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HIGHLIGHTS | NOTTS COUNTY 3-1 EASTLEIGH

In a hard-fought victory over Eastleigh, Ruben Rodrigues scored two goals to bring Notts County within one point of National League leaders Wrexham. At half-time, the Magpies were trailing to Danny Whitehall's penalty, but the Portuguese player equalized and then scored to put his team in front. Macaulay Langstaff added a goal to seal the win, putting pressure on Wrexham who have a game in hand. Both teams had early chances, with Joe McDonnell saving shots from Rodrigues and Jodi Jones for Eastleigh, while Tiernan Brooks denied Whitehall for County. The game was tightly contested, with both sides showing their attacking prowess. Despite Eastleigh's early dominance, Whitehall's penalty was their only goal of the game, and County fought back admirably. They levelled the score on the hour mark through Rodrigues, who scored after being set up by Langstaff following Aaron Nemane's run. Rodrigues then put County in front 14 minutes from time with a well-placed shot, before Langstaff secured the win with a header late on. The victory was a crucial one for Notts County in their pursuit of Wrexham at the top of the table. Don't forget to share your thoughts on this below, and why not join in the match discussion against Eastleigh? The Pride of Nottingham dashboard page is a great tool for Notts County fans to stay up-to-date with the latest news, fixtures, and match reports all in one place.

POST-MATCH | NOTTS COUNTY 3-1 EASTLEIGH | RUBEN RODRIGUES

GOALS | NOTTS COUNTY 3-1 EASTLEIGH

POST-MATCH | NOTTS COUNTY 3-1 EASTLEIGH | LUKE WILLIAMS

Two years ago, Adam Chicksen appeared to be on his way out of Notts County. However, offering him an extended one-year contract has turned out to be a brilliant decision. The 31-year-old full-back has been a crucial player for the Magpies this season, scoring a career-best of 10 goals as he helps the team push towards its goal of returning to its former glory. In any intense season, consistency is essential. Chicksen has been the epitome of that, demonstrating his value by being one of the first names on the team sheet for coach Luke Williams. But it's not just his on-pitch performances that have made him so valuable. His influence off the field has also been significant, something that both the fans and the Magpies chief have recognized. Chicksen's importance to Notts County cannot be overstated. His impact on the team's success this season has been immense, and he has proven himself to be a valuable asset both on and off the pitch. With his talent and dedication, there's no doubt that Chicksen will continue to be a crucial player for the Magpies for years to come. Luke Williams spoke to Nottingham Post, he said: "He is the model pro, he has been so important because of the performances on the pitch." "Look at the goals he has scored, match-winning goals at times, but then look at the way he runs back to protect the goal like his life depends on it, the way he defends the far post when there are sustained spells of pressure. "Then the bits people are not likely to see is the way he concentrates in the meetings we have. He delivers meetings better than I do; it's embarrassing. "But he is the example and the shining light of how to behave and how to apply yourself day in, day out over a long period of time. "He is amazing - he is the kind of package of how we want people to respect the job of being a player for Notts County. "And many players are in that mould, but Chicks is a great example of that, a top example." Currently, Chicksen and Matty Palmer are the only two players who have appeared in all 37 games of the National League season. This comes after Sam Slocombe and Kyle Cameron missed recent games against Bromley and Dorking Wanderers. While their absence has been felt, Chicksen's consistent presence has been crucial for Notts County, especially in the defensive area. Unfortunately, injuries to Richard Brindley and Tobi Adebayo-Rowling have made the defensive area a cause for concern in recent weeks. Additionally, the confirmed departure of Joel Taylor has further limited Williams' options in defence. With all of these factors in play, Chicksen's continued presence and reliability will be even more critical in the Magpies' quest for success in the remainder of the season. Don't forget to share your thoughts on this below, and why not join in the match discussion against Eastleigh? The Pride of Nottingham dashboard page is a great tool for Notts County fans to stay up-to-date with the latest news, fixtures, and match reports all in one place.

