Is automatic promotion still possible? Notts have 12 games left, they are currently on 61 points. Notts have five home games & seven away games left to play.

I think that in the last 12 games Notts need at least another 13 points to achieve a playoff place & at least 24 points to clinch promotion.

I think barring a terrible loss in form, Notts can get the 13 points or more with matches to spare, however getting the 24 points for a promotion place is going to be more difficult. I think a playoff place is the most likely.

Thoughts?

Agree@Robbie 

I'd say Play-offs 60% Autos 30% 8th or below 10%, something like that, changing after each game.

Your about on the mark there @theAnticlough

As you say 3/10 chance for the autos.

This could go up with three wins on the bounce starting with Walsall. We just need to aim for a good playoff place and then see what happens.

24 points out of 36 available is a tough ask. We've earned 22 points from the last 10 games so it's possible, but with the extra pressure of having to perform consistently is another factor to consider with 12 games left.

A win tomorrow would be an enormous boost

Notts have certainly shown that they are capable of playing at a high level. Notts just have to play at that high level consistently for the next 12 games starting against Walsall.

As you rightly point out @Robbie consistency is key to our fate this season, if the players can maintain a good level of quality over those games, key players keep fit, injured players return and we get the rub of the green we could very well achieve automatic promotion. There are a lot of factors that need to come together for us to reach our dream, one thing is for certain it’s going to be an exciting end to the season so let’s buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Yes, no doubt we have to be consistently good to get around 24 points over 12 games. Also agree @Fan of Big Tone on the injuries and the rub of the green.

I think something else will be needed though - improvement in a key area

By and large, we have been pretty consistent, bar a few out-of-character flat, slow-paced performances or poor tactical games. Even then, nobody has really dominated or rolled over us.

Across the back and middle thirds of the pitch we have been consistently strong. The problem has been in the attacking third. It hasn't been from lack of attacking intent - it's a personnel problem. Too many of our squad fail to execute in the final third, suddenly lose their composure and fail to find that pass, snatch at a shot or fail to shoot at all.

There's no risk of singling out players because there have been so many like this (including really, really good players for us).

- Macari, Bedeau, Tsaroulla, Iorpenda, Grant, Kouhyar, Bennetts, Gordon, Cotter, Traore....there's 10, right there.

We had 1 player who could keep his composure - but he was sent back to Shelborne. For the sake of balance, maybe he should've stayed. Time will tell

So yeah consistency, injury luck, general luck, key decisions - but I don't think we can get autos unless with make a leap in final third execution.

Wouldn’t it be great if Jatta returned today and along with Dennis hit a rich streak of form bagging loads of goals between now and the end of the season sealing promotion with games to spare.

One can dream.

Eleven games left.

5 home, 6 away.

3 consecutive sway games against Oldham, Harrogate & Salford will be massive. None of the eleven games left will be easy. Every one, a cup final.

82 points might be enough. 6 wins from 11 matches. Win our home games & one away.

14-03-26. Notts v Chesterfield

17-03-26. Accrington v Notts

21-03-26. Notts v Cheltenham

24-03-26. Oldham v Notts

28-03-26. Harrogate v Notts

03-04-26. Salford v Notts

06-04-26. Notts v Newport

11-04-26. Cambridge v Notts

18-04-26. Notts v Barnet

25-04-26. Colchester v Notts

02-05-26. Notts v Bristol R

If the game in hand that we have, and MK Dons/Cambridge United goes our way, and we win. It could push us much closer to Bromley. Notts only needs a few more wins to seal a promotion place, and whilst that is good, the club shouldn't just sit on that. We need to push for an automatic space, there's still much that can happen and its highlighting why wins like yesterday are crucial as we almost came back with no points.

I'd like to believe we could mount a bid for the title, but I think just being in contention for an automatic place is more realistic.

I am hoping that we can continue to win, even when the performances aren't the best and come the final six features it would be satisfying to see us in a similar position as we are now. That would make me believe we are capable of securing 2nd or 3rd.

@Chris

I did a little research & Notts are 6 points in front of where they were last season at the same stage.

Notts scored 14 points from their last 11 matches, so Notts are in a better position points wise & form wise, so there is hope we can improve on last season's points total.

It would really be something special, if we can start a new winning streak and use that to fuel us into a top 3 finish fight. I really hope MK Dons mess up and fall into the playoffs, but it's interesting to know we are doing better at this stage in comparison to last season.

I think it's 50/50 for me personally. We're a very dogged team that MP has got firing when we think we're onto a loss, but injuries are likely to slow momentum at any given time.

Say if Belshaw gets injured (as is the epidemic across League 2), it could be catastrophic. I'm dying to see Palmer, Jatta and Luker back, but seemingly from what Patto says, we're not gonna know for a while which I think could invigorate us. I did like Bennetts and Tangen last match and I'd love them to play where Grant and Hall play because, and I'll try to be nice, they're a total detriment to scoring.

