Joe Jones

Notts County loanee Ryan Yates has claimed that scoring four goals in his last five games has been beyond his wildest expectations and is hoping to weigh in with more contributions. The 19-year-old's brace was crucial in the FA Cup first-round turnaround against Bristol Rovers and also chipped in with goals against Barnet and Carlisle United in November. "Since the start of the season I've been telling Mark Crossley, who organises our set-pieces, to get me in the box!" Yates, speaking to the Notts official site, joked. "My role is about keeping things simple but I'm still young, raw and learning. I would like to add goals to my game and keep chipping in with them. "To get four goals in five games has been beyond my wildest expectations but I just have to keep having the knack of being in the right place at the right time. "I have to give credit to the balls being put into the box. They're unbelievable. I've never known a team to be so good at set-pieces - we've scored so many goals from them already this season. "When Carl Dickinson is standing over a free-kick I know it's going to be worrying for the goalkeeper but there are six or seven of the lads who put them in the top corner on a regular basis in training. It's unbelievable." Share your thoughts about this news story on Pride of Nottingham by signing up for FREE to the website, visiting the forum and joining the chat with 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.

Kevin Nolan has urged Notts County not to take Oxford City lightly when they meet in the FA Cup second round because the non-league side has "absolutely nothing to lose". The Magpies navigated a tricky first-round encounter against League One outfit Bristol Rovers in marvellous fashion and were rewarded with a seemingly kind tie against the National League South side. However, City claimed the scalp of Colchester United in round 1 and the players were excited to be drawn away at Meadow Lane, with Nolan insisting that they will be a tough nut to crack. “They have absolutely nothing to lose,” he told the Nottingham Post. “They are going to come here, enjoy the day out, work hard and play the best game of their lives. “What we have to do is make sure we are on top form because if we start underestimating them then we will receive a big bite on the backside. “They have already given one to Colchester, so we will be as professional as we can be. “We are going to make sure they are watched and we will set up as if it was a League Two game. “The lads will be focused and ready. They will be told of all their strengths and weaknesses and hopefully we can perform on the day and get through to the next round. “All the big boys come in then and you are hoping you draw one of them either home or away.” Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

What's been happening in League Two over the last week? Here is Pride of Nottingham's round-up of the biggest League Two news from the last seven days. - Newport County won their appeal against Dan Butler's red card for his elbow on Matt Tootle in the 3-0 loss at Notts County last weekend. - All 72 EFL clubs agreed to implement three-year bans for supporters found using smoke bombs, flares and fireworks in a bid to “put an end to the dangerous use of pyrotechnics”. - Chesterfield goalkeeper Tommy Lee has been forced to retire at the age of 31 because of a long-term shoulder injury. - Newport were told new signing Paul Hayes cannot play until January 2018 due to registration regulations, the EFL saying the application cannot be formally processed until the opening of the transfer window. - Port Vale signed midfielder Chris Regis - a former youth player with Arsenal and Southampton - on a contract to the end of the season. - Forest Green Rovers striker Shamir Mullings joined National League side Macclesfield Town on a two-month loan deal. - Luton Town boss Nathan Jones reached 100 games in charge of the club during Saturday’s home defeat to Coventry City. All news stories sourced from BBC Sport and Sky Sports. Share your thoughts about this news roundup 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.

Hello and welcome to episode 31 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast, presented by Chris and JJ. In this week's episode we discuss Notts County's superb win over Bristol Rovers in the first round of the FA Cup, and look ahead to the second-round tie with non-league side Oxford City. We also assess the Magpies' exit from the EFL Trophy at the hands of Lincoln City and ask whether being knocked out of the competition is in fact a good thing, or whether Notts should have taken it more seriously. Other topics covered include the upcoming League Two clash with Stevenage and whether Kevin Nolan - who recently said he would not be looking to play for Notts - should take to the pitch for his club at any point this season. All this and much more in episode 31 of the Pride of Nottingham PONcast! Share your thoughts about this week's PONcast 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.

