ARLukomski

It's obviously frustrating to lose another derby, especially as there was a chance to get something from the game. However, there are definitely positives to take. We battled and competed but ran out of ideas and legs in the end. Should've taken one of the chances we had in the first half. Robertson looked good and battled well, making it tough for Maris and Reed to build attacks from deep, winning the ball in good areas. Maynard explained in his post match why Jones and Nemane were on opposite wings and I understood. It was a good way of breaking their press. I thought Warner slotted in well and looked more comfortable than Brindley. Baldwin had a good game, helping us play out from the back, heading away plenty of crosses and making his fair share of last ditch blocks and tackles. However, we still lack strength in depth. It's the biggest difference between League 2 and the National League. Hence, again, why Austin was the only viable substitute. Nemane was knackered from about 65 mins onwards, as was Bostock. We're not ready to go up and we need to realise it. We can still make a fight of it this season, but if we don't go up it's not the end of the world.

One thing we must stop doing in this fixture, is capitulating. It is a horrible trait of Notts teams over the years in this very fixture. 2015-16 - Lost 5-0 and conceded 3 in 10 minutes, that took the score from 1-0 to 4-0. 2016-17 - Lost 3-1 and conceded 2 goals in added time (the first in the 90th and the second in the 93rd) that took the score from 1-1 to 3-1. 2017-18 - Lost 3-1 and conceded 3 goals in 16 minutes, including 2 in 4 minutes. That took the score from 0-0 to 3-0. 2023-24 - Lost 4-1 and conceded 3 in 11 minutes that took the score from 1-1 to 4-1.

Seen this fixture nine times. 1 JPT, 8 league games. 2 wins, 2 draws, 5 losses. GF7, GA18. Our record in this derby is bad, but our record at Field Mill is borderline farcical. The main reason why we never do well in this fixture is because we don't have the right attitude and application, especially in the away fixture. Funnily enough, the one time we did show some bite and finishing quality, we won. Warner must start over Brindley because like Bradford and for a while Barrow, Mansfield will just target our right-hand side. We need legs to cope with their midfield diamond and to also stand strong if they go man-to-man (like they did at ML). Unlike that fixture though, Jodi will be available for it. It's also in games like this, we must stop isolating Macca. It feels like sometimes we're too afraid to take risks incase the opposition counter on us. It's happened against all the teams we've played in the top 7 this season. I've already seen that Mansfield are in an apparent "crisis," like they say they are everytime before they play us, before we eventually put in an excuse of a performance and tamely lose like normal. This time its to do with their lack of striker options. I've already predicted they'll get a penalty to make up for the one they didn't get against Wimbledon. It's also not like their Twitter account has already tweeted about the game 2 or 3 times this week already, whilst we've tweeted nothing about it. This game won't define our season but the players owe us after the reverse fixture. I hope SM, MS and CS have done their research into our record in this fixture. It needs to change. Immediately

Thought it was a case of stuck trying to find a happy balance between playing Williamsball and Maynardball. There was a focus on being steadier at the back, but that meant we were less brave going forward. It took a bit of time to get going. We conceded quite a few chances in the first half but were better at preventing them in the second half. I thought Baldwin was excellent and made some superb blocks and tackles. Also controlled the build up play from the back. It will be more open against different opposition as, as shown in the reverse fixture, Barrow are well drilled and are good defensively. It was one of our more quiet games under Williams as well. With time, we'll find that fine balance between defensive protection and attacking fluidity. I don't think we're ready to go up. I thought that last month. We need bigger squad depth and more options off the bench, hence why Austin was the only sub. The biggest difference between L2 and NL is squad depth.

A much improved performance from Notts. Our work rate, fight and desire was excellent but we for all of our possesion, we didn't create as many clear cut chances as we probably should have. We were a lot better on the ball than the last few games. We played through their first press well, moving the ball quickly between Baldwin, Cameron and Bostock. JB, Austin and Crowley were all picking up space in the centre of midfield and driving forward with the ball, something that has been lacking the last few games. Our work rate in winning the ball back was brilliant. Aldershot showed that you have to battle to stifle Stockport and we did that. We didn't allow them to go up a level at the start of the second half and we kept plugging away in hope of an equaliser. However, Stockport defended their penalty area very well. They sit in their defensive shape well when faced with pressure. Jones crossed for Langstaff which he couldn't quite get his leg too, and then a Jones cross just missed Didzy and Macca. The one chance we should have taken came through excellent work rate by Aaron Nemane, winning the ball off Ethan Pye, squaring for Didzy who should have scored. Looking back on the highlights, it was quite a tame effort. Either corner and not the centre of the goal, and it's in. I thought Brindley had his best game in a while and kept Tanto Olaofe mostly quiet for the first half. He also cleared one off the line. Baldwin also had a good game, bringing the ball out of defence and playing quick passes between himself, Cameron and others, something we haven't done the last few games, where players haven't been showing for the ball giving Baldwin and Aidan Stone no options. Stone himself had a good game, saving well from Wootton and looking calm and assured on his line. The two goals came from us heading it out for a corner unnecessarily and then switiching off from the corner, and then Tobi losing his footing, allowing Stockport in on goal which lead to their penalty. Stockport were getting overrun in midfield and so they subbed on Akil Wright for Olaofe in the 2nd half, meaning Odin Bailey went in attacking midfield, pushing Madden up front with Wootton, but we still were seeing a lot of the ball and pressing forward. However in the penalty area, we just couldn't seem to connect on the end of a cross or muster enough space for a shooting opportunity. Sometimes Didzy and Macca couldn't get the ball out of their feet. The one time Didzy did, it ended with a goal. Both teams were missing key players. We were missing Macari and Palmer, along with players like Scott and Bajrami. I know they were missing Collar, Sarcevic, Barry and Southam-Hales. A noticeable difference was the bench in which they had options to change the game and we didn't, which is why I think we didn't make our first sub till 80 minutes and most of our bench was made up of defensive options. Something that will improve come January. A hugely improved performance with good fight and work rate shown. Disappointing not to get something but encouraging signs to take into the next few games. The players deserved their ovation at the end of the game. The away end was one of the best I've been in