I'm obviously vying for a automatic prom because I've gone and booked a hol over the playoff dates 😅

We are as good as anyone in this league. For automatic promotion, we have to get our injured players back. With a full squad and the team spirit we have at present, we can definitely get top three.

It's more than possible, but always difficult. You generally need 80+ points to go up automatically from this division, which would equate to six wins out of our last 11. That's more than achievable. But with Bromlex having a bit of a head start and the franchise hitting form at the crucial time, it could end up being a three-way race between us, Swindon and Cambridge for the last spot. I've been half-expecting Bromley to drop off for a while now as they're very one-dimensional, but to date their "tactics" have proven very effective.

We do have options, it's just up to MP to juggle them correctly. As @theAnticlough says, we have a lot of players with the same weakness, which means we often have trouble unlocking the door. Having Jatta and Ndlovu back will help enormously.

Spot on with the juggling, @DangerousSausage. I don't think anymore that there's 1 formula in the squad that'll solve the No.10 positions. It's going to have to be by committee.

If MP's going to continue with the box midfield I dread it being, as a regular line up,,...

Norburn Palmer

Iorpenda Grant

We're going to need more mobility, unpredictability, energy and production than that. I'd like to see Iorpenda partner one of the older CMs (who share a position) and MP pulling surprises for the No.10s. MP's willingness to change the shape, when needed, will also be important IMO.

Yes

The bookies have it as a five horse race (Salford, the sixth favourites, are a long shot at 8/1). Converting the odds, they give Bromley an 83% chance, MK 75%, Cambridge 67%, Notts 56%, Swindon 23%.

I still don't rate Swindon. Our game at Cambridge is massive, win there and we're in the driving seat. Bromley have lost the knack of nicking a win. It's 100% there for the taking, we just have to play to our potential in the kind of games where we tend not to turn up - the Chesterfield and Salford games being the ones that worry me the most.

Top of Table after Tuesday 10th March matches. Notts up to fourth place, eight points ahead of the team in eighth place.

MK Dons won, & Salford won.

1. Bromley. 36 played: 70 points

2. MK Dons. 36: 68

3. Cambridge. 35: 65

4. Notts. 35: 64

5. Swindon. 36: 63

6. Salford. 36: 61

7. Grimsby. 35: 56

8. Chesterfield. 36: 56

9. Crewe. 36: 56

Good night for MK.

One set of fixtures, Bromley draw, they win, they go top and into the box seat with a much better goal difference.

And MK at home to Bromley on 11-April.

All this cranks up the pressure on Bromley. It'll be interesting to see what happens on Saturday against the surging Bristol Rovers

@theAnticlough Bristol Rovers could become the form team of league 2. They've won 5 of their last 10 matches & 3 of their last 5. They currently stand in 19th place but are moving clear of the bottom two relegation places. Could be a tricky last match Notts against them at ML if promotion is still to be decided.

15 minutes ago, Robbie said:

@theAnticlough Bristol Rovers could become the form team of league 2. They've won 5 of their last 10 matches & 3 of their last 5. They currently stand in 19th place but are moving clear of the bottom two relegation places. Could be a tricky last match Notts against them at ML if promotion is still to be decided.

@Robbie alternatively Bristol Rovers could be comfortable in mid table and their players have one foot on the beach whereas we would have everything to play for.

True @Robbie but won't look further ahead than Bromley v Bristol Rovers on Saturday...

Around the time of year form and momentum can be better indicators than league position. The last dozen games suggest MK and Cambridge are the main threats for the auto spots... Bromley and Swindon will be easier to get ahead of.

Bromley have an easy run of games, but Saturday's is one to watch for. It's no use at all though, unless we can get points from home games such as Chesterfield.

On 10/03/2026 at 23:20, theAnticlough said:

All this cranks up the pressure on Bromley. It'll be interesting to see what happens on Saturday against the surging Bristol Rovers

A Steve Evans side v an Andy Woodman side... I know one thing, that poor 4^th official will be deaf by the end of it!

Notts have four home games left to play out of the 10 games left. We have awkward away games at Accrington, Oldham, Salford, Cambridge, & Colchester who are all with a chance of making the playoffs. Cambridge & Salford have hopes of gaining automatic promotion. Harrogate away is always a hard away fixture too.

It's going to be a very hard run in for Notts, even if they have all their best players available. It looks like we will only have a half fit Jatta available for the Accrington match, with Dennis & Ndlovu suspended.

I think that Notts need to aim to secure a playoff place first then see where they are. I think that the inconsistent performances are not helping & are reducing our chances of making the autos. This inconsistency has to change very quickly if Notts are to have any chance of automatic promotion.