Kevin Nolan has confirmed that discussions will be taking place between Notts County and the club's fringe players following the Magpies' EFL Trophy exit. The much-maligned competition has given the Notts boss the chance to give his lesser-used players some much-needed game time. However, Tuesday night's 2-1 loss at Lincoln City saw Nolan's charges eliminated from the competition with a total of two defeats and one win. “Now we are out of this competition, the games won’t be coming thick and fast like they have been doing,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post. “We will be sitting down in the next couple of weeks and discussing who can go out on loan and who can’t. “I am sure we will have the agents and players asking about moves if they are not getting game time. “That’s going to be coming in the next few weeks so we will see what will happen.” Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Notts County boss Kevin Nolan has thrown his support behind young defender Pierce Bird and exonerated him from his mistake against Lincoln City. The 18-year-old made his competitive Magpies debut in Tuesday's EFL Trophy tie at Sincil Bank and impressed alongside Haydn Hollis at the back. However, Bird was unlucky to concede an own goal when Josh Ginnelly's cross caused havoc in the box and it was diverted into the County net, on the way to a 2-1 defeat. “I thought he did really well,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post. “He was with three lads who have had a lot of experience, he won a lot of headers and did everything right. “He made the right decisions more often than not and looked a composed figure at the back. “I was delighted with him, but we have to get him fitter and used to this tempo and playing at this tempo for a long time. “He’s a young boy who has stepped up, but he should be delighted and his family should be so proud of him. “He has proven how much he has come on in leaps and bounds in just the few months he has been here. “It’s the next step for him now and we have to make sure we keep working hard. He has to learn the game and make sure he stays around us if he does go out on loan." Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Kevin Nolan has slammed the decision not to award a free kick to Alan Smith in the lead-up to Lincoln City's killer second goal in their EFL Trophy encounter at Sincil Bank. The Magpies had to beat the Imps to secure a top-two place in Group G and it seemed like it was going according to plan with Jonathan Forte's opener. However, a dangerous Josh Ginnelly free kick was unfortunately diverted by Pierce Bird into his own net, before the Lincoln man struck a long-range winner for a 2-1 home win. “I am very disappointed, because I thought there was a blatant foul on Smudge (Smith) leading up to the second goal,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post. “We knew we had to win to go through, and maybe we showed them too much respect in the second half. “But overall I was pleased with a lot of performances, especially Pierce Bird. We shouldn’t have given the free-kick away which led to that goal. “Nicky Hunt gave the free-kick away and he is big enough, old enough and ugly enough to know that is not the way to defend. “We gave too many of them away on the night and Lincoln will always make it difficult for you as they throw the big men up. “But what disappointed me is that we do not get that free-kick on Smudge and they score the second. “I was disappointed but, in saying that, there were some good positives to come from the game. “We wanted to get through to the next round. But we gave too many free-kicks away and Lincoln will always make it difficult for you.” Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Notts County have, to the indifference of many, been knocked out of the EFL Trophy following Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat at Lincoln City. The hosts were brighter in the opening exchanges of the Group G encounter at Sincil Bank, but the Magpies' first opportunity of the game led to the opener. Liam Walker spotted Jonathan Forte into space and threaded a neat through-ball into the path of the striker, who bore down on goal, rounded goalkeeper Josh Vickers, and slotted into the unguarded net. With just under ten minutes of the first half remaining, the Imps drew level through an unfortunate own goal from Notts debutant Pierce Bird. Josh Ginnelly swung in a free kick from the left which caused havoc in the Notts back line and the 18-year-old got a head onto it but diverted the ball beyond Branislav Pindroch. The second half saw Lincoln push forward determined to kill the game off, with Ollie Palmer, Elliott Whitehouse and Billy Knott all weighing in with dangerous chances. Kevin Nolan was eager for his side to make it through to the next round and brought on top goalscorer Jorge Grant in a bid to get the goal necessary to claim second place in the group. However, Notts could not add to their opening strike, while the Imps found the winner in spectacular fashion through Ginnelly's 30-yard rocket into the far top left-hand corner of Pindroch's net. Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Notts County boss Kevin Nolan has praised young defender Pierce Bird ahead of his competitive debut against Lincoln City in the EFL Trophy tonight. The 18-year-old, previously at non-league club Dunkirk, quit his job to go on trial at Meadow Lane in the summer and was rewarded with his commitment and skill with a deal. “He’s a down to earth kid. His family are right behind him,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post ahead of the trip to Sincil Bank. “He left his job just to come here on trial so it shows how much he wanted it. “He’s been magnificent since he came in. He’s been brilliant since we spotted him at the end of last season. “I’m positive he’ll perform well. It’s about him enjoying the experience. I’m sure we’ll see a lot more of him in the future but I feel this was the right time to bring him in after the progress he’s made. “If it doesn’t work we’ll go back to the drawing board with him to get him to where we feel he belongs. There’s no pressure. Pierce Bird will be at this club for a while.” Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Kevin Nolan has suggested that he will make changes to his Notts County starting XI ahead of Tuesday night's EFL Trophy trip to Lincoln City. The Magpies currently sit third in Group G on three points but a win would see them edge into the top two and through to the next round. Although Nolan insists it's a big game and wants momentum to be built, he's also eager to give some of his fringe players some minutes. "It's a big game," he told the official Notts site. "We've got lads who need game time, it's a derby and if we win we go through. "We're trying to build momentum. It always helps when you're winning games - it breeds confidence around the club and city. "In the last couple of games we've been back to the intensity and tempo that earned us our six wins on the spin. "After our fantastic win on Friday we want to carry that forward, and then take it on to Stevenage. "It's a great opportunity for the lads who haven't had the minutes. They can put themselves in the forefront of my mind and show me they're ready. "The lads are really going at it in training and we're really looking forward to this week." Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

