized upon by Jordan Bowery who saw his shot parried by keeper Adam Collin into the path of Shaun Miller, who made no mistake from close range.
However, Notts drew level on 15 minutes as Noor Husin, whose performance against Swansea City was lauded by many fans, pounced on a miscued clearance before taking a touch and rifling a superb effort into the back of the net from about 25 yards out.
Four minutes before the end of the first half the hosts went ahead as Crewe failed to clear their lines as a ball was delivered first from the left, then sent back across goal by Stead, which Elliott Hewitt scuffed into the net by driving into the ground and over Ben Garratt.
Goal number three for the Pies came on the hour mark, a real team effort which saw the ball played into Stead and his lay-off found the incoming Hewitt, who took it in his stride before smashing it past Garratt for his second of the afternoon.
By this point the vast majority of the 17,274-strong crowd (basically everyone bar the travelling Alex fans) were loving what they were seeing and there was time for a cherry on top in the 90th minute.
Aubstitute Mason Bennett, debuting for his loan club, was on hand to apply the finish from close range after Lewis Alessandra's initial effort was saved by Garratt to make it a virtually perfect afternoon for the Black and White Army.
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Joe Jones
Alan Hardy has thanked the people of Nottingham for their support since the Notts County takeover was completed last January and is looking forward to a bumper crowd in today's anniversary League Two game with Crewe Alexandra.
The Magpies have been on an upward trajectory over the last 12 months, going from relegation scrappers to promotion chasers as well as still having a chance of reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup.
The January transfer window was also fruitful as three midfielders, one centre-back and one forward came in, but Hardy is eager to concentrate on the football, beginning with today.
"I'm very happy with the business we have done over the last month and I think Mason and Ben will be excellent additions to the squad moving forward," Hardy wrote in his Nottingham Post column.
"Now all the transfer business has been completed until the summer, we can concentrate on the football.
"As you may have read, for this weekend's game against Crewe we are expecting an incredible crowd - the biggest since Tottenham came to the Lane in 1994.
"Obviously, reducing ticket prices to £2 has been the catalyst but I wanted to say 'thank you' to the people of Nottingham for their support since I bought the club just over a year ago.
"I have been overwhelmed by the number of well-wishes, not only from Notts fans but the wider Nottingham public.
"I hope it will be a truly spectacular anniversary party! Come on you Pies!"
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Chris
January brought Notts County joy in the FA Cup but disappointment in League Two, but February is a fresh month and we're all hoping the Magpies can kick on.
First up this month is Crewe Alexandra, who come to Meadow Lane and are likely to play before one of the largest crowds seen at the ground for years.
How have the Railwaymen done in recent weeks? Who are their danger men? Pride of Nottingham's Scouting Report sheds more light on these questions and more.
Head to head
Notts and Crewe have played 44 times in competitive games, and we have the upper hand with 21 wins to 14 defeats, while 9 draws have taken place.
The Magpies are unbeaten in their last six home league games against Crewe (three wins and three draws), finding the net at least once in all six matches (12 goals).
However, the Alex are unbeaten in their last three League Two clashes against the Magpies (one win and two draws).
Our last meeting came in October last year at Gresty Road, a 2-0 defeat for us.
Run-down of their last six features
Tuesday 26th December – Chesterfield 0 Crewe Alexandra 2
Saturday 30th December – Cambridge United 3 Crewe Alexandra 1
Monday 1st January – Crewe Alexandra 2 Grimsby Town 0
Saturday 13th January – Carlisle United 1 Crewe Alexandra 0
Saturday 20th January – Crewe Alexandra 2 Wycombe Wanderers 3
Saturday 27th January – Swindon Town 4 Crewe Alexandra 3
The Players – Fact Sheet
Highest Goal Scorers; Chris Porter 12, Chris Dagnall 7, Jordan Bowery 5 and Callum Ainley 5.
Persistent Foulers; Perry NG 8 yellow cards and 1 red card, Michael Raynes 7 yellow cards and 1 red card, Brad Walker 7 yellow cards and Eddie Nolan 5 yellow cards.
The Key Players
Crewe Alexandra have some very capable players within in midfield, none more so than Brad Walker and Tom Lowery, two very creative players.
One is your typical 'grab the game by the scruff off the neck' player, whilst the other works very hard to create decent chances.
