We've made the playoffs.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Notts have made the playoffs. We don't know exactly where Notts will finish but it will be either fourth, fifth or sixth depending on results from the last day.

There is even a chance that Notts could sneak into the third automatic promotion spot if Notts beat Doncaster & other results go their way.

It's going to be a very exciting final day of the season, & I'm sure there will be a massive crowd cheering Notts on against Doncaster on Saturday 3rd May.

I believe Stuart Maynard & the team have done well to get where they are despite the large number of injuries  that Notts have suffered to key players this season.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

A big factor in us making the playoffs. Notts have scored more goals away, (37) than any other league 2 club, & have the 2nd best away record in the league (behind Doncaster) having won 10 & drawn 7 being undefeated in 17 away games out of 23.

If Notts could beat Doncaster on Saturday, Notts would finish with the best away record in the regular league season. 

CMON U PIES!!!

[liampie]

its been a long season, but it does feel like it has flown by at the same time. i think reaching the playoffs should be classed as success, even tho we spent a lot of time in the autos. we shown that injuries could be managed, poor form was only temporary and the squad never gave up. now we have to be optimistic and get behind notts, as if we can create the right atmosphere it could give us more going into those last games.

wembley bound i hope!

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Notts record 2024 top, 2025 bottom

  P   W D L  F   A  W D  L   F   A GD  Pt

45  12 2 9 51 42  6  5 11 38 43 4    61

 P   W D L  F   A  W D  L  F   A  GD  Pt

45 10 5 7 30 19 10 7 6 37 28  20  72

Interestingly, Notts have scored almost as many goals away as they did last season at the same stage

Defensively Notts have conceded a total of 38 goals less than they did at the same stage last season.

Notts away record this season is a big factor in Notts winning a playoff place.

Notts home record although dissapointing, is no worse than it was last season.

Overall I think that the improvement from last season is clear. Much better defensively, which was an absolute must. A better away record. Undefeated in 32 matches compared to 25 last season. 

[menzinho]

On 26/04/2025 at 17:51, Robbie said:

There is even a chance that Notts could sneak into the third automatic promotion spot if Notts beat Doncaster & other results go their way.

I still can’t quite believe we’ve got a chance of being automatically promoted, it doesn’t feel like it should be possible. I’ve never seen so many loses from so many of the top sides, there’s usually 1 or 2 that stumble at the end of the season but not 5 or 6!

I actually wouldn’t be that surprised if Bradford, Notts & Walsall all lost this weekend. Bradford would celebrate losing their way to promotion and it would be a fitting tribute to this season’s promotion race.

If a team did get promoted with 75 points it would be the joint lowest total since three automatic spots were awarded. Lincoln finished 3rd with 75 points in the 1997/98 season (and then got relegated the season after).

[DangerousSausage]

True words @menzinho. It feels like every week @Robbie has been telling us that only one or two teams from the top half won this week. It's certainly not the National League where you can get 100 points and miss out - the bar is a bit lower in L2 thanks to the three automatic spots.

Notts, Bradford and Walsall have made a heroic effort to avoid having to go to Field Mill next season but one of us will have to do it. Three results have to go our way for it to happen. I can see them all happening in isolation but all three is an outside bet.

I do think the two that successfully avoid League One will have a tough time in the play-offs, while whoever qualifies on the last day will have the wind in their sails. I definitely want to avoid Salford.

Who would you fancy us beating, and who do you think we should avoid?

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

In the playoffs, fourth will meet seventh & the fifth place side will play the sixth.

I agree with @DangerousSausagethat teams will want to avoid Salford. Colchester could sneak in if they win & results favour them. I think other playoff teams wouldn't like playing them either.

Either Bradford, Wimbledon Grimsby, Walsall, or Chesterfield could be an opponent in the playoffs for Notts, including either of the other two mentioned, if results play out in a particular way. 

It's a long time since we had so much uncertainty with one match to go.

My pick would be to play Walsall in the Semi & Bradford in the final, but it probably won't work out like that.

Let's just beat Doncaster, & hope results go our way & we can avoid the playoffs.

