Chris

Massive game and something Neal Ardley should carefully approach. It's important the balance between defending and attacking is met, however until Enzio returns I fear Notts don't have enough pace on the wings and this is something which would be useful. Macclesfield would thrive on Notts attacking via the centre of the park, so injecting speed and players able to be direct could work. It might be worth giving Andy Kellett a go. I don't know, I just feel it could be one of those games where the same squad doesn't quite manage to get the right result. The games a must win match, so despite me saying in the PONcast that I would rest Jon Stead - perhaps he should start? Kristian Dennis and Kane Hemmings could do the trick but I'm just thinking neither really hold the play up or link in others, Stead is a true grafter of this.

Does anyone else have that optimistic match day feeling back? I feel like Notts aren't guaranteed a loss and it's refreshing, hopefully the unknown can be eventually switched to the hope of winning because this alone for the players would give them confidence. It's going to be a difficult game but team work is key here, defend as a united and attack as a group. Don't limit space, find gaps and make room - chances will naturally come if this happens. I still feel the game will end 2-2 but I would take that. COYP!

It's a tough game, Grimsby at home are usually quite lethal. Neal Ardley needs to avoid changes where possible, I'm not sure tactically there are any that I would suggest other than Rob Milsom being switched out. I just felt he offered little against Tranmere and from what I was told he went missing against Mansfield. It's been like that for a few games now, so give someone else a chance. At the back, I wouldn't change Dan Jones simply for the fact we need to see if he can fix the issues from the previous games. Up top I would go for Kane Hemmings and Jon Stead again. Switching Stead for Kristian Dennis once he tires. Likewise reserve other subs for players who are either weakening the team or are tired.

Notts played well. Nobody can say the game wasn't exciting and Neal Ardley seems to have done wonders with the defence, early on it looked different and a lot better. Yes there was obvious issues with Dan Jones and Elliott Hewitt (the latter having done okay) but it was a decent team performance. I felt Tranmere looked okay, nothing flash. I feel the tactics and starting line-up greatly helped Notts. Tranmere wasn't able to dig in as quickly as I assumed they would and Notts controlled things well. Fantastic win! Yes two goals conceded but if these issues can be resolved with more time. I think it looks brighter for the club, as Ardley seems very hands on from the touch line and the subs was superb in my eyes. They corrected what was going wrong which is the whole reason for having them!

Tranmere Rovers seem a very capable side. They don't show any fear in taking players on, I think it's important Elliott Ward and Jamie Turley start in the CB positions because they won't shy away from their duties. In the centre of the park we need to be more mindful and certainly creative, if we run into danger - I can see Tranmere easily winning the ball back. I don't feel confident and I think this is mostly down to the unknowns. I think they're mostly likely going to win and 2-0 seems about right. I hope I'm wrong because Notts needs the points.

Nathan Thomas switches off. He's been only average and he doesn't have the work rate needed, Neal Ardley has a task to get him on the same page but at the same time he's unlikely to be dropped.

Game over! 2-0 Mansfield. The second half sounds poor, the fight seems gone and I feel for the fans who have managed to attend. It could get painful but the fact Mansfield are singing that we are going down. What a joke of a club. Notts will be fine but I will take snippets of the game both video and audio and ensure the players can see how pain. This a shame.

If Notts can re-group and remain focused at the back a goal may come. I still feel the match will end 2-1 and I'm hoping Notts can grab a goal in order to push Mansfield. I think the game probably favours Mansfield now but if I was Neal Ardley I would bombard the Stags defence. Let's get a goal and try to take the game with some form of fight.

I am not remotely bothered about Notts having lost, however I do feel annoyed that Sunderland fielded the squad that they did because it takes the p out of the competition. Is the money really going to make a massive difference to them?

It's going to be a difficult game for Notts. I still feel the scoreline could end up 2-1 but god knows who too. Notts will need to trouble Mansfield's defence and I can see them setting themselves fully expecting Neal Ardley's men to play through the middle since we lack pace on the flanks. This is something I feel could give Notts some way to get into the game, I wouldn't start three up top and I would allow the team to play too deep. Battle of the midfield as always.

Notts needs to stop sacking managers and actually work towards overcoming the issues, once Meadow Lane becomes toxic that's it but smarter appointments is needed. Harry Kewell failed because he got ahead of himself after winning three games in a row. Neal Ardley needs to avoid thinking he can throw anyone wherever he feels, play players in form and in their strongest position. I hope he can be here for many years.

Honestly, I hope Neal Ardley plays some of the outsiders for this game. If he has an idea that 4-5 players are in starting line-up, use the remaining spaces to formulate an idea on who might take the chance to shine. I don't really care about the result but it would give something positive for the Mansfield game if we worked out which players are ready and prepared to fight.

First half Notts defended with 9 players plus the keeper. We couldn't string a pass really and Steve Chettle had the defensive line far too deep. Defensively Notts got lucky, as Carlisle United moved the ball nicely and created some good chances which they're guilty of being very wasteful of. I felt they look very confident until they struck the ball but a lot of praise for me should be given to Jamie Turley who battled and tried to win everything. In the second half Notts always do better when they attack the Kop. Chettle claims he changed things but this isn't true, we started off exactly the same as we ended the first half but grew in confidence as the game progressed, When Notts started knocking on the door, we looked bright and lively. After Nathan Thomas missed a sitter (decent save by Adam Collin) - I felt Notts look very likely to score. Instead of committing a few players forward, we actually had attacking players and we look good for a spell. This was until we scored, then we parked the bus back. Isolated Kristian Dennis and never properly pushed for a second. Notts grew quite tired of chasing everything, as the main players doing a lot of running - i.e Dennis, Hewitt, Jones seemed knackered and this gave Carlisle a sense that they could get something. Honestly after they scored, I feel they should have won the game because they played some restless stuff. Chettle IS NOT a talented manager, I feel sorry for him but he's utterly clueless and anyone who says otherwise wouldn't have seen what the 4k attending yesterday did.

Poor performance? Not good but at the same time it wasn't that bad. Notts just parked the bus, there was no attack and Kristian Dennis was isolated. After Notts scored, we should have pushed for a second. I think we are lucky too, as Carlisle should have shut the door on us. They was wasteful but fairly decent.

Carlisle United tend to know how to exactly break down a team, if we defend as we tend to do - well I would favour them. It's all about the midfield battle, if we allow them to control the game it will be harder to get something. If Notts can defend aswell as they attack then we stand a chance, I'm not looking forward to it and I think the kop might be depressing. I'm actually considering seeing if I can switch. I don't care about paying more, it's just not a good vibe when the tension is so high. Notts does need to get something from the game though.

I would have taken the draw before the game, so I see no reason to complain. I understand why fans would feel we lost 3 points but at the end of the day we always look likely to concede and it's a hard thought point. Hopefully it gives Neil Ardley an insight into what must be done so that he can aid further improvements, I did listen to the game and I can't comment much else. It sounded like we did enough to warrant the lead which is pleasing to see.

Morecambe could surprise me and play attacking minded football, yet I suspect a scrappy physical team tomorrow. I hope Notts have done their home work. Games are lost on the day but not completely outplayed, if Chettle is as talented as some people claim - he won't find this hard. If he is a good coach, then he will know what exactly needs doing.