Up top Chris Porter and Chris Dagnall are both strikers easily able to unlock their opposition and, despite the Alex struggling, they've done well to get their team goals.
Also up front, Jordan Bowery is a decent player at League Two level – he possesses something completely different from the other two strikers and his pace can be a tricky factor.
Style of Play, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Crewe Alexandra are a decent League Two outfit, they are struggling financially and, as a result have been reduced to quite a small squad.
They possess a very capable midfield and strikeforce, which I am surprised they have been able to retain during this January transfer window.
Crewe’s main issues are their defence and lack of confidence within the camp.
On the field, they try to play football in the right way. They’re a good passing side that like to move the ball around promptly.
In possession of the ball they can use it well and, can punish teams by clever play – they try to hit teams creatively and with pace.
The major downfall for the Alex is their inability to defend well, individual errors often leads to scrappy goals and poor marking can often be very costly too.
Also, there’s a real lack of discipline across their team and this can easily take points from what can be a very tough side – they have fighting spirit which often sees them not give up but their poor play often is more than enough to change the final outcome.
Notts will have to be mindful about allowing any incidents to become out of control, whilst ensuring players are protected when on the ball.
Passing wise, it just has to be direct and creative. Husin and Noble have a real chance of unlocking for our forwards and Stead, Ameobi, Bennett and even Forte could find this useful (if the latter plays).
The pace will certainly be useful to have up top, as will someone of Ameobi’s mould and print.
I expect Crewe to try and keep it scrappy at the back, whilst keeping the ball down within midfield – almost how Notts tend to play themselves.
Winning the ball back will be key, but making use of it without forcing play would be highly beneficial.
The Magpies just have to be calm on the ball, mindful and creative.
This is a very good chance to ensure we crack on, however we can’t expect to go into the game at Meadow Lane and expect to steamroll the opposition.
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Joe Jones
Head to head
Notts County’s head-to-head history with Crewe Alexandra dates back to September 1893, when the Magpies faced the Railwaymen at the Alexandra Recreation Ground. The result was a 2-0 win for Notts.
After several further meetings in the late 1890s, the fixture would experience a hiatus of 63 years; between 1896 and 1959, the two teams didn't play each other.
Notts and Crewe have played 44 times in competitive games, and we have the upper hand with 21 wins to 14 defeats, while 9 draws have taken place.
The Alex have been on the receiving end of several thumpings at the hands of the Magpies – in 1894, we beat them 9-1 and 5-1, in 1896 we won 6-0, in 1959 we recorded a 4-1 victory and 1970 brought a 5-1 win.
In 2013, a 4-0 scoreline at Meadow Lane brought some light to a gloomy first half of the campaign.
Notts are unbeaten in their last six home league games against Crewe (three wins and three draws), finding the net at least once in all six matches (12 goals), since a 0-1 defeat in March 1997.
Crewe are unbeaten in their last three League Two clashes against the Magpies (one win and two draws), last going four without a defeat against them in all competitions in November 1966 (five games).
Stats
After a run of just one defeat in 23 league games at home, The Magpies have now lost back to back league matches on home soil for the first time since December 2016 (a run of 5).
The Railwaymen have lost each of their last three away games in League Two, and have lost 14 of their last 17 league games on the road (W3) in a run stretching back to April 2017.
Veteran forward Jon Stead has bagged four of Notts County's last five league goals, as well as netting their last two FA Cup goals, including their equaliser against Premier League side Swansea City last time out.
Crewe Alexandra have lost a league-high 20 points from winning positions in League Two so far this season, whilst also claiming a league-low one point from losing positions in the competition this campaign.
History
The origins of the “Alexandra” moniker in the club name aren’t fully known.
Whether they took the name from a hotel, patronised by those connected with the railway works and where they held their meetings, or whether it was after Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who married Queen Victoria’s eldest son, later King Edward VII, is open to speculation.
In 2013, the club won its first-ever major silverware after beating Southend United 2-0 in the Johnstones Paint Trophy final at Wembley.
Crewe are known as the Railwaymen because of the town’s links to the British train network. Crewe station was completed in 1837 and is one of the most historic railway stations in the world.
Nowadays, as well as serving the town of Crewe that has grown near it, it still operates as a major junction on the West Coast Main Line (WCML).
