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Head to head Notts County and Luton Town have faced off 71 times in their history. The first meeting came in January 1912 when the Magpies secured a 4-2 away win in the FA Cup. The last one was in December, a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road. Luton dominate the head-to-head with 35 wins over Notts, 21 draws and 15 defeats. The Magpies have lost only once in their last five home league meetings with Luton, a 2-0 reverse in March 2009. The Hatters are unbeaten in the last three league clashes between these two sides since losing both meetings in the 2015-16 campaign. Stats A win for Notts will see the Magpies finish on 79 points, their highest points tally since winning the League Two title with 93 points back in 2009-10. Luton have won nine league games by three or more goals this season, more than any other side in League Two. Danny Hylton has been directly involved in seven goals in his last seven games for the Hatters in League Two (six goals, one assist). History Luton Town Football Club was formed on 11 April 1885, the product of a merger of the two leading local teams, Luton Town Wanderers and Excelsior. The club was the first in southern England to turn professional, making payments to players as early as 1890 and turning fully professional a year later. It joined the Football League before the 1897–98 season, left in 1900 because of financial problems, and rejoined in 1920. Luton reached the First Division in 1955–56 and contested a major final for the first time when playing Nottingham Forest in the 1959 FA Cup Final. The team was then relegated from the top division in 1959–60, and demoted twice more in the following five years, playing in the Fourth Division from the 1965–66 season. However, it was promoted back to the top level by 1974–75. Luton Town's most recent successful period began in 1981–82, when the club won the Second Division and gained promotion to the First. Luton defeated Arsenal 3–2 in the 1988 Football League Cup Final and remained in the First Division until relegation at the end of the 1991–92 season. Between 2007 and 2009, financial difficulties caused the club to fall from the second tier of English football to the fifth in successive seasons. The last of these relegations came during the 2008–09 season, when 30 points were docked from Luton's tally for various financial irregularities. Luton then spent five seasons in non-League football before winning the Conference Premier in 2013–14, securing promotion back into the Football League. The club's nickname, "the Hatters", reflects Luton's historical connection with the hat making trade, which has been prominent there since the 1600s. The nickname was originally a variant on the now rarely seen straw-plaiters. Supporters of the club are also called Hatters. Luton is associated with two very different colour schemes - white and black (first permanently adopted in 1920), and orange, navy and white (first used in 1973, and worn by the team as of the 2015–16 season). Team news Notts go into their final game of the regular season guaranteed a top-seven finish as they hope to join the Hatters in League One next season, and Kevin Nolan is mulling over which players to use for the game. Leading scorer Jorge Grant is fit again after an ankle injury but might only be on the bench again on Saturday, as he was for the defeat at Grimsby last weekend, if Nolan opts to rest his stars. Defender Matt Tootle, meanwhile, should have recovered from illness. Promoted Luton could have Scott Cuthbert back in their starting line-up at Meadow Lane. Hatters boss Nathan Jones has picked an unchanged side for the last four games but might decide to freshen up his team for the final match of the campaign. Cuthbert has recovered from a groin injury and made his return to action as a late substitute against Forest Green last weekend. Luke Gambin and James Justin might also come into Jones' thoughts but Lawson D'Ath (knee) remains a serious doubt and Luke Berry (fractured leg and dislocated ankle) is out. Share your thoughts about this match preview 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.

Head-to-head and stats Notts County and Grimsby Town have met a total of 81 times over the years. The first fixture came on 5 October 1893. Notts won the Division Two clash 2-0 at Trent Bridge. The Magpies have 27 wins, while the Mariners have 33, and 21 games have been drawn. Notts have however failed to beat Grimsby in their last four attempts, with three draws and one defeat. The last game was at Meadow Lane in December, a goalless draw. Notts have also failed to score in their last two games against Grimsby - they failed to score in three consecutive games against them since January 1988. Grimsby are now unbeaten in four league games on home soil despite winning just one of those games. Notts have won each of their last three League Two games scoring nine goals. The Magpies last went on a longer winning run in September last year (run of six straight victories). History Grimsby Town FC was formed in 1878 after a meeting held at the Wellington Arms public house in Freeman Street, Grimsby. Several attendees included members of the local Worsley Cricket Club who wanted to form a football club to occupy the empty winter evenings after the cricket season had finished The club was originally called Grimsby Pelham, this being the family name of the Earl of Yarborough, a significant landowner in the area. In 1880 the club purchased land at Clee Park which was to become their ground until 1889 when they relocated to Abbey Park, before moving again in 1899 to their present home, Blundell Park. The club is the most successful of the three professional league clubs in historic Lincolnshire, being the only one to play top-flight football. It is also the only club of the three to reach an FA Cup semi-final (doing so on two occasions) and is the only one to succeed in two finals at the old Wembley Stadium. It has also spent more time in the English game's first and second tiers than any other club from Lincolnshire. Notable managers include Bill Shankly, who went on to guide Liverpool to three League titles, two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup triumph and Lawrie McMenemy who, after securing promotion to the then third division in 1972, moved to Southampton where he won the FA Cup in 1976. Alan Buckley is the club's most successful manager; he had three spells as team manager between 1988 and 2008, guiding the club to three promotions and two appearances at Wembley Stadium during the 1997–98 season winning both the Football League Trophy and the Football League Second Division playoff Final. In 2008 Buckley took Grimsby to the capital again, but lost out to MK Dons in the final of the Football League Trophy. The Mariners had also reached the Football League Two Play-Off final in 2006 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, but lost the match 1–0 to Cheltenham Town. Later trips to the Wembley in 2013 and 2016 saw them defeated in the FA Trophy final by Wrexham and FC Halifax Town respectively. Grimsby managed to reach the Conference play-off final in both 2015 and 2016, after losing to Bristol Rovers they defeated Forest Green Rovers to earn promotion back to the Football League. Initial relegation from back in 2010 made them the fourth club to compete in all top five divisions of English football (after Carlisle United, Oxford United, and Luton Town). Team news Notts are monitoring the fitness of top-scorer Jorge Grant, who missed the 4-1 win over Yeovil Town with an ankle injury, while Matt Tootle should be back after illness. Ben Davies and Simeon Jackson are in contention should changes be required, but defender Zak Mills is out with a hernia. Siriki Dembele caught the eye for the reserves in midweek and could challenge Harry Cardwell in attack. Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack 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.

