Game 42 - The Ammies (A)
Team - Salford City
Date - 03/04/2026 15.00
Where - Moor Lane

What would your starting line-up be? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Fan of Big Tone
Change kick off time

Massive game

MP will need performances from all his players if we're to get a positive result

Anyone else feel that JJ is kind of a barometer for our performances. When he's bad we tend to struggle, when he's on song we don't. He'll need to be on his game, but so will everyone else. At Shrewsbury, he let a difficult direct opponent put him off his game. We can't afford any player to let that happen, they all have to find a way to make an impact.

Big game for Palmer as captain. The whole team and the bench have to let the ref (and lets hope its a strong one) know about their rough house tactics. They need to let the ref know that kicking players at this stage of the season can decide a promotion. But not to overdo it, we can't let the game descend into a war (their game). We have to concentrate on our play, but be ready to let the ref know when needed.

Not to fill you all with dread but our record against Karl Robinson (well his MK and Salford sides) is absolutely awful. We’ve faced off 14 times, in our first match back in 2010 we won 2-0, but ever since then it’s been 2 draws & 11 losses! It’s like he took that first loss personally and vowed to never lose again.

We have been totally done by Salford since he joined them; 4 matches, 4 losses and last season in particular we had two dreadful outings against them. I can still see Crowley losing the ball on the edge of our own area when I close my eyes.

I hope the technical board have gone into overdrive in preparation for this one, a draw will feel like an almost miraculous result and I’ll take it right now!

I've been dreading this for the reason @menzinho has said. Robinson is the archetype of the lower league manager who's not exactly Pep but somehow manages to get one over Notts and make us question our transfer policy, data model, 'identity' etc. I'd take a draw as well - it would be progress, even if it means us temporarily being pegged back slightly in the promotion race.

Team wise we don't know who's fit but 8 or 9 pick themselves so it's just a case of whether to use the other few places to add bite or skill. I just hope we don't cave in early on. Best way to achieve that might be to beef things up a bit (Browne?) and maybe keep Bennetts or even JJ fresh for the second half.

Edited 21 hours ago21 hr by Sheffield Pie

Yes, I'd take a draw too right now@menzinho 

Jatta's been involved in a couple of the recent losses and I hope he's really motivated to put things right.

He had a 1-on-1 a theirs last season but missed, that might've changed the course of the game

In the reverse fixture, he was totally out-psyched by Tilt (now Bradford). AJ started well then Tilt elbowed him and he was playing like a man possessed for a while. Then came Tilt's 'heartfelt apology', hugs and make-up. AJ fell for it and he went from lion to lamb - it seemed to drain all aggression and purpose out of him. Very clever, but boy do we owe them one. These games have been a horror show of gamesmanship and cheating from them.

Every single win we gain from now will be so precious, but I'm very nervous about tomorrow. We've already shown we can stand up to roughhouse tactics, but a lot will depend on whether MP send the players out in the right frame of mind. We need to be up for the physical battle, but we can't allow them to provoke us.

I have a sneaking suspicion Luker will come on and hit a last minute winner!!!!

I’ll be watching Sky Sports from behind the sofa, a bit like I did Dr. Who as a kid, I’m very nervous going into this game. As others have pointed out they are very physical and our players need to stand up to them but not be drawn into getting silly yellows or reds.

COME ON YOU PIES!

Notts recent record against Salford isn't good, having lost their last 4 League games against them home & away.

Salford are currently in 6th place in League 2, on 70 points. They have won 22, drawn 4 & lost 14:of their matches. Salford have won 4 of their last 5 matches with 1 defeat. In their last 10 matches Salford have won 6, lost 4 & have accrued 18 points from a possible 30.

It's certainly going to be a difficult match for Notts because the Salford pitch will not be condusive to free flowing football & Salford are sure to make things very difficult with their high intensity pressing, & high energy style of play, which Notts have found difficult to counter.

Although a Notts win would be a fantastic result, I think that a draw would be a good outcome considering our recent history against Salford, & the fact that Head Coach Martin Paterson might not be able to field a full strength Notts side, due to injuries.

1 hour ago, Robbie said:

Although a Notts win would be a fantastic result, I think that a draw would be a good outcome considering our recent history against Salford, & the fact that Head Coach Martin Paterson might not be able to field a full strength Notts side, due to injuries.

Agree with that for sure.

A draw would increase our overall odds slightly I think. A win/loss at this stage of the season would swing the odds a lot in either direction.

All I ask is better matchplay than at the corresponding stage of last season.

After 40 games (68pts), Stuart Maynard was talking about the 'business end of the season'. We never heard the phrase again.

Game 41 Colchester (A) Lost, 42 Salford (H) Lost, 43 Bradford (A) Draw 44 Cheltenham (H) Lost. 1pt from 12 broke our hearts. The team just couldn't respond when it mattered. That Colchester game (the same as today - Game 41) was a total capitulation and a sign of how we'd go out in the play-offs, with an absolute whimper as Stall said this week.

Hopefully MP's team can perform, show some real spirit and fight and in that case, que sera sera