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Notts County head coach Stuart Maynard shared insights into his team’s ongoing success as they prepare to welcome Harrogate Town to Meadow Lane. The Magpies aim to continue their impressive form at home, which follows a resilient 1-1 draw against Barrow midweek and their recent hard-fought win over AFC Wimbledon. Maynard expressed confidence in his team’s preparations for Harrogate, noting that recovery and rest have been key to maintaining performance levels. “We recovered in Barrow the day after, which is very good,” he shared, explaining that this approach minimised fatigue and enabled the squad to focus fully on their upcoming fixture. “We’re back in training today ready for the preparations,” he added, emphasising the importance of both mental and physical readiness. While Notts County remains unbeaten away from home in League Two, their home form hasn’t always matched that consistency, with two recent home losses. Maynard believes luck hasn’t been entirely on their side at Meadow Lane but is optimistic about the team’s potential in front of a home crowd. “At home, I don’t think we’ve had that bit of luck that we’ve probably needed... but once we get in front here, it’s very hard for teams to get back into the game,” he stated. The home crowd’s energy, he explained, propels the Magpies to play at an even higher tempo when they’re in the lead. The manager highlighted the squad’s mentality as a driving force, especially in away matches where Notts have frequently scored late goals. Maynard praised the team’s composure, saying, “We’ve got that calmness this season... when we go behind, we’ve shown that we can come back with that calmness.” He acknowledged that some goals conceded early in games were less than ideal but remains focused on improving defensively, seeing these instances as part of the development process. “It’s a little bit frustrating sometimes, the types of goals that we’ve conceded, but we’re working hard on the training ground to rectify that,” he assured fans. Reflecting on their unbeaten away record, Maynard acknowledged that teams playing on home turf often press aggressively from the start, which has occasionally put Notts County on the back foot. “Teams at home are a little bit more aggressive… willing to come out and put bodies forward,” he noted, attributing early concessions to the intensity opponents bring to their own grounds. Despite this, he views the team’s resilience and ability to rebound as to their determination and focus. As Notts County prepares to face Harrogate, who sit a few places behind them, Maynard downplayed the significance of the league table at this stage of the season. “League tables only really matter once you start getting to the back end... when points become so valuable,” he remarked. Instead, he encouraged a game-by-game approach, with Harrogate now the main priority. "Every game we go into... we want three points and we believe every game we go into we can get three points,” he stressed, underscoring the team’s commitment to securing maximum points. Maynard’s optimism is further buoyed by their recent 1-0 home win against AFC Wimbledon, a team he described as one of the best defensive sides they’ve faced. “The way that we defended our box on the day was excellent,” he noted, commending his squad’s discipline and control. For Maynard, this win serves as both a confidence boost and a sign of the team’s growing strength at home. As Notts County looks to maintain their strong form, Maynard’s words resonate with the commitment to improvement and resilience. With Meadow Lane as the setting, fans will be eager to see if the Magpies can add another three points to their tally and build momentum toward the season's second half. Read our latest Pride of Nottingham article where David McGoldrick shares his thoughts on the Barrow draw, saying "scoring is what I live for." Join the Pride of Nottingham community as we gear up for Notts County vs. Harrogate Town - share your thoughts and match predictions!

Notts County's forward David McGoldrick shared his thoughts on the team’s recent performance and his own contributions following their hard-fought 1-1 draw. McGoldrick, now 36 years old, has already notched six goals in twelve appearances this season and continues to prove vital to the team’s campaign. Reflecting on the late penalty that secured a point for the Magpies, McGoldrick emphasised the team’s determination to come away with something after a challenging match. "Another late penalty this time," McGoldrick said. "I didn't need to do a one-two off the goalkeeper to score it. So yeah, it's good that it went in, it's good to come all this way and leave with something. That's what we wanted to do. Obviously, we wanted to win, but you can't win every game. So yeah, it's good to fight back and get a point." Having been on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, McGoldrick revealed his confidence in taking the crucial penalty, despite the fatigue that naturally sets in after such a physically demanding game. "The legs are fine," he remarked. "This is what you train for every day. This is what I live for, you know, looking after myself... I knew that I was going to score it, to be fair, without trying to sound arrogant. When the ball went up to say six minutes [added time], just like at Chesterfield, I said I'm gonna get a chance to score. It was a penalty, so it was the right decision." When asked if securing a point in such a dramatic fashion felt like a victory, McGoldrick acknowledged the positive result. "When you score last minute to get something, it's always a better feeling. Obviously, if we were 1-0 up and conceded in the last minute, then there would be a totally different feeling to the point. But Barrow are a good team, they played really well at times today... They're a good team, so yeah, it's a good point at any point away from home. We're still unbeaten away from home, so it's still good." Reflecting on the game, McGoldrick admitted that the opposition had not allowed Notts County to settle, forcing changes from the coaching staff after just half an hour. "That's what we're coming up against. Teams change their way. We always look at what team they're going to play, and there's different players playing to accommodate us. So we've got to take that as a compliment... At times it wasn’t pretty again today, just like it wasn’t at the weekend, but yeah, we got something." A key talking point in recent weeks has been McGoldrick's partnership with Alassana Jatta. The two have not spent much time together on the pitch, but when they do, it often leads to positive results for Notts County. McGoldrick praised his younger teammate, saying, "The big man, he doesn’t always be involved with the play, but he’s so good to play up top with. He always stays up and he fights, he battles... His goal record since he’s come to this club has been fantastic. He’s such a willing and humble lad working. I love playing up top with him." McGoldrick's form has been excellent this season, leading the team's goal-scoring chart, but the veteran forward downplayed his personal success, choosing instead to focus on the team's collective goals. "I don’t look at that. It’s only October. You see where the club is at the end of the season. Obviously, everyone knows where I want to be with the club, and that’s the main thing. I don’t care if I don’t score again and Alassana scores 30 more, if he gets us where I want to be with this club." McGoldrick also touched on the improvements in Notts County’s defensive solidity this season. "Much different," he said of the current campaign. "The players that have come in at the back, a different type of players that we had... We’re really solid. We don’t want to be conceding fours and fives every game, you know, so it’s nice to not concede as many, keep a few more clean sheets." With the team's attacking strength and defensive improvements, McGoldrick believes Notts County is on the right path for success this season. "That’s the recipe for success, I think," he concluded, "keeping clean sheets and knowing the boys up top will score goals." Read Notts County's head coaches thoughts on the 1-1 draw against Barrow, and where Stuart Maynard sees the need for further improvements. You still have time to add your final thoughts on the Barrow vs. Notts County game, leave your post-match thoughts inside the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.