Head to head Notts County and Yeovil Town have met 16 times over the years. The first game took place at Meadow Lane on 4 November 1961, with the Magpies beating their opponents 4-2 in the FA Cup. That was the only meeting of the two pre-21st century - the 15 meetings following that game all took place between 2004 and this year. The last meeting came on 21 November last year, a 1-1 draw at Huish Park. Yeovil have the upper edge in the head-to-head with seven wins, five defeats and four draws against Notts. Notts have won just one of their last nine league games against Yeovil, and are winless their last four matches against the Glovers/ Yeovil have lost just one of their last four league trips to face Notts, despite failing to score in each of their last two visits to Meadow Lane. Stats The Magpies have won back-to-back league games for the first time since they won six games in a row ending in September. The Glovers have lost consecutive league games without scoring a goal in either. They last lost three in a row without scoring in March 2015. Jonathan Forte has scored three goals in his last two league games, as many as he managed in his previous 23 combined. History Yeovil Football Club was founded in 1890, and shared their ground with the local rugby club for many years. Five years later they were renamed Yeovil Casuals and started playing home games at the Pen Mill Athletic Ground. In 1907 the name Yeovil Town was adopted, which on amalgamation with Petters United became Yeovil and Petters United. The name reverted to Yeovil Town prior to the 1946–47 season. The Somerset outfit have spent most of their existence in the lower leagues, though they briefly made a name for themselves in the 1948-49 season when they beat Sunderland 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round. In the 1980s, Yeovil were founder members of the Football Conference, where they remained for the next two decades, save for a few relegations to the Isthmian League which usually resulted in an instant return to the above tier. Yeovil Town earned promotion to the Football League in the 2002-03 season, by winning the Football Conference by a record 17 points margin, accumulating 95 points and scoring 100 goals, remaining unbeaten at Huish Park. In their second ever season in the Football League, the Glovers went one better by achieving promotion to the third tier as champions of League Two. Then, in the following years even reached the League One playoffs, beating Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals in 2006-07 before losing to Blackpool in the final at Wembley. Six years later, however, Yeovil achieved what had been deemed unthinkable a decade earlier - they reached the second tier of English football after beating Brentford in the 2013 League One play-off final. Their stay in the Championship was brief, however, and they went on to suffer back-to-back relegations, leaving them in the bottom tier of the Football League where they still ply their trade. Team news Jon Stead could return to the Notts starting line-up, having made his return from injury at Colchester United last Saturday as a substitute. That game came too soon for Terry Hawkridge but the winger could feature this weekend. Yeovil are still without former Notts man Francois Zoko, who has one game left to serve on his suspension, while it may be too early for Sam Surridge. Nathan Smith, Artur Krysiak, James Bailey, Dan Alfei remain sidelined, as does Jake Gray, while goalkeeper Stuart Nelson will not play again this season. Share your thoughts about this preview 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.

Head to head and stats Notts County have met Colchester United 44 times over the years, all league encounters except for one Sherpa Vans Trophy tie in 1988. The Magpies are in front when it comes to head-to-head, having won 22 games to Colchester's 15, with seven draws. The first fixture between Notts and Colchester took place on 23 February 1959 at Layer Road, a Division Three clash which finished 4-1 to the U's. The last fixture was earlier this season, Notts running out 2-1 winners at Meadow Lane thanks to goals from Shola Ameobi and Ryan Yates. All league encounters between the two have never taken place higher than the third tier. Notts have won 10 of their last 12 meetings against Colchester, whilst the U's have failed to keep a single clean sheet in their previous 20 matches against the Magpies. The Magpies have won three of their last four trips to Colchester in the EFL, though that single defeat did come in their most recent visit to the Weston Homes Community Stadium. Colchester have lost three of their last four League Two matches on home soil, failing to score in all three of those defeats. Notts County have lost back-to-back League Two games on the road. The Magpies last lost three consecutive away league matches within a single season in February 2017 (run of seven straight defeats). History Colchester United Football Club is a baby in English football club terms, having been born in 1937. However, Colchester Town Football Club, the club's predecessor, was around since 1873. Despite dwindling crowds in the mid-1930s, though, they refused to follow its neighbours Ipswich Town in turning professional, much to the disapproval of its fans and players. As a result, Colchester United was formed, with the intention of playing professionally, and went on from strength to strength while its stubborn neighbour fell into decline and eventually folded. Colchester United are responsible for one of the FA Cup's greatest ever upsets, when, in February 1971, they defeated the infamous Don Revie's Leeds United, an established top flight side who would finish second that season, by three goals to two. The U's were in the fourth division at the time. The U's won the Football League Trophy (now the Johnstone's Paint Trophy) in 1996-97. and also compete in a competition called the Essex Senior Cup, a tournament contested by mostly non-league clubs within the region (Colchester usually field a youth/reserve team for this), winning this trophy back in 2009-10. Micky Cook holds the all time club record for appearances with Colchester, having played nearly 700 games between 1969 and 1984. Notable former players include Titus Bramble, Alec Chamberlain, Mark Kinsella, Kevin Lisbie and Newcastle cult hero Lomana LuaLua. Trivia The town of Colchester is said to be the oldest recorded town in Britain on the grounds that it was mentioned by Pliny the Elder, who died in AD 79. It was for a time the capital of Roman Britain, and is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network. Since 2006, Colchester has been one of 12 places in the UK where Royal Salutes are fired to mark Royal anniversaries and visits by foreign heads of state. Team news Colchester will make another check on the fitness of Tom Lapslie and Brennan Dickenson ahead of their home game against Notts. Midfielder Lapslie and winger Dickenson have both missed the last two matches with knocks. Defender Ryan Inniss will definitely miss out for Colchester as he has a knee injury, while Cole Kpekawa has left the club after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent. Notts pair Jon Stead and Terry Hawkridge are back in contention after missing the midweek win against Coventry due to knocks. Ben Hall, Carl Dickinson, Noor Husin, Rob Milsom, Liam Walker and Lewis Alessandra all made way on Tuesday night, but are pushing for recalls. Nolan has reported no new injury worries as his side chase back-to-back league wins for the first time since September. Share your thoughts about this preview 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.

