PON_News

Pre Match Interview | Ash Hind | Peterborough United (A)

Pre Match Interview | Harry McLean| Peterborough United (A)

Notts County defender Jacob Bedeau has highlighted the team’s defensive improvement this season, crediting the collective effort from the squad in maintaining their impressive form at the back. Since arriving at Meadow Lane in the summer after leaving Morecambe, the 25-year-old has become a key part of Stuart Maynard’s side, forming a strong partnership with Matty Platt and helping to protect goalkeeper Alex Bass. Reflecting on the team’s defensive performances, Bedeau acknowledged a strong start, followed by a period where standards slipped slightly, before regaining solidity in recent weeks. "We've been really tight at the back, we started the season well as a defence. I think it was a little bit in the middle where we conceded a few more goals than we probably would have liked. But it's good to be back to that kind of solid defensive shape," Bedeau said. Last season, Notts County struggled defensively, conceding more goals than they would have liked. However, a summer of recruitment, including Bedeau’s arrival, has helped transform the team into one of the strongest defensive units in the division. He emphasised that it has been a team-wide effort rather than just down to the new additions. "I think obviously after last year there's a big emphasis on, as a team, probably defending better than we did last year. So I think everyone carries that burden. It's not just the players that have been signed. I think if you look through the team, everyone works so hard defensively, right up to AJ at the top of the pitch who works his socks off chasing and pressing, which really enables us to be able to defend a lot easier." Notts County have been particularly resolute at home, conceding just eight goals at Meadow Lane this season, the best record in the division. Bedeau believes the club’s home form is heavily influenced by the fans and the atmosphere they create. "You know, probably the fans. I think it's such a tough place to come for opposing teams, especially when they're really behind us and supporting us. It feels like a fortress almost," he said. "And I think we've been unlucky to not have won more games at home. I think we've drawn quite a few, and we had a couple of losses early in the season. And if you look back at those games, there's a few contentious calls that could have gone our way and even the Bromley game at the weekend, I think it was their only real chance that they scored from." Despite his strong defensive displays, Bedeau is still searching for his first goal for the club, something his teammates have been quick to remind him about. "I know, I know. Hopefully it's coming. I get a bit of stick from some of the lads because obviously Platty's got a few. Even Rod nearly scored the other day as well. I am desperate for a goal, but at the same time as long as we're winning and clean sheets, that's the most important thing for me." Notts County have won six of their last eight matches, a run of form that has put them into the automatic promotion places. Bedeau has been enjoying his football at the club and believes the team’s style of play makes every game exciting. "Yes, I think even from playing against Notts last year, you can see that the style of play is enjoyable to be a part of. You go into games really looking forward to playing, whereas at times at other clubs you might be like, it might be a bit of a slog today. But here it's really enjoyable, really fun. The players I get to play with are top level. So yeah, I've just really enjoyed my time here." Looking ahead, Notts County face a busy fixture schedule, with a mix of league and cup matches coming up. Bedeau, however, insists that the packed calendar does not faze the squad. "Not really. I think at this stage of the season, you know the games are going to come thick and fast and all you want to do is pick up results. You don't even think about the days you're playing to be honest. You just want to get the games done and take the three points and see where you are come the end of the season." One of the upcoming fixtures sees Notts County face Bedeau’s former club Morecambe, who are currently struggling in League Two. While he wishes his old side well, he is fully focused on securing a win when they meet. "Yeah, do you know, I've got a lot of love for the club. They gave me a lot while I was there. So obviously, I hope they get out of the situation they're in. And with Derek Adams at the helm, there's a good chance because he knows this division, and he knows how to get out of sticky situations really. I wish them all the best but obviously when we play them here in a couple of weeks, hopefully we get the three points." Notts County’s recent form has put them in contention for promotion, but Bedeau is not getting carried away just yet. "Not really, no. I think you just have to focus on yourself because there's so many teams in and around it. And if you look at years gone, you look at Walsall last year who made a run at the end, Doncaster as well last year. So teams can come from anywhere and almost oust you. So you just have to keep on top of what you're doing. And then maybe when there's five games to go, maybe you'll have a look down and say, right, what do we need to be where we want to be? So I think it's just all about picking up the points we need at the moment to get where we want to get to." Promotion has been the goal since the start of the season, and Bedeau confirmed that the squad is fully committed to achieving that aim. "Yes, I think when we came in the summer on the first day, in the first meeting, the gaffer set out what our aim was for the season. So, we're not shying away from that. It's what we want, and I think as a group of players everyone has come to this club to achieve that. So obviously we know what we need to do, what we want to do, but at the same time we just take it game by game, and hopefully we'll achieve our goal." With a strong defence, growing momentum, and a clear objective in mind, Bedeau and Notts County are well on their way to making their promotion ambitions a reality. Curtis Edwards shares his thoughts on Notts County’s hard-fought win over Carlisle United and the fans’ incredible support on his return to the starting XI. Read the full interview now on Pride of Nottingham! Join the match discussion on Pride of Nottingham ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Gillingham - see what fellow fans are saying and share your own thoughts!