PRESS CONFERENCE | EASTLEIGH (H) | TIERNAN BROOKS

Notts County manager, Luke Williams, believes that allowing Joel Taylor to leave was the right decision as it allows the team to focus on their remaining nine games. Taylor left the club as his contract was mutually terminated in an attempt to obtain regular first-team football elsewhere. Taylor had a strong start to the season, scoring a goal in Notts' opening-day victory, but his playing time dwindled, leading to a loan to Dagenham and Redbridge. Williams hinted at a potential return for Taylor by naming him as a substitute for two games, but ultimately that never materialised. The manager explained that Taylor had experienced a difficult time during his stay at Meadow Lane, which may have contributed to his departure. Ultimately, the decision to let Taylor go was seen as necessary to allow the team to concentrate on their remaining fixtures. In an interview with the Nottingham Post, Luke Williams stated: "Joel we know has real talent, he has a cannon of a left foot and can put the ball wherever he wants, but there were times in transition mainly. "It's important for me to say he had a tough time with me. I demand a lot from him and all of the players, and the guy we just spoke about in Adam Chicksen really makes it difficult because he is so intense and so deliberate with everything he does, he is there every minute of every single day. "When you are up against that type of competition, it's challenging because you have to match that bare minimum before that quality can shine through. "He went on loan to get more game time and started well there, then had a bit of a tough time and didn't play as many minutes as he wanted to play, and then when he returned to County, we are in a great place, and it was such tough competition with so many players playing well." Williams added. In November, it was announced that Joel Taylor had joined Dagenham and Redbridge on a two-month loan. During that time, he featured in all six games. Taylor extended his stay at Victoria Road for an additional month. However, he struggled to secure regular first-team appearances during his second spell, only making one substitute appearance in the following six games before returning to Meadow Lane. "He expressed his desire to go and try and kickstart his career again, and when a guy has been really good and behaving and wanting to set the tone that if you come in and apply yourself and be a good pro even if you're having a bad time, that is what is expected of you. "If you do that then I try to help, yes we have left ourselves a little bit short on numbers, but it was the right thing to do at the right moment because we want everyone focused for this run in, and it was becoming increasingly more difficult for Joel to do that." Share your thoughts about the game on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

PRESS CONFERENCE | EASTLEIGH (H) | LUKE WILLIAMS

INTERVIEW | 100 UP FOR CHICKS

HIGHLIGHTS | NOTTS COUNTY 3-1 DORKING

Notts County manager Luke Williams was pleased with Geraldo Bajrami's performance in their 3-1 victory over Dorking Wanderers. Despite a difficult first half in their previous game, the Albanian player retained his spot in the starting lineup due to the absence of skipper Kyle Cameron. Bajrami, part of the back three, displayed composure alongside Rawlinson and Chicksen. He commanded his area well and relieved pressure from Marc White's side during the second half. Williams said that Geraldo Bajrami's performance was one of the highlights of the game. It's clear that his performance helped Notts County win the game. Luke Williams commented on Bajrami's performance, stating: "I think that's the most pleasing thing for me, the resilience that he has, that is the most pleasing thing for me - he was fantastic, and I am so happy for him. "I have had some difficult conversations with Baj in recent weeks and I can't wait to have an easy one as soon as he is back in for training." Notts County faced a predicament when their captain was unavailable for the match against Dorking, with Luke Williams having to find a suitable replacement for the armband ahead of a crucial game in their promotion campaign. Matty Palmer had previously worn the armband during the FA Trophy, but Williams decided to appoint Macaulay Langstaff as the stand-in skipper for the Meadow Lane fixture. Langstaff's performance during the game was impressive, with his two goals bringing his season total to 35 with nine matches remaining. His excellent display may even lead to him asking to keep the captaincy, as he helped inspire his team to a vital comeback victory. Williams explained his decision to name Langstaff as the captain for the evening, stating: "First of all, I go into the changing rooms because we had news about Kyle Cameron this morning and I said Macca you are going to lead the team out. "He went bright red and looked down to the floor and embarrassed like he shouldn't lead the team out - and then I said you are everything we are trying to do. "You are committed, never get carried away, and don't have a big ego and that is what the guy is and today is yet another example of everything good about him." Share your thoughts about the game on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