Head to head Notts County and Coventry have met just 39 times in the last 98 years. The first encounter took place on the 6th November 1920, the match at Meadow Lane ending in a 1-1 draw. The last one, meanwhile, was at the start of the 2017-18 season, and it proved a rude awakening for the Magpies as they fell to a 3-0 loss at the Ricoh Arena. There have plenty of high-scoring games between the two, with several 5-1s, 3-0s and 4-2s over the years. Notts County have the upper hand in the head-to-heads – 19 victories over the Sky Blues, 12 defeats and 8 draws. The Magpies are unbeaten in their last seven home league matches against Coventry. Coventry's last away league win at Meadow Lane was in August 1963, when they won 3-0. Stats Notts County are winless in their last four League Two matches (D2 L2), failing to score in each of their previous two games - they last went longer without a league goal back in November 2016 (a run of four). Coventry lost 6-2 to Yeovil last time out; prior to this game the Sky Blues hadn't conceded more than two goals in a League Two game this season, whilst the six goals conceded were more than they had let in in their previous seven league matches, Maxime Biamou has scored each of Coventry's last three League Two goals, including a brace last time out in their 2-6 defeat against Yeovil Town. History The club was founded in 1883 from employees of the cycle (and later car) manufacturer Singer Motors and changed its name from Singers FC to Coventry City FC in 1898. In 1891-92, the club turned professional and won three separate cups that season (The Birmingham Cup, The Wednesbury Cup and The Walsall Cup). Local businessman David Cooke (later to become chairman) produced a 'Three Cups Tobacco' to celebrate the event. In 1898, as well as renaming the club, there was a move to a site of Highfield Road in the Hillfields district of the city, the stadium they called home for the next 106 years. The club became a registered Limited Company in 1907 recording a capital of £2,000 in 5-shilling shares. Coventry City were originally known as 'the Bantams' (a nickname shared with Bradford City) before adopting their sky blue identity in the early 1960s. Coventry were first called the Bantams in December 1908 after the local newspaper noted that they were one of the few clubs who did not have a nickname. Being the lightweights of the Southern League, the Bantams was suggested and stuck with the press and supporters. They remained as the 'Bantams' until the summer of 1962 when Jimmy Hill re-christened them the 'Sky Blues' and the club switched to an all sky blue kit. In 2001, Coventry were relegated from the Premier League after 34 years in the first tier. At the time, only Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal could boast longer tenures in the top flight. A year later, they were relegated to the third tier in English Football for the first time in 48 years, and now, they have slipped down into the bottom tier, compounding a Portsmouth-like fall from grace. Coventry’s current stadium, the 32,609-capacity Ricoh Arena, was opened in August 2005. Following a rent dispute with the ground's owners the club opted to play their home games at Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium starting in the 2013–14 season, a move which didn’t prove popular with Sky Blues fans. On 21 August 2014, it was announced that an agreement had been reached allowing the club to return to the Ricoh Arena for the next two years with the option of another two years. It has been reported that there will be a relocation to another site within the city, as the tenancy with the Ricoh Arena expires in August 2018. The last update on this has seen mediation talks take place between the Sky Blues, rugby club Wasps and Coventry City Council, but as of yet there has been no resolution. The club’s proudest moment was undoubtedly the 1987 FA Cup final at Wembley, which was won by the Sky Blues thanks to an enthralling 3-2 win after two hours of football. Following Tottenham Hotspur player Gary Mabbutt’s own goal in extra time, which set Coventry on the way to their win, a fanzine was created called GMK – Gary Mabbutt’s Knee. Team News Notts County manager Kevin Nolan is expected to make changes against Coventry. Seven changes were made at Accrington Stanley on Monday given the quick turnaround in Easter games, as he Carl Dickinson, Matty Virtue, Liam Walker, Noor Husin, Rob Milsom, Ben Hall and Jonathan Forte, who started as a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Rhe likes of Shaun Brisley, Dan Jones, Elliott Hewitt, Terry Hawkridge, Liam Noble, Shola Ameobi and Jon Stead will all be vying for recalls, and Jorge Grant is also a starting option after starting the last two matches on bench. Coventry have problems in goal as they prepare for the trip to Meadow Lane. Goalkeepers Lee Burge and Liam O'Brien, who each conceded three goals on Monday as the Sky Blues were beaten 6-2 at home by Yeovil, are both nursing injuries and will be assessed. Corey Addai, who has been on loan at non-league Dulwich Hamlet, is on stand-by to play. Midfielder Carl Baker is also being monitored as he seeks to shake off an illness, while Maxime Biamou staked his claim for a starting place with both of Coventry's goals against Yeovil following his introduction from the bench. Share your thoughts about this preview 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. 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Head to head Notts County have played the current incarnation of Accrington Stanley just 16 times in their history, with the record standing at 6 Notts wins, 5 defeats, and 5 draws. The first fixtures against the "new Stanley" were in August and December 1958, when both sides played in Division Three. The Magpies drew 1-1 in the first match, before losing 3-0 in the second. A hiatus of 48 years followed before the teams met again in the fourth tier, now League Two, on 9 September 2006. The result was a 3-2 win to Notts. Our recent record against Stanley is poor - 4 defeats and 3 draws in the last 7, and no win over them in the league since 2010. Stats Stanley have won each of their last eight home league games, the longest run in League Two this season. John Coleman's have also won their last five league games outright to extend their run in the league to one defeat in their past 15 outings. History The original town's team, Accrington, were amongst the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888, before resigning from the league after just five years. A team called Stanley Villa already existed at the time, named as such because they were based at the Stanley Arms on Stanley Street in Accrington. With the demise of Accrington, Stanley Villa took the town name to become Accrington Stanley. The club re-formed after World War I and entered the League in 1921 with the formation of the old Third Division North, along with the other top northern non-League clubs. This original incarnation was dissolved in 1966, before re-emerging two years later. In 2005–06, Stanley won the Football Conference and were promoted to League Two. Ironically, Oxford United, the team they switched places with, was the team that had been elected to replace the former Accrington Stanley as members of the Football League in 1962 when they were struggling with debt. Accrington Stanley is perhaps most well known for being mentioned pejoratively by two young boys talking about their professional football prospects in a late 1980s advert by the Milk Marketing Board. Famous people from Accrington include Vicky Entwhistle and Julie Hesmondhalgh from Coronation Street, Yes singer Jon Anderson, cricketer Mike Atherton, Diana Vickers from The X Factor, and Mystic Meg. Team news The League Two leaders will check on Janoi Donacien ahead of the game against Notts, as he was struggling with illness. Ben Richards-Everton came in for the first change to Accrington's starting XI in five games and contributed to a fifth straight win. Notts boss Kevin Nolan made two changes to the side on Friday - Lewis Alessandra and Dan Jones replacing Carl Dickinson and Jorge Grant - and promised further alterations on Easter Monday. Dickinson and Grant are pushing for immediate returns, while Jonathan Forte and Michael O'Connor are also in line to feature. Share your thoughts about this preview 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.

Head to head Notts County and Wycombe Wanderers have faced each other a total of 35 times over the years, with the first meeting coming as late as 1995, when the Magpies won 2-0 at Meadow Lane. The Chairboys have beaten Notts 16 times and drawn nine games, while we have beaten them 10 times. Notts have won the last two meetings against Wycombe by an aggregate scoreline of 5-2, at Adams Park in March 2017 (1-0) and in August 2017 this season (4-2) also away. History In 1887, a meeting held at the Steam Engine public house in Station Road, High Wycombe saw the formation of Wycombe Wanderers FC. It is highly likely the club was named Wanderers after the famous Wanderers, winners of the first FA Cup in 1872. The club played just friendly matches between 1887 and 1896. Wycombe first entered the FA Amateur Cup in 1894 and the FA Cup in 1895. In 1895 the club moved to Loakes Park, which would become its home for the next 95 years. In 1896 the club joined the Southern League and competed in the Second Division until 1908, but in the summer of 1908 the club declined the invitation to retain their membership of the Southern League. The club decided to pursue amateur instead of professional football and joined the Great Western Suburban League and remained there until the outbreak of the First World War. After the hostilities had ended the club joined the Spartan League in 1919 and were Champions in successive years. In March 1921 the club's application to join the Isthmian League was accepted. Wycombe enjoyed a fairytale season in 2000–01 as the club reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup. First Division sides Grimsby Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Wimbledon were all beaten before a memorable quarter-final with Premier League side Leicester City. In a game that has gone down in FA Cup history, striker Roy Essandoh headed an injury-time winner to seal a 2–1 win at Filbert Street as manager Lawrie Sanchez looked on from the dressing room, having been dismissed from the touchline during the game. The ensuing semi-final at Villa Park saw Liverpool pushed all the way before claiming a 2–1 victory. Team news Notts welcome back defender Ben Hall and midfielder Liam Walker, who missed last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Chesterfield. Both players were both away on international duty with Northern Ireland and Gibraltar respectively. Midfielder Michael O'Connor could return to the first-team fold almost a year on from suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Wycombe will hope to be able to call upon the services of midfielder Luke O'Nien, who sat out the goalless draw against Port Vale last Saturday with an injury. Middlesbrough loanee Nathan McGinley is expected to recover from illness to be available. Defender Dan Scarr will miss out with an ankle problem with fellow centre half Anthony Stewart and midfielder Sam Saunders also unlikely to play a part at Meadow Lane. Share your thoughts about this preview 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.