Curtis Edwards made his long-awaited return to action as Notts County secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Carlisle United. The 31-year-old midfielder, who had been sidelined since September with an ankle injury, came off the bench to help his side see out the win. Speaking after the game, Edwards expressed his delight at being back on the pitch and contributing to a crucial victory. "Yeah, obviously, like you say, best game of a bit longer period in a long time," Edwards said. "So 1-0 up, it's nice to come in and show some energy and try and help the lads see out the win, which we did, so it's very pleasing." His return comes after a difficult spell on the sidelines, with Edwards missing over four months of action. During his recovery, he spent time alongside fellow injured teammates Jodi Jones and Conor Grant, both of whom also recently returned to the squad. "Yeah obviously three to four months, I think I was a bit longer than them two," Edwards explained. "They've been back three, four weeks now, so I'm just getting up to speed. It'll take a few more games to get more minutes, but I'm feeling good." The match itself was a tense affair, with Notts County taking an early lead before Carlisle applied increasing pressure in the second half. Edwards admitted it was a challenge to step in and match the intensity of the game. "Yeah, it's tough. Always coming into a match takes a lot to get up to the speed, so that's why you just have to try and come in and work as hard as you can, which we all try and do," he said. "Especially that tempo game, Carlisle made it difficult second half, but it was good that we got the win." Despite spending a relatively short time at Meadow Lane since joining Notts County, Edwards has already become a favourite among the fans. Their support was evident when he was introduced from the bench, something the midfielder was keen to acknowledge. "Yeah, first of all I just want to thank the fans," he said. "Like you say, I've been here a short period, but the support they've given has been amazing. I think you heard it tonight, so that's pleasing." The final minutes of the match saw Notts County under heavy pressure, with Carlisle dominating possession. The Magpies had opportunities to extend their lead on the counter but ultimately had to rely on their defensive resilience to secure all three points. "Yeah, it would have been nice to get the second," Edwards admitted. "Obviously a few chances in the first half as well. Hopefully in the next games we can come in with a better lead, but like you say, see if we can make something of the counters in the next games." With 19 league matches remaining, Notts County now sit third in the League Two table. However, Edwards insists the squad is not getting ahead of themselves. "Yeah, a lot of football," he said. "I think we just need to stop looking at the table, it's so tight. We just need to focus on the next game and keep performing the way we have, keep trying to pick up as many points as we can, and then see where we end up." As Edwards continues to build match fitness, his return comes at a vital time for Notts County’s promotion push. With his experience and versatility in midfield, he could play a key role in the club’s ambitions for the remainder of the season. Join the match discussion on Pride of Nottingham ahead of tomorrow's game against Gillingham! Share your thoughts on Stuart Maynard’s tactics or simply your predictions for the match. Pride of Nottingham recognises the recent dip in content and social media activity, and we truly appreciate the community’s patience. If you are able to, please consider subscribing to help support the site’s running costs as every bit helps us keep going!

