OoooooTommy

I think we can all agree that having Matt Palmer back will be a big boost. At the same time, we should ask how much we are missing Rod McDonald in defence. He has made a clear impact since joining the squad, and I believe he is one of the more alert centre backs we have. I want Notts to move past the draw, aim for a win and play with confidence. If the lads enjoy themselves, it will feel like less effort as long as the goals come our way.

I think at times Notts puts extra pressure on themselves, which makes it harder to break down a side that is well organised. Harrogate looked stronger going forward than they did at the back, but they committed plenty of players to both. We had our own way of playing and kept trying to send crosses in from the left. A little more creativity would have helped, but I give credit to Martin Paterson for making attacking changes and not settling for a draw.

Burton Albion 0-1 Blackpool Luton Town 2-1 Rotherham United Accrington Stanley 2-1 Bristol Rovers Cambridge United 1-0 Barnet Grimsby Town 2-1 Chesterfield Braintree Town 0-0 Truro City Hartlepool United 1-1 Wealdstone Woking 1-0 Boston United Joker

We varied it nicely. Bennetts and Tsaroulla gave us width early on, and the set-piece threat paid off, Jatta pounced, Hall finished smartly. Cheltenham had their spell after the break, but we stayed solid. Roos made a vital save, we handled the bookings, used the bench well, and saw it out with composure.

I liked how we mixed it today. First half we used the flanks well with Bennetts and Tsaroulla, and the set-piece pressure told. Jatta reacted fastest for the opener, then Hall picked his spot for the second. After the break Cheltenham had their spell, as you’d expect at home, but we stayed organised. Roos made the key stop before their goal and stayed composed afterwards. The bookings were managed, the subs helped stretch it, and the corners at the end were defended with calm heads.

Stoke City 1-0 Coventry City Wrexham 1-3 Charlton Athletic Doncaster Rovers 0-1 Barnsley Joker Exeter City 2-2 Wigan Athletic Bristol Rovers 2-0 Gillingham Harrogate Town 2-1 Oldham Athletic Morecambe 1-1 Sutton United Truro City 0-2 Altrincham

Birmingham City 1-0 Hull City West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Preston North End Blackpool 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers Doncaster Rovers 2-0 Northampton Town Joker Grimsby Town 1-0 Gillingham Newport County 2-1 Cheltenham Town Altrincham 2-1 Woking Brackley Town 0-0 Gateshead

Burton Albion 1-2 Bolton Wanderers Exeter City 1-0 Reading Leyton Orient 1-1 Doncaster Rovers Wigan Athletic 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers Chesterfield 1-0 Salford City Joker Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Bromley Fleetwood Town 1-1 Harrogate Town Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Barnet

Derby County 2-1 Southampton Swansea City 2-1 Leicester City Huddersfield Town 2-2 Stockport County Port Vale 1-1 Northampton Town Bromley 1-0 Tranmere Rovers Joker Salford City 2-0 Grimsby Town Braintree Town 0-1 Sutton United Wealdstone 0-0 Altrincham

Ipswich Town 1-1 Portsmouth Watford 2-1 Hull City Burton Albion 2-1 Plymouth Argyle Mansfield Town 1-0 Rotherham United Bristol Rovers 2-0 Salford City Joker Crawley Town 1-1 Barrow Halifax Town 2-1 Aldershot Truro City 0-1 Morecambe

I’m not very good at writing poems, but I wanted to say how lovely the ones shared here are. I really enjoyed reading them. Well done to the members who can put words together so beautifully. It’s a real skill and I admire it.

@TheSkipper is very close with his predictions. I’m glad MK Dons are struggling, because their way of building a team seems to be spending money on players they think are the best from nearby clubs. It doesn’t look like they do much research into what those players are like or how they’ll fit in. There doesn’t seem to be a proper plan for bringing them together. Gillingham are the best team I’ve seen so far. It’s not just because they beat us 1-0, but also how they’ve played against other teams who look more settled than we do. They seem well organised and confident.

Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Ipswich Town Sheffield United 1-1 Charlton Athletic Cardiff City 1-1 Bradford City Wycombe Wanderers 3-1 Northampton Town Joker Bromley 1-1 Chesterfield Salford City 1-2 Swindon Town Altrincham 0-0 Carlisle United Tamworth 2-2 Yeovil Town

Stoke City 2-2 Birmingham City Wrexham 1-2 QPR AFC Wimbledon 2-0 Rotherham United Leyton Orient 1-2 Bolton Wanderers Joker Bristol Rovers 3-1 Barrow Fleetwood Town 0-0 Walsall Hartlepool United 1-0 Brackley Town Wealdstone 2-0 Gateshead

I like how they run the club with patience. It feels stable compared to the chaos we had before. Sometimes it feels too clinical, but we are in a much better place than we were a few years back.