Head to head Notts County have played Chesterfield a total of 67 times over the years. The first meeting came on 29 November 1930 in the FA Cup at the Spireites' old ground, Saltergate, and finished 2-1 to the Magpies. The head-to-head record favours Notts, with 28 victories, 20 defeats and 19 draws. The last time the two teams met was earlier this season in League Two on 12 August 2017 at Meadow Lane, Jorge Grant bagging a brace in that game. County's last visit to the Proact Stadium came in September 2014 when strikes from Blair Adams and Georg Margreitter meant the points were shared between the two sides. October 2011 was when County last won away at the Spireites thanks to an own goal from Drew Talbot to go with earlier efforts from Ben Burgess and Alan Judge. Chesterfield have not beaten Notts at home in a league game since August 2009. The Magpies have won four of their last six league matches against the Spireites. County's 2-1 win in their last away at outing at Forest Green was their first in seven in all competitions - they haven't won consecutive matches on the road since September. Kristian Dennis has scored 15 of Chesterfield's 37 goals in League Two this season (40.5%), the highest proportion of any player in the competition. History Nobody knows the date when the first incarnation of Chesterfield Football Club was formed. A Derbyshire Times newspaper report from 2 January 1864 noted a scheduled game between "Chesterfield and Norton football clubs", suggesting that a club in the town was active from at least 1863. By contrast, club historian Stuart Basson had placed a formally constituted Chesterfield FC as being established as an offshoot of Chesterfield Cricket Club in October 1867. The early history of the club is dotted with tumult and instability - the club lost the right to play at Saltergate following worsening relations with Chesterfield Cricket Club, while in 1915 the subsequent incarnation of the club, Chesterfield Town, was put into voluntary liquidation. To fill the footballing gap left in the town, Chesterfield Borough Council reformed the club on 24 April 1919, giving it the name Chesterfield Municipal F.C. After the Football Association and Football League made it clear that they were against a council-run club, the entity became independent, reflected in the name change to Chesterfield F.C. in December 1920. The club have been successful in terms of minor silverware, winning the Fourth Division (and its subsequent reincarnations) a record four times, while also claiming the Anglo-Scottish Cup in 1982 and the Football League Trophy in 2012 (and finishing runners-up in 2014). The 1996–97 season saw Chesterfield beat six clubs including Nottingham Forest to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup for the first time. The semi-final match against Middlesbrough was drawn 3–3 after extra time; Chesterfield lost the replay 3–0. The club's nickname, The Spireites, comes from the Church of St Mary and All Saints in Chesterfield, famous for its crooked spire. Famous Chesterfield players include Ernie Moss, Kevin Davies, Gary Stone, Jason Lee, Walter McMillen, Sam Hardy, Gordon Banks, Herbert Munday, Steve Ogrizovic, Barry Sunday, Freeman Hardy and Willis Edwards. Famous fans include glamour model Jo Guest, presenter Robert Primrose Wilson, and ex-Arsenal goalkeeper John Lukic. Team news Chesterfield will welcome back Louis Reed, who served a two-match ban after picking up 10 yellow cards. Louis Dodds is hoping for a start after coming off the bench at Cheltenham last week following a calf complaint. Ian Evatt (knee), Jordan Sinnott (ankle) and Robbie Weir (knee) remain on the comeback trail. Notts will be without on-loan defender Ben Hall, who is away on international duty with Northern Ireland Under-21s, so Shaun Brisley is likely to come into the side. Midfielder Liam Walker is also absent as he's away with Gibraltar. 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.

Head to head The first fixture between Notts County and Mansfield Town was in October 1937, a 2-0 win for the Magpies in Division Three (South). Mansfield now have the upper edge, with Notts on 18 wins, 19 defeats, and 14 draws. Between 1989 and 2001, the two sides met six times – and Notts won each time. County's record over the last 10 meetings, however, is poor, standing at two wins, six defeats, and two draws. This record is embellished by the fact Notts have beaten Mansfield twice in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in the last two years. In reality, the Magpies haven't got a league win over the Stags since August 2005. The Stags have lost none of their last seven league visits to Meadow Lane, keeping clean sheets in each of their last four. The Magpies have already lost twice to Mansfield this season (once in a league game, once in a EFL Trophy game), last losing three matches to an opponent in a single season in 2002/03 against Wigan Athletic. Mansfield's last three league games have all finished 1-1, with the Stags taking the lead on each occasion. Opposition history The Stags were formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans, changing their name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910. Mansfield won the Football League Trophy in 1987, in their first game at Wembley Stadium. After a 1–1 draw with Bristol City, they won the cup 5–4 in the deciding penalty shootout, thanks to Kevin Hitchcock saving two penalties. That remains the only cup win in their history, though they did win the Division Four title in 1974-75, Division Three two seasons later, and the Conference in 2012-13. Famous people from Mansfield include Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington, media presenter Richard Bacon, FA Cup-winning goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic and award-winning fashion designer Elspeth Gibson. Team news Kevin Nolan could name an unchanged team from last week's late 2-1 win at Forest Green which extended his side's unbeaten run to three games. However, the gaffer could also be tempted to restore Matty Virtue to his starting line-up in place of winger Terry Hawkridge. New Mansfield boss David Flitcroft could be forced to reshuffle his side as they look to bounce back from last week's draw with Colchester United. Captain Zander Diamond was forced off with a hamstring injury while Jacob Mellis suffered a knock to his ankle in the same game. However, neither injury is as bad as was first feared and Flitcroft hopes both players could be available for the derby. Will Atkinson and Paul Digby are among those pushing to start after coming off the bench last week. Share your thoughts about this match preview 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.

Head to head Notts County and Forest Green Rovers have met just twice in competitive action and the Green Devils have not beaten the Magpies yet. The first game came in the third round of the FA Cup on 19 January 2010, and it ended in a 2-1 win for the Magpies at Meadow Lane. This season is the first that both teams share the same league, and the reverse fixture - also at the Lane - ended 1-1 with Rob Milsom scoring an injury-time leveller. Saturday's game marks the first time that the Magpies head to FGR's home, the New Lawn Stadium. Stats and trivia Forest Green have gone five games without losing in League Two; they are yet to go six without defeat since joining the competition. Notts County are winless in six away games in all competitions and have won just two of their last 16 on their travels. Forest Green, who came back from a 3-2 half-time deficit to draw 3-3 away at Newport in midweek, have recovered 17 points from losing position in League Two this season, the most of any side in the competition. Notts legend Lee Hughes spent the 2014-15 season at Forest Green, scoring 15 goals in 42 games. Liam Noble's two spells at Notts came either side of a spell at FGR, while ex-loanee Drissa Traore also spent time at the New Lawn. Former Magpies manager Mark Cooper is currently at the helm of the Green Devils, while former Notts defender Haydn Hollis now plies his trade there. Opposition history Forest Green Rovers were founded in October 1889 by Reverend E. J. H. Peach, the local Nonconformist church minister, representing the Forest Green area of Nailsworth in Gloucestershire. The name Rovers was adopted in 1893, and the following year the club were founder members of the Mid-Gloucestershire League, the first association football league in the county outside Bristol. After the league folded in 1902, Forest Green become members of the newly formed Stroud League and also members of the Dursley and District League which they won in 1903, the club's first silverware. After a break for the First World War, Rovers enjoyed a period of great success winning two football leagues and three cups in both 1921 and 1922. They then joined the newly formed Gloucestershire Northern Senior League with Cheltenham Town among others in 1922. Rovers joined the newly formed County League in 1968 and played under manager Peter Goring for the next 11 years, moving up again to the Hellenic League in 1975 under his stewardship. In 1982, Rovers achieved fame at Wembley winning the FA Vase 3-1 and at the same time winning the Hellenic League and moving into the Southern League Midland Division. Seven years later a struggling Rovers outfit was renamed Stroud FC but this alienated a lot of people connected with the club, until the arrival of Trevor Horsley in 1992 saw the name changed back to Forest Green Rovers. After finishing eighth in the Southern Division under Frank Gregan in 1995–96, they won the division the following season, earning promotion to the Premier Division of the Southern League. The 1997–98 season then saw FGR them win the Southern League Premier Division, securing a second successive promotion and entry to the Football Conference. FGR finished in the relegation zone in 2005 and 2010, but both times were handed a reprieve when Northwich Victoria and then Salisbury City were demoted for non-footballing reasons. The club was then taken over by Ecotricity owner Dale Vince, at which point the team improved until finally sealing promotion into the Football League last season. Team news Forest Green top scorer Christian Doidge limped out of Tuesday night's 3-3 draw with Newport with an ankle injury and is a doubt for Saturday's game. Notts, meanwhile, are still without Ross Fitzsimmons, who escaped from a car crash on Monday unhurt but is going through the head injury protocol. Share your thoughts about this match preview 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.