[menzinho]

I’m also desperately hoping Salford don’t finish in the play-offs, I’ll dread that fixture if it happens. They’ve just got us completely figured; we’d need to change it up if we are to face them again. I am starting wonder if that FA Cup loss a few years back has given us some sort of deep-rooted scaring...

The potential Bradford, Wimbledon & Walsall matches all feel like pretty drab affairs in which one team wins by a goal.

Grimsby have the worst defence out of all the teams that can qualify, that would do for me.

[CliftonMagpie]

If Salford City reach the play-offs, I would be nervous. But if we watch both the home and away matches carefully, we might figure them out. It depends on player availability, and these games are always unpredictable. Notts has the quality, and having Jodi Jones back could make a big difference after missing him in previous encounters. It’s promising to see how hard Notts have fought for promotion, and spending so much time in the automatic spots shows their strength. The team's form has been inconsistent at times, but that’s true for many sides this season. Some, like Walsall, have had longer bad spells but are still in contention for automatic promotion. There’s a chance for us, but it doesn’t seem likely. I’d rather see the team focus on the remaining games to give us the best shot at reaching the final.

[menzinho]

Even though Salford fell at the last hurdle, I’m still not that confident. It does feel like our undoing in the play-offs will be that we will have to play a team that also finished in the play-offs and not one that finished 19th.

And now we’ve got the issue of not being able to win at home right now. My expectations are so low I don’t I don’t think I can be disappointed because losing to Wimbledon over two legs feels like the most probable outcome.

We scraped past them at home with a 1-0 win scoring from a corner, I can’t remember anything else about that match so it can’t have been a thriller. And then away they comfortably beat us 2-0. I’d argue they are a slightly better team than us as against the rest of the top 7 they have 3 wins and 4 draws, we have 2 wins and 3 draws…

[DangerousSausage]

With us and Wimbledon being consistently inconsistent and Walsall blowing promotion, it's Chesterfield that go into the play-offs on a high and I think they're the team to watch. I can't see past them unfortunately, although it would be a bitter pill to see them, Mansfied and Doncaster playing above us next season.

But our name's in the hat and everything is possible.

[Sue Garfield]

Agree that playing at home first leg seems a total disadvantage. Ever since  SM referred to Meadow Lane being a fortress, it seems to have had a disastrously opposite effect.

[menzinho]

I am trying to not be totally negative, but after our recent performances where we’ve only managed to beat the poorer teams in the league and then struggled against everyone else at home these past few months, it’s hard see a complete turn-around of fortunes in 6 days. I know Wimbledon aren’t in great form either, but they did draw with both Doncaster and Chesterfield away recently. The Bradford match is my flicker of hope, but that still shows us how much we rely on Didzy…

Someone did remind me today that we don’t technically have to win any of our matches, we could draw all 3 but then win 2 on a penalty shoot-out! Can we get Archie Bass back on a 2-match deal?! 

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Notts have the 2nd best away record in League 2, so if Notts can get a narrow win at home, or even get a draw, I'm sure Wimbledon will be aware of that Notts good away record.

Previous fixtures stand for nothing when it comes to playoff matches. The pressure will be all on Wimbledon if we can get a positive result in our home leg.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Two years ago Notts made the National League playoffs with a record points total for a team finishing 2nd. It was a great achievement.

In 2025 Notts made the League 2 playoffs which is an even better achievement, even if many Notts fans don't think that is the case.

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On 04/05/2025 at 23:01, Sue Garfield said:

Agree that playing at home first leg seems a total disadvantage. Ever since  SM referred to Meadow Lane being a fortress, it seems to have had a disastrously opposite effect.

This is actually a very fair comment, although sad, it is very true.

Fans told me that they were happy we started at home, and it could be a good thing, but we do play with a higher level of freedom away from home. Both home and away we can be very hit and miss, I think I would feel more confident to have started away from Meadow Lane. I think a positive start to the playoffs could have brought momentum. Whereas the pressure is on us with being at home. AFC Wimbledon are also a very decent team, that have enjoyed success even after needing to come back into games at the Lane.

Despite all this, and the fact that the club remained in the automatic places for so long. We have made a significant achievement this season, and it does still feel like we are moving forward under the Reedtz.

At no point in my lifetime did it previously feel genuine that the club has a true potential to push for a higher level of football.