The draw for the second round of the FA Cup has given Notts a home game against Oxford City, who play in the National League North. At first glance, it might seem like the Magpies have escaped the worst of the potential opponents, with the likes of Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers also in the hat (not to mention Scunthorpe United - part of me was thinking "we're gonna get them away aren't we?") But in truth, a non-league outfit from two divisions below Notts County whose confidence will be sky high following a 1-0 win over another League Two side, Colchester United, in the first round will prove a tricky proposition. A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article about how important it was for Notts not to let complacency get to them in October, which had several "easy" fixtures on paper compared to August and September. As it turned out, the Magpies had a mixed month due to opponents not allowing Notts to play their typical game and indeed, results were mixed. But Kevin Nolan is the perfect manager to steer a team in this kind of fixture. Having already been stung a few times against opponents we should - on paper - have beaten, he will not only have learned his lessons in terms of gameplay, but will also ensure that any complacency will be stamped out. Nobody will want reminding of this of course, but it cannot be shirked - Notts have not done well in recent years against non-league sides in the cup. Last year it took a replay to beat Boreham Wood, and the year before, Salford knocked us out of the competition in what I still remember as my most humiliating moment as a Notts fan. East Anglian Daily Times reporter Carl Marston gave this assessment of Colchester's defeat to City, which shows just how difficult a proposition they could prove to be. He wrote: "This was no smash-and-grab win from the non-league minnows. I thought Oxford City fully deserved their victory, and passage through to the second round of the FA Cup. "They were unlucky not to score in the first half. Matt Paterson hit Sam Walker’s bar with a superb free-kick, and the same player peppered the target with a couple of shots before half-time. "And it was Paterson who came up with a worthy winner, heading home a precision cross from Dave Pearce after just 34 seconds of the second half. "City always looked a danger going forward. Wingers Pearce and Zac McEachran were excellent, Paterson was a constant thorn in the U’s defence up top, and Rob Sinclair supported him in a withdrawn role. "All in all, the U’s did not do enough to earn a replay, visiting keeper Jack Stevens having very few saves to make." So, it's absolutely crucial that Oxford City be shown the same amount of respect shown to the likes of Wigan, Blackburn and so on, and before anyone even thinks of the third round, they need to navigate this opponent first. Share your thoughts about this feature article 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.