Head to head Notts County and Cheltenham Town have met 11 times over the years. The first meeting came in Division Two on 28 September 2002 at Whaddon Road, and Notts ran out 4-1 winners. The last time we faced off was on 18 November last year, a 3-1 win at Meadow Lane. Notts are ahead in the head-to-head with seven wins, two draws and two losses. The Magpies have won each of their last four league games against Cheltenham, scoring 12 and conceding five. The Robins have only beaten Notts County once at Meadow Lane in the Football League, a 3-2 win in November 2005. Notts have lost just one of their five Football League trips to Cheltenham, winning three and drawing one. Stats Since earning their biggest win of the season over Port Vale (5-1), Cheltenham are winless in three league matches. That victory over the Valiants is their only triumph in their last eight league fixtures. Notts, meanwhile, have gone five away games in all competitions without a win, conceding 12 goals, albeit eight of those were at the hands of Swansea City in the FA Cup. Of Cheltenham's last seven home league goals, Mohamed Eisa has bagged five of them. History Cheltenham Town were founded in 1887 by Albert Close White, a local teacher. However, the town has prior football history - in 1849, the first use of three official referees in a match, two in field and one in tribune, was recorded in Cheltenham. Promoted to The Football League as Conference Premier champions in 1999, Cheltenham have played as high as League One, the third tier of English football, spending a total of four seasons there. Their best FA Cup run saw them reach the last 16 (fifth round) in 2002. The last piece of silverware won by the club was the National League title in 2015–2016. Its league status was lost with relegation in 2015, only for the team to return, as runaway champions, a year later. Two former Notts managers, Steve Cotterill and Martin Allen, have also done time at the Gloucestershire club. Team news Cheltenham will be without midfielder Harry Pell, who picked up his 10th booking of the season in the Robins' 2-2 draw at League Two leaders Luton last month and starts a two-match ban. Jordan Cranston played half of a behind-closed-doors friendly against Bristol City but remains some weeks from a return, as does teammate Jordon Foster. Magpies boss Kevin Nolan is looking for his side to continue to build momentum after their 2-0 win over Stevenage last time out. County go into the game just one point behind third-placed Wycombe Wanderers and with plenty of hope that they can muscle in on the automatic promotion places. On-loan midfielder Matty Virtue is set to figure after returning to Liverpool last week to score against Porto in the Premier League International Cup. Nolan is also set to keep goalkeeper Adam Collin in between the sticks as Ross Fitzsimmons is not involved due to being shaken up after a road traffic accident. Share your thoughts about this preview 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.

Head to head Notts County and Stevenage have only ever met 12 times in competitive fixtures. The first meeting was on 17 September 2011 at Broadhall Way (known as the Lamex Stadium) - the result on that day was 2-0 to the Magpies. Our head-to-head record is five wins for Notts, five for Stevenage, and two draws. The Magpies have won one of their last four home league games against Stevenage, drawing one and losing two. Stevenage, meanwhile, have won one of their last six league games against Notts County. History Stevenage in their current form have only been in existence since 1976, but there have been numerous incarnations of the club that stretch back over a century. A club called Stevenage FC was formed in 1894, but they soon adopted the name Stevenage Town. In 1951 the club were founder members of the Delphian League. In 1956 they merged with Stevenage Rangers to form Stevenage FC, before reverting to Stevenage Town four years later. They had some success in the Southern League but folded in 1967, after which Stevenage Athletic were created in their place a year later. This incarnation again knocked about in the Southern League but went bankrupt in 1976. Stevenage Borough, formed shortly after Athletic's demise, managed to prosper and work their way up the leagues until finally reaching the Football League in 2010, at which point they took the whole thing full circle by dropping the Borough from their name and becoming Stevenage FC. Despite their relatively short history, Stevenage have won a number of trophies and competitions, including two FA Trophy cups in 2007 and 2009. Trivia Broadhall Way holds 6,722 people, 3,142 of which can be seated. To put it into perspective, three full houses at Stevenage could fit into the Meadow Lane stands with 45 seats to spare. The highest attendance recorded at the stadium was 8,040 for a match against Newcastle United in the FA Cup fourth round on 25 January 1998. On that day a temporary stand was erected behind the away end to increase the stadium capacity to 8,100, enough to satisfy FA requirements. Two films were set in and around Stevenage: "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush" and "Boston Kickout". "Spy Game", meanwhile, was partly filmed in Stevenage but set in Washington DC. A number of famous sporting figures were born in Stevenage, the most notable of which are Lewis Hamilton, Jack Wilshere, Ashley Young, Ian Poulter, Kevin Phillips and Jason Shackell. Team news Kevin Nolan's got pretty much a clean bill of health, save for long-term absentee Michael O'Connor who is nonetheless back in training. The Magpies are looking to bounce back from the midweek defeat to Cambridge United and Nolan wants more players to chip in with goals to aid top scorer Jorge Grant. Grant has scored 17 times in 43 games since joining on loan from city rivals Nottingham Forest, but has found the net just once in 2018. Stevenage boss Darren Sarll will hope to have Matt Godden and Ron Henry available again for the trip to Meadow Lane. Both players missed last week's 4-1 win over Yeovil Town but will be given as long as possible to prove their fitness. Sarll has been boosted by the return to training of Chris Whelpdale and Ben Sheaf following lengthy injury lay-offs. Whelpdale has not played since the end of December and Sheaf since earlier the same month, but both are targeting a place in the squad. 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.

Head to head & stats Notts County and Cambridge United have met 28 times in their history. The first meeting came on Boxing Day 1970 at Meadow Lane, with the Magpies earning a 4-1 win. Notts hold the advantage in the head to head, with 11 wins, 8 draws and 9 defeats against the U’s. Recent form is not good, however - we've lost four and drawn two of our last six meetings against Cambridge. The Magpies have won just once in their last eight league visits to Cambridge, losing three and drawing four. Uche Ikpeazu has both scored and assisted two goals in his three League Two appearances against Notts County for Cambridge. The Magpies have won just one of their last 11 away league games, last triumphing on the road with a 4-1 win at Morecambe. History The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United before taking the name Cambridge United in 1951. It first competed in the Football League in 1970 and stayed there until relegation in 2005, nine seasons in the Conference following until climbing back out of non-league. Cambridge have had two spells in the league's second tier, and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup twice and Football League Cup once during the early 1990s, the club's most successful era to date. United's highest ever finishing place in the Football League is fifth in the Second Division during the 1991–92 season, competing in a season-ending four team playoff for the final promotion slot to the Premier League's inaugural season. The club is based at the Abbey Stadium on Newmarket Road, approximately 1.86 miles east of Cambridge city centre. The stadium has a capacity of 8,127, made up of terracing and seated areas. During their days in Division Two, with John Beck at the helm in the 1980's, the club earned a reputation for bizarre training methods and "dirty tricks" to make their opponents feel ill at ease. These included freezing cold showers for his own players, dirty changing rooms and deflated kick-about balls for the opposition and long grass in the corners of the pitch to slow the long balls into those areas, allowing the U’s forwards to reach them. Beck carried on his dirty tricks even after leaving to take charge of Preston North End – taking nine of the Cambridge United players with him. He was not the only famous manager at the club, with Ron Atkinson taking the club from Fourth to Second division and Ex-England and Derby County centre-half Roy McFarland also sitting in the hot seat. Before their entry into the League, a local animal sanctuary had an escapee and it was found grazing on the pitch at the Abbey Stadium. This lead to the moose connection with the club, and in the club shop you can buy a range of moose souvenirs to show your allegiance to the U’s. Famous alumni include Dion Dublin and Luke Chadwick, while famous fans include football commentator Gary Newbon and Tom Findlay of Groove Armada. Former Notts manager Shaun Derry was at the helm of the U’s until just 10 days ago, when he was dismissed by the club. Team news Cambridge will be without striker Barry Corr and midfielder George Maris, as the former was injured in the win over Grimsby Town, while the latter will miss out due to head injury protocol. Interim boss Joe Dunne was however boosted with the news that Jabo Ibehre, Leon Legge and Piero Mingoia all resume full training on Monday. For Notts, Shaun Brisley has returned to training following a bout of illness but faces a battle to dislodge 21-year-old Brighton loanee Ben Hall, who has impressed in his absence. Midfielder Michael O'Connor has joined in training again as he continues his recovery from the serious knee injury he suffered last April. On-loan forward Mason Bennett has undergone a hamstring operation that means he will play no further part this season. Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack 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.

