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Notts County head coach Stuart Maynard has expressed his pride in the team's unbeaten start to the League Two season as they prepare to face Gillingham at Meadow Lane on Saturday. The Magpies have won four and drawn two of their opening six matches, leaving them top of the table, a position that Maynard is keen to defend in the upcoming top-of-the-table clash. Speaking ahead of the Gillingham fixture, Maynard highlighted the hard work and mentality of his squad, particularly their ability to remain calm under pressure. "I think we've talked about it a lot, our work ethic," Maynard began. "It's been a huge credit to the lads, the mentality. We've been behind in games and come back, and I think that's a real sign of the character within the group now." Maynard referred to Notts County's 4-2 victory away at Bromley, where the team had to overcome adversity after conceding early. "When we've gone behind, we've stayed calm, especially on Saturday away at Bromley, which was very difficult. We stayed calm and played our way back into the game," he said, crediting the team’s resilience for turning the match around. One of the standout aspects of Notts County’s early season form is their attacking prowess, having scored 14 goals across six matches. This goal-scoring form is all the more impressive given the departure of star striker Macaulay Langstaff in the summer. However, Maynard insists that the team’s unpredictability in attack has allowed them to maintain their threat. "I think if we were predictable, it would be very hard to keep scoring the amount of goals that we've scored," Maynard explained. "We've kind of looked at it in a lot of different ways when we're attacking different teams now to make sure that we can keep creating good chances for our forwards." He singled out the impact of David McGoldrick, who has been a consistent presence in front of goal this season. "Didzy... he's anomalous so. But yeah, we believe that we're creating very good chances, and the lads have been very clinical as well." The Notts boss also acknowledged the importance of spreading goals across the team, with players like Jodi Jones and Dan Crowley contributing significantly. "It's very key because everyone has dips in forms during the season," he said. "We've looked a real threat and a real danger this season from set pieces, the way that we're delivering the ball." On the defensive side, Maynard pointed out that a more solid backline has given the team the platform to express themselves going forward. "I think we attacked in a similar manner at the back end of the season, but we conceded a lot of sloppy goals, and it sucks the confidence out of the whole group," he reflected. "If you look this season now, the confidence is there." Maynard is cautious but optimistic about the upcoming challenge against Gillingham, a side that has only conceded two goals so far. "It's going to be a very tough game," he admitted. "They're defensively very solid. They're a good team, and I think they're expecting to probably be in and around it for a promotion push as well this season." Despite the early position at the top of the table, Maynard remains grounded, viewing each game as a different challenge. "Every game that you go into, there's different challenges within different games, and I think Gillingham will pose a different challenge to what we've probably had against us this season," he said. Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Maynard emphasised the need for squad depth and tactical adaptability. "We've got to be unpredictable... it's not always the starting eleven that will win you a game of football," he added. With a confident squad and a solid tactical plan, Notts County will be looking to extend their unbeaten run and stay top of the table in what promises to be an exciting contest against Gillingham. Join the Pride of Nottingham match discussion as Notts County prepare for a top-of-the-table clash against Gillingham at Meadow Lane! Excitement is building for the Chesterfield game, and with tickets already sold out, read more about it on Pride of Nottingham!

Notts County have sold out their full allocation of 999 tickets for the upcoming Sky Bet League Two clash against Chesterfield. The tickets, released this morning exclusively to season ticket holders, were snapped up in no time – a testament to the passion and support of the Magpies faithful. This fixture is no ordinary league game; it's a return to the scene of last encounter between the teams most nerve-wracking moment, the National League playoff final. That unforgettable day at Wembley, just over four months ago, saw Notts County secure promotion to League Two after a dramatic 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory. It was a game that left everyone on the edge of their seats, full of twists, errors, and heroics. As Liam Parker, a loyal Notts County and Pride of Nottingham member, recalls, “The win at Wembley was a special day. Chesterfield made the game hard from the moment the whistle blew. I thought they wanted it more, but Aaron Nemane was quality. He was key to allowing us to get back into the game.”* The match at Wembley ended 2-2 after extra time, with Chesterfield taking the lead twice. Andrew Dallas’ early penalty and a stunning effort from Armando Dobra pushed the Spireites ahead, but Notts fought back, with John Bostock’s free kick and a fortuitous Ruben Rodrigues strike levelling the scores. Parker described Rodrigues' goal as “somewhat lucky” but marvelled at the moment it created for the club: “To win on penalties meant a lot, to us fans and the players.” As the final whistle looms for this latest encounter, fans will be reliving memories of that May afternoon, when substitute goalkeeper Archie Mair became an unlikely hero, saving two penalties in the shoot-out to seal Notts’ long-awaited return to the Football League. But this trip to Chesterfield is no nostalgic replay; it’s a chance for both teams to measure their progress in League Two, and the Magpies supporters are fully behind their team. Notts County legend and BBC Radio Nottingham correspondent Mark Stallard, who provided commentary during the playoff final, summed up the relief and euphoria that followed that dramatic promotion win: “We always feared that after such a fantastic season, Notts would fall at the final hurdle – the play-offs – the hurdle they’ve fallen at in the past three seasons. But they showed their battling instinct. Today, it was all about the mentality to not get beaten, and they got their reward.” Stallard’s words will resonate with fans as they head to Chesterfield, hoping for another memorable day out. For many, this match carries a weight of significance beyond three points. Liam Parker, who attended every game last season, shared his personal journey: “My first away game was back when Notts played Chesterfield in League Two. Since being in the National League, I’ve managed to drive to most away games. I’ve only missed Shrewsbury Town this season.” Now, Parker is eagerly anticipating the chance to see how the two sides compare once more: “I’m looking forward to going with two of my friends. It should be a great game, and it will be nice to see just how much we’ve improved.” As the Magpies prepare for their reunion with Chesterfield, fans will be hoping for a performance that reflects their progression since that rollercoaster afternoon at Wembley. For Notts County, it’s more than just a fixture – it’s a chapter in their footballing story, one written with moments of despair and ultimate triumph. As Mark Stallard put it, “Notts County are back where they belong... this club is on an upward trajectory.” For insights from Notts County correspondent and former striker Mark Stallard on the win against Bromley, check out the article where he noted that if Jodi Jones and Dan Crowley play well, then nobody in this division lives with Notts County. Join the discussion on Pride of Nottingham about Curtis Edwards's injury against Accrington Stanley. Read the article and leave your comments on how it might impact the team!