Notts County have been drawn against Oxford City in the second round of the FA Cup. The National League South side shocked Colchester United in the first round with a 1-0 win at the Colchester Community Stadium to go into the hat for round two. Notts, meanwhile, cruised into the second round thanks to their impressive 4-2 win over Bristol Rovers, coming from behind to overcome and eventually knock out their League One opponents. The tie will take place at Meadow Lane on the weekend of 2 and 3 December. Second round draw in full Woking or Bury v Tranmere Rovers or Peterborough United MK Dons v Maidstone United Newport County v Cambridge United Wycombe Wanderers v Leatherhead or Billericay Town Port Vale v Yeovil Shrewsbury Town v Morecambe Doncaster Rovers v Northampton Town or Scunthorpe Slough Town v Rochdale AFC Wimbledon v Charlton Athletic Stevenage v Swindon Town Mansfield Town v Accrington Stanley or Guiseley Gateshead v Luton Town Bradford City v Plymouth Argyle Blackburn Rovers v Crewe Alexandra AFC Fylde v Wigan Athletic Gillingham v Carlisle United Notts County v Oxford City Forest Green Rovers v Exeter City Chorley or Fleetwood v Hereford Coventry City v Boreham Wood Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Matt Tootle has praised Notts County's fans for spurring the players on in their FA Cup victory over Bristol Rovers at Meadow Lane. The visitors led 2-0 after the first 15 minutes thanks to goals from Liam Sercombe and Stuart Sinclair to seemingly set up a long, torrid evening for the Black and White Army. However, the Magpies rallied round as a quickfire brace from Ryan Yates edged them level by the break, setting up a second half in which the hosts had their opponents under siege. Ultimately a further two goals, from Jon Stead and Jorge Grant, saw the League One side knocked out of the competition, while Notts are in the hat for round two. “Obviously, the game didn’t start the way we wanted,” Tootle told the official Notts site. “But our fans stuck right behind us and spurred us on to turn the game around. There was such a positive atmosphere inside the stadium. “Even at 0-2 we were still confident of winning the tie due to the home form we have built under the gaffer. The patience and support of the fans played a massive part. “They have been brilliant home and away all season and, as players, we’re determined to repay that by continuing to compete at the top of the table and by going as far as we can in the cups.” Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Carl Dickinson has claimed that Notts County have got back some of their mojo following impressive wins in their last two games. The Magpies endured a mixed October in terms of results and performances, but they finished the month with a 3-0 victory over Newport County. That result was followed up by a 4-2 win over Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup first round, overturning a two-goal deficit in exhilarating fashion. “Over the last few weeks I think people have seen that we have got a bit of our mojo back,” Dickinson told the Nottingham Post. “Sometimes we get labelled a long ball team, but if you had come to watch the last two games you would see how much quality we have got. “You would see how many chances we created and how we put teams under pressure here at Meadow Lane. “It doesn’t hurt our feelings when people talk about long balls because at the end of the day it’s all about scoring goals and winning. “Some might call it a long ball, we call it a long pass. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest.” Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Bristol Rovers striker Tom Nichols has admitted that his side deserved to lose in their FA Cup first-round encounter at Notts County. The Magpies found themselves two goals down within the first quarter-hour but spectacularly turned it round through strikes from Ryan Yates, Jon Stead and Jorge Grant for a 4-2 final score. “It was very disappointing after how we started,” Nichols told the Bristol Post. “I think we got what we deserved in the end. We got 2-0 up and just stopped playing, I don’t really know what went wrong to be honest. “As a team we didn’t defend well enough, and you can’t have to score five goals to win a game. We had chances and should have taken them, and we ended up getting punished for missing them. “We didn’t deal with their threats, I don’t know how to explain it. It just went to pot.” Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Carl Dickinson has claimed that Notts County could have easily scored "five or six" goals against Bristol Rovers in their FA Cup first-round meeting on Friday night. The clash at Meadow Lane began in the worst possible way for Notts, who found themselves two goals down by the quarter-hour mark. However, Ryan Yates struck a quickfire brace - assisted by Dickinson for both goals - to edge the hosts level, before Jon Stead and Jorge Grant completed the turnaround by full time. “It didn’t feel a memorable night in the first 15 minutes, I was gutted,” Dickinson told the Nottingham Post. “But after that I thought we showed what we were all about. We showed togetherness, our spirit and quality as well. “Once we got it back to 2-2 there was only going to be one winner. “In the second half some of the football we played and the chances we created, it could have been five or six. “The boys were fantastic and to beat a team that are comfortable in League One shows how far we have come.” Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Notts County put in one of their best performances in recent years in a 4-2 hammering of Bristol Rovers in Friday night's FA Cup first-round encounter. Although the Pirates powered into a two-goal lead early on at Meadow Lane, the hosts turned it around in swashbuckling style. Ryan Yates' quickfire brace brought Notts level in the first half before Jon Stead and Jorge Grant completed the turnaround, though it could have been more for the Magpies. Here is the reaction from Notts manager Kevin Nolan, several players, and the Black and White Army following the superb win over the Pirates. Kevin Nolan “It was a magical night. I said the pressure was going to be off and it showed. We went 2-0 down and I was very disappointed to concede the goals that we did. “But the reaction, attitude and application after that just showed our camaraderie. “And I think some of our play showed just how hard we have been working in possession. “What we have been doing on the training pitch we put into practice and I am delighted to be in the next round.” Carl Dickinson "We were gutted with the first 15 minutes but we showed what we are all about after that. We showed our togetherness, our spirit and our quality. "It was fantastic from the boys. We reacted brilliantly. Once we got it back to 2-2 there was only going to be one winner. With some of the football we played in the second half and the chances we created, it could have been five or six. "To beat a team from the league above, who will be comfortable at that level, shows how far we've come. "If we can take that type of performance into the league I don't think many teams will beat us." The players on social media The Black and White Army Who r ya?? You Pies! Quality performance some truly outstanding football played , best performance for years , well done Notts , Kevin Nolan's black and white army , COYP Elite_pie: Agreed, brilliant game and a brilliant performance, also a great atmosphere created by the smallish crowd. We were all over the place defensively in the first 10 minutes but kept battling, and created enough chances to have gone in ahead at half time. Every player gave their all, there wasn't a single poor performer in black and white. Great stuff Notts, best tenner I've spent in ages. Bryan Morph Morphus: What can you say?? Everything we fans need to see from a player, we got. Every one of them put a shift in. Absolute perfection....well, we could have scored a couple more but I'm not greedy! Nicola Buxton: Fooking fantastic come back from our sexy pies... Adam Driff Driffill: After 15 minutes. I wrote us off. Never do that again. Great result, I'll raise my drink! Share your thoughts about this reaction piece 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.