Head to head Notts County and Newport County have met a total of 49 times over the years, the first fixture coming in 1930, which the Magpies won 3-2. The head-to-head record is skewed in the Magpies’ favour, with 26 wins, 9 draws and 14 defeats. Our last meeting was earlier this season, a 3-0 hammering of the Exiles at Meadow Lane. Of particular note is the penultimate meeting, in May 2017, the last game of last season, and Newport won 2-1 at Rodney Parade to avoid the drop to the National League. Our record league win is against Newport – an 11-1 hammering. We have also beaten them 5-0, 6-2, 7-0, 6-0 and 8-1 over the years. Notts have only failed to score once in their last 14 meetings with the Exiles in all competitions (W8 D2 L4), netting 30 goals in those matches. Stats Newport have lost three league games on the bounce, scoring once while conceding 10. They haven't lost four in a row in League Two since January 2017 (eight games). Notts County have only won one of their last 10 League Two games on the road (D5 L4), failing to keep a single clean sheet during that spell. Jorge Grant has been directly involved in four goals in just two league appearances against Newport County for Notts County (three goals, one assist), more than he has against any other side for the Magpies. History Newport, originally nicknamed "The Ironsides" due to Newport being home to Lysaght's Orb Works steel works, started out in the Southern League in 1912 at Somerton Park. The official name of the club was The Newport & Monmouth County Association Football Club, although the shorter Newport County was soon adopted. The club were reformed in 1919 and were first elected to the Football League in 1920. Newport were Welsh Cup winners in 1980 and subsequently reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup in 1981. The club was relegated from the Football League in 1988 and went out of business in February 1989, but reformed shortly afterwards and entered the English football league system at a much lower level. In 2013 the club then won promotion back to the Football League for the first time since 1988. In the 1970s and 1980s comedian Frank Carson was appointed as a Director and Vice President in order to raise the profile of the club. Newport-based rappers Goldie Lookin' Chain are also supporters of the club and were the team's shirt sponsors for the 2004–05 season FAW Premier Cup matches. Team news Newport are without defender Scot Bennett for Notts County's visit in Sky Bet League Two. Newport defender - and former Notts player - Scot Bennett will be out after suffering a hamstring injury and won't be back for four to eight weeks. Mark O'Brien is set to return as Exiles boss Michael Flynn ponders switching to three at the back following Tuesday's 5-0 thrashing at Mansfield Town. Veteran striker Paul Hayes is fit again after a groin problem, while Josh Sheehan and Emmanuel Osadebe could bolster the midfield. Notts manager Kevin Nolan must decide whether to restore 17-goal top scorer Jorge Grant to the starting line-up after he looked jaded over the last few weeks. Alan Smith should return to the squad after being on antibiotics, while Shaun Brisley missed out in midweek through illness and might struggle to regain his place as Brighton loanee Ben Hall did well on his debut. Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack 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.

Head to head Carlisle United and Notts County have met 33 times since their first clash back in October 1959, a Fourth Division clash that was won 2-0 by the Cumbrians. Out of those, the Magpies have won 17 and lost 12, with just four draws. Our last meeting was on 21 October last year, the first League Two fixture between the two this season, which ended in a 1-1 draw as Ryan Yates's 58th-minute goal cancelled out Hallam Hope's first-half opener. Stats The Magpies have managed just one win in their previous five league meetings with the Cumbrians, this after winning five of the previous six. Carlisle have won back-to-back trips to Notts by an aggregate score line of 8-2, their best ever run there in the Football League. Jorge Grant has had a hand in 19 goals in League Two this season - only two players have been involved in more, Adebayo Akinfenwa and Billy Kee. Carlisle are yet to win an away match in all competitions in 2018, losing 4-3 at Wycombe Wanderers in their last away match. History The club was formed on 17 May 1904 at Shaddongate United's annual general meeting, where the club's members voted to change the team's name to Carlisle United. The newly formed club initially played at Milhome Bank and later at Devonshire Park, finally settling at their current home Brunton Park in 1909. In 1949, the club became the first to appoint Bill Shankly as manager. Shankly, a former player at Carlisle, later went on to manage local rivals Workington (helping them finish above Carlisle for the first time) before being appointed as manager of Liverpool in 1959. The Cumbrians have spent a season in the top flight, back in 1974-75, and recorded a double over Everton, as well as home victories over eventual champions Derby County, former titleholders Ipswich Town, Arsenal, Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers. They were relegated at the end of the season though. Despite their small stature, the club has experienced moderate success with regards to silverware – they have won a Third Division title back in 1965, two fourth-tier championships in 1995 and 2006, and two Football League Trophies, back in 1997 and 2011. Trivia Carlisle staged their 'home' fixture against Notts at Preston North End's Deepdale stadium in December 2015 due to floods in Cumbria which impacted on Brunton Park as well. Carlisle is one of the northernmost clubs in the Football League, just 10 miles from the Scottish border, and one that’s normally mentioned among the most difficult away days – talk of “Carlisle away” is one for the most hardcore fans, especially in midweek (Newcastle United are further north than Carlisle, however). Carlisle is the smallest location, by population, to have had a resident top-flight English football club since 1906. Prior to this, Accrington FC, Darwen, Grimsby Town & Glossop North End were smaller. Carlisle are famous for one of the most dramatic Great Escape scenarios in all of English football, when on-loan goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored in the last 10 seconds of their final game of the 1998-99 season against Plymouth Argyle to keep the Cumbrians in the Football League at the expense of Scarborough. Team news On-loan striker Mason Bennett will be unavailable for the foreseeable future after coming off in the first half of the 1-0 loss to Barnet with a hamstring problem. Kevin Nolan admitted that a virus is currently sweeping through the Notts camp and rendering players unwell, joking that "every 24 hours we're getting two players back but losing another two". Elliott Hewitt missed County's previous two games with illness but may potentially have shaken it off. Carlisle boss Curle has reported no new injury or suspension concerns as he prepares to face his former club. Skipper Danny Grainger missed Saturday's home draw against Colchester United and it remains to be seen if he returns to contention. Tom Parkes will continue at left-back if Grainger is ruled out again, with Gary Liddle set to continue as captain in central defence alongside Clint Hill. Reggie Lambe, Richie Bennett and John O'Sullivan are pushing for recalls after stepping off the bench at the weekend. Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack 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.