GOALS | NOTTS COUNTY 3-1 DORKING

Notts County's Macaulay Langstaff was the hero of the day as he secured a crucial National League comeback victory over Dorking with his brace, helping his team return to winning ways and keeping the pressure on league leaders, Wrexham. Dorking took an early lead after just 13 minutes, thanks to Jason Prior's near-post finish following Josh Taylor's excellent play. However, Langstaff, the National League's leading scorer, responded quickly for Notts County just six minutes later. He was in the perfect position to convert Aaron Nemane's cross and level the scoreline. Langstaff continued his brilliant form in the second half, completing his brace just seven minutes after the restart. He now boasts an impressive tally of 35 league goals this season. Although Langstaff missed out on his hat-trick, Notts County remained relentless in their pursuit of goals. They came close to scoring on several occasions, with Langstaff himself firing the ball over the bar from the edge of the box. However, the hosts' pressure eventually paid off as Matt Palmer scored with five minutes left on the clock, securing the victory and three vital points. With this result, Notts County remains second in the league table, trailing Wrexham by just four points, after the league leaders secured a narrow 1-0 win over Southend earlier on Saturday. Join in with the Pride of Nottingham community, by visiting our dedicated dashboard page. Be a part of the Pride of Nottingham community and share your views within our friendly community!

POST-MATCH | NOTTS COUNTY 3-1 DORKING | LUKE WILLIAMS

POST-MATCH | NOTTS COUNTY 3-1 DORKING | MACAULAY LANGSTAFF

When asked about extending his stay at Meadow Lane, Kyle Cameron, the captain of Notts County, praised the coaching skills of Luke Williams, stating that finding a better coach would be a challenge. Cameron, who joined the Magpies from Torquay United two years ago, has played an integral role in Notts' two previous playoff campaigns. He is one of nine players at the club whose contracts will expire this summer, alongside Ruben Rodrigues, Aaron Nemane, and Adam Chicksen. Notts County has demonstrated their commitment to the future by offering midfielder Matty Palmer a new contract, indicating that the club has plans in place. However, Cameron stressed that his focus is solely on the present season and the team's push for promotion with only ten games remaining. Despite his desire to remain beyond his current contract, he is determined to concentrate on the task at hand and help the team achieve their objectives. Given Notts County's playoff aspirations this season, Cameron's leadership and experience will be crucial in the remaining fixtures. As the club faces tough decisions about players whose contracts are set to expire, including Cameron, it remains to be seen if the Magpies will be able to secure his services for the long-term. In an interview with the Nottingham Post, Kyle Cameron stated: "Yes, things have been discussed, but for me, I have said that I will leave my agent to deal with that stuff - I am here to concentrate on the football. "We have ten massive games coming up and for me, it is about focusing on that and not messing about and trying to sort out contracts - if we get promoted it will be a lot easier to sit down and talk about a new contract with the staff here, but for now I am leaving that to my agent until the football is done and dusted and then move my attention to that. "The last two years have been amazing, especially with the gaffer coming in this season I feel like he has improved me a lot and is probably the best coach I have worked with in my career so far and I think it will be a tough ask to find someone better than him, even higher up in the divisions. "Of course, I am enjoying my time here - we have a promotion push going this season and I hope we can get that over the line to get the club back where it should be." The 26-year-old Kyle Cameron has been a key player for Notts County this season, having featured in 36 of their league games so far, which is a feat that only two other players on the squad have accomplished. However, their latest game against Bromley ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday, and the hosts deservedly led at halftime due to Adam Marriott's penalty. Despite the risk of playing with an altered formation, the decision did not pay off. When asked about the reason for the difficult opening exchanges, Cameron commented that it could have been due to the formation, but he also acknowledged that the beginning of games can be challenging as teams are fresh and have more energy. He noted that the difference in energy levels was evident from the first kick of the second half, as the hosts dropped off and tried to defend their lead. Join in with the Pride of Nottingham community, by visiting our dedicated dashboard page. Be a part of the Pride of Nottingham community and share your views within our friendly community!