Notts County put in one of their best performances in recent years in a 4-2 hammering of Bristol Rovers at Meadow Lane on Friday night to reach the second round of the FA Cup. The visitors had led 2-0 after the first 15 minutes thanks to goals from Liam Sercombe and Stuart Sinclair, which prompted fears of a full-blown capitulation to the League One side. However, the Magpies rallied round in superb style as a quickfire brace from Ryan Yates edged them level by the break, setting up a second half in which the hosts really showed what they're made of. Ultimately a further two goals, from Jon Stead and Jorge Grant, saw the Pirates knocked out of the competition, while Notts are in the hat for round two and ever closer to the hallowed third round and the hope of a tie against Premier League giants. Here are the highlights from the game, as posted on the FA's official YouTube channel. 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.

Carl Dickinson has described Notts County's 4-2 win over Bristol Rovers as proof of how far the Magpies have come in a short space of time. Friday night's FA Cup first-round encounter at Meadow Lane began in the worst possible way for Notts, who found themselves two goals down by the quarter-hour mark. However, Ryan Yates struck a quickfire brace - assisted by Dickinson for both goals - to edge the hosts level, before Jon Stead and Jorge Grant completed the turnaround by full time. "We were gutted with the first 15 minutes but we showed what we are all about after that," Dickinson told the official Notts site. "We showed our togetherness, our spirit and our quality. It was fantastic from the boys. We reacted brilliantly. "Once we got it back to 2-2 there was only going to be one winner. With some of the football we played in the second half and the chances we created, it could have been five or six. "To beat a team from the league above, who will be comfortable at that level, shows how far we've come. "If we can take that type of performance into the league I don't think many teams will beat us. "We had a couple of results which didn't go too well for us but in the last few weeks we have got our mojo back. "Sometimes we get labelled as a long-ball team but if you look at our past two games you will have seen how much quality we have." Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Darrell Clarke has claimed that his "weak" Bristol Rovers players were "bullied" throughout their 4-2 defeat to Notts County in Friday night's FA Cup first-round tie. The Magpies found themselves two goals down within the first quarter-hour but spectacularly turned it round through strikes from Ryan Yates, Jon Stead and Jorge Grant. “That 90 minutes sums up our whole season, we are so inconsistent,” Clarke told the Bristol Post. “We were weak and bullied – we caved in and they got back into the game. It’s not good enough. “It was just weak, collectively as a group we were weak, and we were bullied against a physical team that do what they do very well. “Obviously they’re doing well in League Two but for me that sums up our season and there has to be things that change, and things will change. “I am a ruthless person, and at the end of the day they’ve [the players] got a big few weeks to keep showing me that things will turn around. Because I will make changes, there will be big changes.” Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Kevin Nolan has claimed that there is more to come from Notts County in terms of performances following their exhilarating 4-2 win over Bristol Rovers. Although the Pirates powered into a two-goal lead early on in Friday's FA Cup first-round encounter at Meadow Lane, the hosts turned it around in swashbuckling style. Ryan Yates' quickfire brace brought Notts level in the first half before Jon Stead and Jorge Grant completed the turnaround, though it could have been more for the Magpies. "We were disappointed to lose the goals in the way we did but the reaction, attitude and application showed the camaraderie we have," Nolan told the official Notts site. "Some of the football we played shows how much hard work we have been putting in on the training field. "My lads are now starting to hit the heights I believe they can get to and I still think there is a lot more to come. "We have to make sure we keep our feet on the ground. We can enjoy it because these nights are magical when you win against a team in a league above. "Sometimes you win these games because you have held in there with grit and determination but tonight these lads deserved what we got and I am delighted for them. "We're still learning but what we have got is guts and determination - and that is massive. "All I want now is a home draw in the next round because if we get that, we feel we can take anyone here." Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Notts County are in the hat for the second round of the FA Cup after coming from two goals down to clinch a stunning 4-2 win over Bristol Rovers in Friday night's first-round clash at Meadow Lane. The game was frantic from the off, with Rory Gaffney rifling just wide in the second minute and, at the other end, Jorge Grant's free kick was hooked over the bar by Terry Hawkridge four minutes later. In the eighth minute, some dire Magpies defending helped Rovers edge into the lead as Joe Partington's cross from the right fell into the path of the unmarked Liam Sercombe, who nodded home from close range. And four minutes later, more substandard work from the Notts backline meant that a corner from Chris Lines found Stuart Sinclair unmarked in the six-yard box to plant a header beyond the reach of Ross Fitzsimons. Credit to the hosts, they quickly found gear after the double setback and, just before the half-hour mark, halved the deficit through Ryan Yates, who made the most of some lacklustre Rovers defending to nod Carl Dickinson's free kick into the back of the net. Just two minutes later, the Black and White Army at Meadow Lane was sent into a frenzy as Yates struck again, turning home another great Dickinson set piece delivery against the League One side. Rovers were lucky to get to half time level as Kevin Nolan's side looked threatening every time they went forward. On 39 minutes Jon Stead was bundled to the ground but nothing way given by the referee, while a Shola Ameobi backheel into the path of Hawkridge was drilled wide. Both sides gave as good as they got early in the second half as Tom Nichols and Gaffney tested Fitzsimons, while Grant curled an effort just over the bar, but by this point Notts were getting in an even higher gear. Just before the hour, the tie was turned around in County's favour thanks to a clipped pass from Dickinson finding Grant, who crossed into the box where Stead was on hand to sidefoot the ball beyond Adam Smith. The action came thick and fast as Notts continued to put in a superb team performance, with Rovers keeper Smith being tested on several more occasions, but Grant added the cherry on top in injury time for the hosts as he went clear through on goal after latching onto Hawkridge's headed flick on, before slotting underneath Smith to send Meadow Lane barmy. Share your thoughts about this match report 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.