Head to head Notts County and Barnet have met 18 times over the years. The head to head stands at 10 wins for Notts, 5 for Barnet, and 3 draws. The first meeting took place only 20 years ago, the Magpies winning 2-1 at Underhill in Division Three The last fixture was on October 14 last year, a 2-1 win for Notts at Meadow Lane thanks to goals from Shola Ameobi and Ryan Yates, while Simeon Akinola struck a consolation with nine minutes left. Stats The home side has won each of the last eight meetings between these two sides in League Two, with Notts winning five to Barnet's three. The Magpies have won each of the last two encounters between these two teams, including a 2-1 win at Meadow Lane earlier this season. They last won three consecutive games against Barnet in the EFL in January 2006. Graham Westley has managed three home league matches against Notts and failed to see his side score in any. Since winning four of their first five League Two away games this season, the Magpies have won just one of the next nine. Jon Stead has been directly involved in six of Notts County's last nine league goals (four goals, two assists). History The club was founded in Chipping Barnet, then part of Hertfordshire, in 1888. Several incarnations of the club existed before the third Barnet FC, created after the First World War, came to be - this entity continues till today. Barnet have won the Football Conference a record three times - in 1991, 2005, and 2015, as well as finishing second three other times. Aside from a runners-up medal in the 1971-72 FA Trophy, their silverware cabinet is restricted to minor trophies. A number of Barnet players have gone on to represent Premier League clubs. They include Dougie Freedman, Marlon King, Andy Clarke, Linvoy Primus, Maik Taylor, Mark Gower, Jason Puncheon, Yannick Bolasie and Albert Adomah. Players who came to the club towards the end of their careers include Jimmy Greaves, Mark Lawrenson, David Hillier, Alan Pardew, Eddie Newton, Paul Warhurst, Steve Kabba, John Oster, Jonathan Fortune, Edgar Davids and Lee Cook. Team news Barnet will once again be without suspended midfielder Dan Sweeney as they welcome Notts to the Hive Stadium. Sweeney serves the second game of a three-match ban after he was punished retrospectively for an off-the-ball incident against Cheltenham Town a fortnight ago. Bees goalkeeper Jamie Stephens is still recovering from a hamstring injury, while defender Harry Taylor (metatarsal) and forward Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro (knee) are also out. Left-back Elliott Johnson and striker Dave Tarpey (both knee) remain long-term absentees. Notts County boss Kevin Nolan is hoping Elliott Hewitt and Matt Tootle return to give him a fully-fit squad to choose from. Hewitt missed the FA Cup replay at Swansea after picking up a virus at the team hotel in south Wales. Tootle has been out for nearly a month through illness but played in a behind-closed-doors game on Tuesday for 70 minutes. Goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons is available again after serving a three-match ban. Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack 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.

Head to head Notts County’s head-to-head history with Crewe Alexandra dates back to September 1893, when the Magpies faced the Railwaymen at the Alexandra Recreation Ground. The result was a 2-0 win for Notts. After several further meetings in the late 1890s, the fixture would experience a hiatus of 63 years; between 1896 and 1959, the two teams didn't play each other. Notts and Crewe have played 44 times in competitive games, and we have the upper hand with 21 wins to 14 defeats, while 9 draws have taken place. The Alex have been on the receiving end of several thumpings at the hands of the Magpies – in 1894, we beat them 9-1 and 5-1, in 1896 we won 6-0, in 1959 we recorded a 4-1 victory and 1970 brought a 5-1 win. In 2013, a 4-0 scoreline at Meadow Lane brought some light to a gloomy first half of the campaign. Notts are unbeaten in their last six home league games against Crewe (three wins and three draws), finding the net at least once in all six matches (12 goals), since a 0-1 defeat in March 1997. Crewe are unbeaten in their last three League Two clashes against the Magpies (one win and two draws), last going four without a defeat against them in all competitions in November 1966 (five games). Stats After a run of just one defeat in 23 league games at home, The Magpies have now lost back to back league matches on home soil for the first time since December 2016 (a run of 5). The Railwaymen have lost each of their last three away games in League Two, and have lost 14 of their last 17 league games on the road (W3) in a run stretching back to April 2017. Veteran forward Jon Stead has bagged four of Notts County's last five league goals, as well as netting their last two FA Cup goals, including their equaliser against Premier League side Swansea City last time out. Crewe Alexandra have lost a league-high 20 points from winning positions in League Two so far this season, whilst also claiming a league-low one point from losing positions in the competition this campaign. History The origins of the “Alexandra” moniker in the club name aren’t fully known. Whether they took the name from a hotel, patronised by those connected with the railway works and where they held their meetings, or whether it was after Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who married Queen Victoria’s eldest son, later King Edward VII, is open to speculation. In 2013, the club won its first-ever major silverware after beating Southend United 2-0 in the Johnstones Paint Trophy final at Wembley. Crewe are known as the Railwaymen because of the town’s links to the British train network. Crewe station was completed in 1837 and is one of the most historic railway stations in the world. Nowadays, as well as serving the town of Crewe that has grown near it, it still operates as a major junction on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). It also serves as a major station on the WCML and as a major rail gateway for the North West. Team news Notts have forward Mason Bennett and defender Ben Hall to call upon, the pair having joined the club on loan from Derby County and Brighton respectively on transfer deadline day. Midfielder Matty Virtue is available once more after serving a one-game ban but goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons remains sidelined for another two matches for his straight red against Crawley. Crewe could hand a debut to defender Jamie Sterry, who joined on loan from Newcastle on deadline day. David Artell's defensive options have however taken a hit as Zoumana Bakayogo misses out through suspension. Fellow defender Michael Raynes faces a fitness test, as does goalkeeper Dave Richards after he was forced off in the Swindon loss with a calf problem. Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack preview 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.

Head to head Notts County have played Crawley Town 11 times in their history. The first fixture between the two was on 10 November 2012 at Meadow Lane, a League One meeting which finished 1-1. Meanwhile the return fixture, played away on 9 March 2013, ended as a goalless draw. The record stands at seven Notts wins, two Crawley wins, and two draws - all games took place either in League One or League Two. Notts have won their last five games in a row agains Crawley, and seven of the last eight. Stats Notts have only won two of their last eight games, drawing four and losing two. Despite still sitting second in League Two, the chasing pack are now just a few points behind. Accrington Stanley and Exeter City now have the possibility to leapfrog the Magpies with their game in hand. Crawley, meanwhile, have won six of their last 10, allaying their early-season relegation fears. Harry Kewell's side went into last weekend's game on the back of a three-match winning run but lost 2-1 at Newport County on Friday night. History Crawley Town have been a non-league side for the majority of their history. In the 2010s, when Notts were struggling to survive in the old Second Division, Crawley had just been promoted from the Southern Football League. Crawley have won plenty of silverware in their history, though the majority of it is amateur-based. This changed when they won the Conference National title in 2011 and the League Two title just a year later. 2010-11 was a record-breaking season not just for Crawley, but also for the Conference. The West Sussex club broke the points total in one season (105) and tie with other teams for most wins in one season (31), fewest defeats (3), and highest goal difference (+63). Because of this season, alongside the funds they had to buy players and an unlikeable manager (Steve Evans), they were known as “the Manchester United of non-league football”. The town of Crawley is known for being close - just three miles in fact - to Gatwick Airport, the world's busiest single-runway international airport. Famous people who have links to Crawley include Australian footballer Kevin Muscat (born in Crawley), Gareth Southgate (attended the town's Hazelwick School), English rock band The Cure (formed in Crawley, several of its members attended St Wilfrid's RC School) and Gorillaz lead singer 2D (a fictional character, his back story claims he grew up in the town). Team news Shaun Brisley was taken off against Exeter City and Kevin Nolan says the defender has a haematoma and will not be risked against Crawley. Richard Duffy was back in training on Monday, while Matt Tootle sat it out, but both players could potentially play a role in Tuesday night's game. Crawley team news to follow. Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack 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.