It also serves as a major station on the WCML and as a major rail gateway for the North West.
Team news
Notts have forward Mason Bennett and defender Ben Hall to call upon, the pair having joined the club on loan from Derby County and Brighton respectively on transfer deadline day.
Midfielder Matty Virtue is available once more after serving a one-game ban but goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons remains sidelined for another two matches for his straight red against Crawley.
Crewe could hand a debut to defender Jamie Sterry, who joined on loan from Newcastle on deadline day.
David Artell's defensive options have however taken a hit as Zoumana Bakayogo misses out through suspension.
Fellow defender Michael Raynes faces a fitness test, as does goalkeeper Dave Richards after he was forced off in the Swindon loss with a calf problem.
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Chris
I realise that the deadline day signings have split fans' opinions, we can debate how good they appear on paper or discuss their careers so far, but the important part is to welcome any new signing into the club and hope that they can help us.
Notts have fought hard this season and we have seen such a huge turnaround that even now I find it hard to believe.
The club right now is experiencing a fresh start and we now have the right kind of foundations in place.
Success on the pitch is often measured in quality, but also desire and I think our club has the right type of balance – although I do openly admit I had hoped for a permanent striker to sign.
This said, I feel in League Two Mason Bennett does offer us something which we don’t really have and that his pace could be the thing which ignites us on the pitch - as a signing he should naturally take the burden off the midfield to score goals.
It’s also important after Exeter City’s midweek win that we get back on track ourselves, as I feel the wheelbarrow doesn’t need to break just yet – this is more optimism and hope mind.
Crewe Alexandra are the perfect team for us to be playing right now, especially since the great performance we put in against Swansea City in the FA Cup.
That said, we need to match that performance and even attempt to outplay it.
The Alex won’t be an easy pushover despite their league position, not at all and I think the fact that they play some decent ground football should test Notts.
Yet their poor form is also a beneficial factor for us, as we could go into the game respectful yet be confident at the same time.
On paper people will naturally think it should be easy, yet football is never straightforward and, as Notts fans, we only know too well what it’s like playing an underperforming side.
The 2017-18 squad is completely different compared to previous squads and I feel they will want to see the success continue – I certainly believe they will show a lot of character as we fight for our finishing place.
There’s just that underlining question of formation and, I hope after Kevin Nolan’s seen how useful it is – reverting back to it against Swansea, that he will see it makes sense to continue using 4-4-2 within the league.
We would be stronger, much stronger sticking with a formation that we know inside-and-out.
I fully expect Nolan to choose 4-4-2, I think he will see that the two league defeats weren’t down to much else – yet with the inclusions of our new signings, we should be stronger up top and at the back.
Notts really need to put a convincing showing on Saturday, we need to forget about the attendance and just rise to the task of getting back on track.
The amount of fans or potential fans shouldn’t be daunting and, if we get behind the lads – singing them on.
With the Kop fully behind the game, I feel we will find our form – it’s time to start believing! COYP!!
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Joe Jones
Kevin Nolan has admitted that transfer deadline day is not enjoyable for him as a manager but is happy that he can now concentrate on Notts County's next fixture.
The final day of the January window was hectic for the Magpies, with Derby County forward Mason Bennett's loan arrival not formally announced to the anxious fanbase until 11:30pm.
In the end it proved a fruitful month of business for Notts, with Ryan Yates's recall offset by the arrival of three midfielders, plus a centre-back and the aforementioned striker helping to bolster the ranks.
Up next for the club is a League Two home game with Crewe Alexandra, which is predicted to bring a record crowd due to Alan Hardy's "2 for Crewe" offer.
“I don’t really enjoy the last day of the window,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post.
“It’s too much because a lot of it gets in the way of what we are trying to do on a day-to-day basis leading up to the game.
“I’ve probably spoken more about players who are not here, than the players who are over the last month.
“It’s not for me, but it’s only my second proper window. I must admit I am not a big fan of it now I am sat in the manager’s chair, whereas when you are a player it was quite enjoyable watching it.
“I think a lot of managers are of the same opinion. When you pick the phone up and speak to them ‘‘it’s how are you?’ and the response is ‘mad busy trying to do this deal or that one’.
“But it’s part and parcel of the job and I will learn how to get better at it. I’ve got now my squad and it’s settled. We can now concentrate on the game ahead.”
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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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