We failed to get automatic promotion again this season. A couple of lessons learned that might have contributed. Firstly there is a saying in football (derided by some) “respect the point.” Looking at the league table at the end of the season is very revealing when we compare the Draw and Lost columns of the top three and ours.

Bromley lost 7 drew 15        MK Dons Lost 8 Drew 14    Cambridge Lost 8 drew 16.

Notts Lost 14 Drew 8

Interestingly we won 24 matches the same as Bromley and MK Dons and two more than Cambridge 22.

Since Ian Burchnall we have had the philosophy of the aim win every game no matter who the opposition is and wherever we are playing. This is a noble aspiration, one which many of us agree with. However sometimes in-game decisions have to be made as to whether it’s wise to “respect the point” rather than keep on taking risks that result in defeat.

Another contributing factor to missing out on automatic promotion was our disciplinary record.

Notwithstanding losing Jatta, Norburn, Robertson, Nlovu and Hall for a number of games for red cards, it was the impact on the actual  games in which they were sent off.

If Robertson had stayed on against Bromley we might have won that game.

Norburn against Chesterfield after 19 minutes. Surely we get something from that game with 11 on the pitch. And also against Grimsby Nlovu is sent off in the 76^th minute and Grimsby score in the 85^th. We missed out on Automatic promotion by 3 points.

 Small margins or our own doing?

Whatever the case is, lets hope we have learned the lessons for next season!

 

Excellent analysis @McPie I definitely think the disciplinary record harmed our cause, I hope MP tightens up on that next season. I guess we can always look at games and think “if only that hadn’t happened we might have won/got a point etc, it was ever thus for Notts, did I read somewhere that we have been in more promotions and relegations than any other team? It certainly seems like it.

Yes it's true @Fan of Big Tone Ifs, buts and maybes don't count for much. In the end it didn't matter we achieved promotion anyway. I think from the three playoff games we already are seeing the value of being difficult to beat, but still playing positively without going gung ho! I think this will be key for a good season in league 1.

Good post! Conversely, you could say that we won games we would have drawn with a more cautious approach - ultimately, you get more points by winning one and losing one than by drawing both. It's swings and roundabouts.

All the same, next season we'll be in a different situation where we can't really expect 80+ points, so I expect us to settle for the odd point more. A draw isn't such a bad result when you're not shooting for automatic promotion. But we need to carry on where we left off in the playoffs and be harder to beat, the losses column was a bit too high for my liking.