PRESS CONFERENCE | DORKING (H) | KYLE CAMERON

With a chance of promotion to the Football League, Notts County is having a successful season in the National League under the guidance of a new head coach, Luke Williams, and a group of talented players who work well together. The club's success can also be attributed to the use of data in its transfer activities, which resulted in the signing of players like Macaulay Langstaff, who has scored 32 goals within the league so far this season. While no one predicted his success, the club had high expectations for Langstaff and other summer signings. The club's progress this season has been commendable, regardless of the promotion outcome. The coaching staff and players have worked tirelessly to make strides, and the club's fanbase has grown exponentially. The club is optimistic about the future and eagerly anticipates the next season, with high aspirations of competing in League Two. Speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham, Notts County co-owner Alexander Reedtz said: "It can quickly go one way or another, I think, but I think there's a high chance that it will be decided very, very late in the season, so it's exciting times." "I think the major change is a new head coach, and Luke has done a brilliant job with the players, and that is certainly a big factor in why we've done so well this year. "We've just got a really good group of players who work well together and enjoy playing together, and there's a really good atmosphere in the team at the moment and, we have signed some really good players, some new players that we added before this season as well." In June 2022, Notts County secured the signature of Macaulay Langstaff, the National League North top scorer and Player of the Season. The 25-year-old forward signed a three-year contract and has been in impressive form, earning back-to-back National League Player of the Month awards in August and September. Langstaff's arrival at Meadow Lane followed the signing of right wing-back Tobi Adebayo-Rowling and the departure of forward Elisha Sam. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with four Championship clubs reportedly expressing interest in him during the January transfer window. "It's well known that there's a lot of data utilized in Notts County's transfer activity." stated Alexander Reedtz. "I don't think any of us predicted he would score this many goals this season. Probably no one did, but we had a great feeling about that signing and the other signings as well that we made in the summer. "I'm not going to say we expected exactly this to happen. It's hard to predict, but we had high expectations and we were really confident about his ability and that he could do well in this team where there's a lot of other good players who would serve him with some good passes as well. "But yeah, it's hard to predict a player scoring that many goals. The big goal is to get promoted and that's what we all want, everyone in the club is working towards and we're confident that we can hopefully achieve that. "It has been a really good season so far and clearly the best season we've had since Chris and I came to the club in 2019 and we are confident about the progress "We're confident about the next season, no matter which league we'll be in, but we obviously hope that it will be League Two and I think the club deserves that, so hopefully we achieve it." Williams, bolstered his squad with the acquisition of midfielder Connor Lemonheigh-Evans back in February in his bid to strengthen the squad ahead of the final run of games. With the Notts Head Coach stressing the importance of versatility in his team and believes that Lemonheigh-Evans' ability to play in multiple roles will be a valuable asset to Notts County. Join in with the Pride of Nottingham community, by visiting our dedicated dashboard page. Be a part of the Pride of Nottingham community and share your views within our friendly community!

PRESS CONFERENCE | DORKING (H) | LUKE WILLIAMS

INTERVIEW | BROOKS ON NOTTS DEBUT

HIGHLIGHTS | BROMLEY 1-1 NOTTS COUNTY

Despite a positive display from Tiernan Brooks on his league debut over the weekend, Luke Williams has indicated that Notts County are still in the market for a potential new goalkeeper. The Magpies were compelled to fill the void left by their regular number one, Sam Slocombe, after he picked up a hamstring injury during training for their trip to Hayes Lane, which could leave him on the sidelines for several weeks. With on-loan goalkeeper Archie Mair from Norwich City among the substitutes, the 20-year-old Brooks was selected after featuring for Hednesford Town and Boston United during two loan spells this season. Brooks was called into action just eight minutes into the game at Bromley, when Geraldo Bajrami was caught on the wrong side of Corey Whitely, and Brooks was tasked with the challenge of saving the spot-kick. Slocombe is yet to achieve this feat in a Notts shirt, with Adam Marriott stepping up to take the penalty after scoring from 12 yards in the Raven's previous match against Torquay. Brooks saved the penalty with his legs, much to the delight of the 645 travelling Magpies fans to his right. However, he was forced to try and repeat his heroics ten minutes later after being adjudged to have brought down a Bromley player inside the area. Marriott made no mistake this time and sent Brooks the wrong way. Despite an action-packed debut which was almost cut short after a momentary lapse in concentration saw him avoid a second booking, Notts boss Williams expressed his satisfaction with the 20-year-old's performance. Luke Williams, Notts County Head Coach said: "I think he did very well, I did think there would be moments in the game that would be difficult for him and of course you expect that and I think there was one action where he took a little too long with the ball - other than that I think he played very well. "He distributed the ball very well, made some big saves, and commanded the box well, so I am happy with him." Although Brooks put in a positive performance, it was disclosed after the game that the Notts manager was looking to strengthen his goalkeeping options, even though he already had Canaries loanee Archie Mair on his team. "In terms of goalkeepers, we are going to look at the options that we already have. Tiernan gave a great performance I think in my opinion." "So he has given us hope that he has a bright future with us - but we also need to look at whether someone can come in. "It's a big moment in the season and we have a number of goalkeepers we are looking at." Join in with the Pride of Nottingham community, by visiting our dedicated dashboard page. Be a part of the Pride of Nottingham community and share your views within our friendly community!