Notts County Defeat Fleetwood Town as Matthew Dennis Scores Sixth of the Season

This felt like the sort of game we might have struggled with last season, even to a point earlier in this season. So it was encouraging to see the lads grind it out. Fleetwood made it difficult and probably shaded the first half, but we defended well enough to stay level. The goal straight after the break gave us the lift we needed, and Dennis finished it brilliantly. It could have been two or three with the chances that followed, but even at 1-0 we looked more comfortable as the game went on. The substitutions helped steady things. Grant, Robertson and Traoré all worked hard after coming on. Sometimes a tight, scrappy win says more about progress than a big scoreline.

Fleetwood’s chances didn’t trouble me too much overall. They had two good efforts, but Roos did really well to deal with them. Some fans will point to the two times he dropped the ball, but I think that’s a bit harsh. Given the pressure late on, it’s clear Fleetwood weren’t happy to settle for a loss.

Notts handled that well. They stayed strong and didn’t fold, which shows character. I thought the team did a decent job in tough moments.

The match had a bit of everything. Early pressure from Fleetwood, some big saves from Roos, and a goal that came at just the right time. Dennis has really stepped up this season and took his chance with real composure. I also liked the way Jatta fitted in. He was physical, linked play and almost scored himself. That partnership with Dennis could be interesting going forward. The defence had to stand strong, and the midfield worked hard to break up play. There were still too many fouls for my liking, but at least we were competitive. Fleetwood had their moments, but we kept our shape. A clean sheet and three points makes it a good day overall.

i think notts did what they had to do and could have put one of the earlier chances in the first half in the back of the net if we had taken a bit more care with the final product. defensively we looked strong and able to deal with fleetwood, they had a good final 20 minute period where they could have made something more from the game but i left happy with what i saw. i thought we showed a lot of promise and things are picking up.

Matt Dennis is starting to look like a proper poacher. The way he took his chance showed a lot of confidence and composure. That was not an easy finish, but he made it look straightforward. Alassana Jatta played a big part too, and for his first start he showed strength and pace that gave Fleetwood defenders real problems.

It is a shame he went off, but he left a positive impression. We might have scored a second if he had stayed on. Defensively, we were solid overall. Roos kept us in it during the first half, and the back three stuck to their task well in the second. It was not pretty at times, but a good win.

Dennis is on fire at the moment and long may it continue, once he gets used to playing with Jatta up front I think the two of them could be a lethal force in this division.

The defence kept a clean sheet as well in spite of Roos having a few butter finger moments.

Palmer bosses the midfield and is back to his best. This wasn’t a classic performance by any stretch of the imagination but it was hard working and at times ugly match winning performance, at the end of the day I’d rather see Notts win than lots of pretty passing and lose or draw.

Alassana Jatta could’ve gone for goal himself, but choosing to pass to Matthew Dennis showed real team spirit. It was a selfless move that speaks volumes about his attitude and how much he cares about the club and his team-mates.

Tom Iorpenda had a strong game going forward. He found space well and helped drive the attack. The team put in a solid shift overall, even though the scoreline was tight. Both sides had chances, and while it wasn’t the most polished match, Notts handled it well and got the job done.

It’s frustrating how some fans only seem to focus on the negatives. There’s no balance in their views, just fault-finding and moaning. The players deserve credit for their effort and the way they managed the game.

Dennis keeps showing how valuable he is. Another important finish when we needed it most.

The first half was tricky with Fleetwood creating more direct chances, but once Dennis scored, we looked far more settled. I thought Iorpenda was excellent in winning the ball back and pushing us forward. Lynch in their goal made a few good saves, but we still could have had a second with better decision-making in the box. Overall, it was encouraging to see us grind out a result and manage the closing stages without too many scares.

That was not the most comfortable performance, but it showed the side can dig in when needed. Fleetwood caused problems, especially down the right in the first half, and Roos pulled off some very good stops. It could easily have gone the other way if they had taken their chances.

At the same time, Dennis showed real composure for the goal and Jatta looked sharp before going off. It is also encouraging that the substitutes came on and helped see the game out. Winning is sometimes just as important as playing with style.

I'm pleased how the Notts stuck to their task of protecting their small lead when they were under pressure during the last 25 minutes or so.

If Notts can continue to show that determination, & doggedness when it's required combined with a bit of quality upfront front, I think it could encourage everyone that Notts do have the opportunity for success this season.

Midfield worked hard all game. Palmer and Norburn gave us balance and control.