Terry Hawkridge is optimistic about Notts County's chances of overcoming Bristol Rovers in the first round of the FA Cup tonight. The 27-year-old was part of the Lincoln City team last season that went all the way to the quarter-finals of the competition, the first non-league team in 103 years to reach the last eight. "Anything can happen in this competition - that's the magic of it," Hawkridge told the official Notts site. "Playing against Arsenal was massive. For a non-league side to get to the quarter-finals was big, but the whole cup run was special. "It was a big part of my career and I made a lot of happy memories, so I'm looking forward to making more here. "We've got a good enough squad to go on a cup run but we have to take it one game at a time. We have to get past Bristol Rovers first and then see what happens. "We played Scunthorpe earlier in the season and lost on penalties, which was unlucky. This will be another big test for us tonight but it's one I think we can get through." Share your thoughts about this news story 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.

Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke has admitted that his squad is currently being stretched to the limit ahead of their FA Cup first-round trip to Notts County. The Pirates have a fairly small senior squad as it is, with 24 players - Notts, in comparison, have 29 - and have been hit by injuries, with the likes of star winger Billy Bodin and defender James Clarke currently out. Rovers have played 21 games so far this season and, although Clarke did manage to rest some of his key players in the EFL Trophy defeat to West Ham in midweek, he admitted that it's a juggling act at the minute. "I managed to rest a few in midweek," Clarke told the Bristol Post. "That was our 21st game, that seems a hell of a lot of games given we're only just into November. "I've not got a massive first team squad and it was important that I rested a few the other night, so we're ready to go on Friday. Something has got to give, even Premier League managers are moaning and they've only played 10 league games! "I've got injuries. I've got James Clarke long term. I've got Billy Bodin. I've picked up one or two more injuries and knocks this week as well. All of a sudden the signs are that we're pretty depleted, which we can't afford to be. "I've got a squad of seniors but three or four are only 20 or 21 years of age. We're not blessed with a massively big squad, we've got an Under 21's which we've just set up and we want to build them into better players. "I've haven't got the biggest squad in the world, we have to make sure we balance it right because I've got injuries to squad players and we've picked up one or two minor injuries this week. We've got be careful how we manage it." Share your thoughts about this news story 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.