Notts County head coach Stuart Maynard expressed his satisfaction with his side’s defensive solidity after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Carlisle United at Meadow Lane. A first-half goal from Gambian striker Alassana Jatta secured the three points, pushing the Magpies back into third place in the League Two table. Speaking after the match, Maynard acknowledged the difficulty of the contest, describing Carlisle as a strong opponent. “Football's a funny game, the way we performed at the weekend, and we come away with just the point… you've got to give huge credit to Carlisle, they're a very good team,” he said. He also noted that despite their current position, he does not expect Carlisle to struggle come the end of the season. The head coach was particularly pleased with his team’s defensive organisation, highlighting their ability to limit Carlisle’s attacking opportunities. “Defensively tonight, we've shown once again. It's another clean sheet, 11 for the season, and I didn't feel at any given stage under threat of conceding,” he stated. He emphasised that aside from one moment when goalkeeper Alex Bass, known as “Bassy,” misjudged a clearance and the visitors hit the post, Carlisle rarely troubled Notts County’s backline. Maynard stressed that his side controlled how the opposition attacked, forcing them into wide areas where they were less effective. “They had a lot of possession in and around the final third, but I thought we decided where we wanted them to cross the ball from and shoot,” he explained. “I'm really impressed with the way that we defended tonight.” While the match was tightly contested, the moment of real quality came from Jatta’s decisive strike. “Oh, definitely some goal,” Maynard admitted when asked if it was the standout moment of the game. He believed Notts County had opportunities to increase their lead, particularly in the first half, but was pleased with the attacking display. “I thought we performed very well in the first half, attacking-wise I thought we were very comfortable. We were around the edge of their box a lot,” he added. One of the key talking points of the match was a controversial refereeing decision when Nick Tsaroulla appeared to be fouled in the box. Maynard was left frustrated by the explanation given by the officials. “I'm baffled why it's not [a penalty],” he said. “The fourth official said to me on the side, ‘the reaction of your players is why it's not a penalty,’ and I'm like, but we tell our players not to surround the ref. We don’t want players surrounding referees.” Maynard also praised his substitutes for adapting quickly to the pace of the match, singling out Kellan Gordon, Zak Johnson, Curtis Edwards, and Will Jarvis. “I thought they were excellent to get up to the speed of the game very quickly,” he said. Despite concerns over injuries, with Connor Grant coming off with a dead leg and Sam Austin sidelined due to groin tightness, Maynard remains optimistic about the team’s momentum. He reiterated his belief in focusing on performances rather than the league table. “No, no, look, it's so tight… I think it'll be like this all the way to the wire,” he commented. “We've just got to keep performing the way we have.” With another victory secured and their defensive record improving, Notts County will look to maintain their promotion push as they head into the crucial final stretch of the season. There's still time to vote for the Pride of Nottingham's Man of the Match from Tuesday night's win over Carlisle United! Have your say and cast your vote now. Join the Pride of Nottingham community in discussing the mutual departure of keeper Aidan Stone, who has left the club today. Share your thoughts and join the conversation!

Notts County midfielder George Abbott has expressed his delight at extending his loan spell with the Magpies until the end of the season, following another strong performance in their latest victory. The 19-year-old, on loan from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, played a key role in securing the three points, providing a pinpoint assist for Alassana Jatta’s goal. Reflecting on the game, Abbott acknowledged that Notts County had chances to score earlier but was pleased with how the team dug deep to secure the win against Carlisle United. "I think we had a couple of chances in the first half which we probably should have scored," Abbott admitted. "I know I had one in the second half which I should have scored as well, but I tried to cross it. I think the boys dug in deep to get the win and the subs that came on really helped as well, which helped us push to the end. I think it was a really good performance." The victory also saw Notts County register their 11th clean sheet of the season, a statistic that will be crucial as they continue their push for automatic promotion. Abbott credited the opposition for making the game competitive but praised the defensive resilience of his teammates. "Credit to Carlisle. I think they played really well," he said. "They moved the ball quickly as well and started to look a bit like us. Towards the end of the game, they had a couple of chances, but it didn't look like they were too much of a threat trying to score. I think the defence held strong, and we got the job done." Abbott played a decisive role in the only goal of the game, delivering a perfectly placed cross that Jatta headed home. The young midfielder has now contributed four goals and four assists in League Two this season, and he emphasised how much he enjoys pushing forward to create opportunities. "I try to get myself forward as much as possible," he explained. "We normally play with two sitters, but I think when we've got one staying there, we've got a bit more security. So I feel I can get forward and get in those positions to get the crosses in. Obviously, when you've got AJ in the box, I think you can cross it anywhere. But yeah, he got his head on it, and it was a great half." Abbott also praised the tireless performance of experienced forward David McGoldrick, whose energy and work rate played a key role in Notts County's attacking play. Following his contract extension until the end of the 2024-25 season, Abbott reaffirmed his commitment to the club’s promotion push. The young midfielder has settled in well at Meadow Lane and is eager to help the team achieve their ambitions. "I was really happy to hear that I extended it to the end of the season because I think I was getting quite comfortable in this team," he said. "The people around me were really helping, and the team I’m in, I think we can go forward and push for automatic promotion. Hopefully, we can do that." With Abbott continuing to impress in midfield, Notts County will hope his presence can be a driving force in their pursuit of a return to League One. Join the discussion on Pride of Nottingham about yesterday’s 1-0 win at Meadow Lane against Carlisle United. Cast your Man of the Match vote and have your say on the standout performance!

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