Head to head Notts County and Exeter City have met a total of 45 times over their history. The first meeting came at St James’ Park in Division Three (South) on 1 November 1930, and it finished as a 3-3 draw. The Magpies have an excellent record against the Grecians; from 45 competitive encounters, Notts have won 18 and drawn 19. Our last meeting was on September 26 at St James' Park, where Notts outlined their promotion credentials with a 3-0 win over their fellow high-flyers. Notts are unbeaten in their last three League Two matches against the Grecians (W2 D1), keeping clean sheets in two of those matches. However, Exeter have avoided defeat in each of their last two visits to Meadow Lane in League Two (W1 D1), including a 4-1 away win in this exact fixture in the 2015/16 campaign. Stats Along with Brentford, The Magpies are currently enjoying the longest home unbeaten run in the 2017/18 campaign only of all the sides in the English Football League (13 games - W10 D3), last losing at home in the league back in April 2017. Exeter on the other hand, have lost each of their last five league games on the road, failing to score more than one goal in any of those matches. They last lost more away games on the bounce when they were defeated in nine such consecutive games between February and April 2012. Jorge Grant has scored three goals in his two league appearances for Notts County against Exeter despite starting neither of those games, averaging a goal every 22 minutes on the field against the Grecians. History Exeter was formed in 1901 as St. Sidwell's United and played in the Southern League from 1908 until 1920, when that league's top division was absorbed into The Football League as its new Division Three. The club was the first ever team to play the Brazilian national team in 1914, a match which was commemorated in a 2014 friendly game against Fluminense. City took 60 years to achieve their first ever promotion, finishing fourth in Division Four in the 1963–64 season. Since then, the club have mostly yo-yoed between the third and fourth divisions, spending five years in the Conference between 2003 and 2008; having been promoted a further four times (in 1976–77, 1989–90, 2007–08 and 2008–09) and relegated five times (in 1965–66,1983–84, 1993–94, 2002–03 and 2011–12). Famous fans include Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, Adrian Edmondson, Mark Nicol and Noel Edmonds. Singer Joss Stone signed up as a member of the Supporters' Trust, being introduced to fans on the pitch as a new member during a League Cup match against Liverpool. In 2002 pop singer Michael Jackson was made honorary director of Exeter City. He visited St James Park with celebrity friend Uri Geller, who was also a director. The crew of the HMS Defender also adopted Exeter City as their home team and use their strip if playing games whilst on tour. Team news Shola Ameobi returned from a four-match injury absence as a second-half substitute in last weekend's draw at Lincoln City and is expected to feature against Exeter. Should Magpies manager Kevin Nolan opt to restore Ameobi to his starting line up, Lewis Alessandra could be the player to make way. Nolan was this week boosted by the news that Nottingham Forest will let Jorge Grant remain on loan at Meadow Lane for the remainder of the season. Exeter captain Jordan Moore-Taylor is rated a 50/50 chance to be fit in time for Saturday's game - the 23-year-old has not played since December 30 due to injury. Fellow defenders Troy Brown and Luke Croll, who have been absent even longer than Moore-Taylor are also back in training but are not yet ready for first team action. Midfielder Hiram Boateng will be hoping for a place in the starting line-up after coming off the bench against Coventry last week. Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack preview 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.

Head to head Notts County and Lincoln City have met a total of 66 times in competitive matches over the years. The first fixture took the place all the way back in November 1893, a Division Two game in Nottingham which resulted in an away win for the Imps. The record currently stands at 35 wins for Notts, 15 defeats, and 16 draws. Notts and Lincoln have played twice this season already - the Magpies won the first fixture 4-1 in League Two whilst Lincoln won 2-1 in the EFL Trophy in November. The Magpies won their last league visit to Lincoln 3-0 in September 2009, ending a run of four trips without winning there in League Two. Stats The Imps have only lost one of their last seven league games, keeping four clean sheets in that time. The Magpies have won just once on the road in League Two in their last eight attempts and have not kept a clean sheet on their travels in the competition since September. History Lincoln City were officially formed in 1884 as an amateur association - even though there had been a team playing since the 1860s - and turned professional in the 1891-92 season. The following season, Lincoln became one of the 12 founder members of the Second Division alongside Small Heath, Sheffield Utd, Darwen, Grimsby, Ardwick, Burton Swifts, Northwich Victoria, Bootle, Crewe, Burslem, Port Vale and Walsall T. Swifts. In 1895, Lincoln moved to Sincil Bank from the John O'Gaunts ground. They drew their first game at Sincil Bank 0-0 with Gainsborough Trinity and also drew their first League game 1-1 with Woolwich Arsenal. Lincoln have never won a major trophy in their history but have got their hands on the Division 3 (North) title three times, in 1932, 1948, and 1952, as well as winning League Two in 1976 and claiming the premier non-league title in 1988 and 2017. Last year, the Imps made history by becoming the first non-league side to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup since Queens Park Rangers in 1914. Lincoln developed from the Roman town of Lindum Colonia, which developed from an Iron Age settlement. Its major landmarks are Lincoln Cathedral, a famous example of English Gothic architecture, and Lincoln Castle, an 11th-century Norman castle. Team news Lincoln will be without midfielder Harry Anderson, who must serve a one-match ban following his red card in the 4-2 loss to Luton Town on New Year's Day. The Imps have made several key signings this month as Lee Frecklington, Danny Rowe, Jordan Williams and James Wilson all arrived at Sincil Bank. However, Josh Ginnelly has been recalled by Burnley, while Billy Knott has left on loan to Rochdale. For Notts, Shola Ameobi has missed the last four matches with a knock but he is nearing a return. Magpies manager Kevin Nolan, who this weekend celebrates one year in charge at Meadow Lane, suffered a blow this week when Nottingham Forest recalled Ryan Yates from his loan spell and sent him to Scunthorpe. However, Liverpool Under-23s captain Matty Virtue has joined on loan, while fellow midfielder Noor Husin has joined from Crystal Palace on an 18-month deal, not to mention Liam Noble being back at Notts and pushing for a starting place. Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack preview 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.

Head to head and stats Brentford and Notts County will be meeting in for just the second time in the FA Cup, the Bees winning 4-0 in their only competition encounter in December 1964. Both sides have met 75 times in competitive action, the first game taking place on 24 September 1930 in Division Three (South), a 2-2 draw. The record stands at 20 wins for Notts, 27 draws, and 28 defeats. Our last fixture took place on 5 April 2014, a 3-1 defeat for Notts at Griffin Park, the Bees subsequently going up into the Championship. Notts haven't beaten Brentford since 28 February 2004 in Division Two. Eight consecutive draws then took place before the Bees won the following four games against the Magpies. Brentford have lost their last five FA Cup games against league opposition since drawing 2-2 with current holders at the time Chelsea in January 2013, eventually losing the replay 0-4. Notts have conceded exactly two goals in seven of their last eight FA Cup matches, which comprise of three wins, two draws, and three defeats. The Magpies are in the third round for the first time since 2012, progressing to the fourth round on the last three occasions they've reached this stage. History Brentford FC started life in 1889 because the members of the Brentford Rowing Club wanted to engage in a sport as filler during the winter months. By 8 votes to 5, they opted for football instead of rugby. Notts legend Tommy Lawton played for Brentford directly after his talismanic spell with the Magpies, scoring 17 goals in 50 games between 1951 and 1953. Lawton also served as player/manager in his final year with the club before leaving for Arsenal. Between 1954 and 2014, Brentford had experienced football higher than the third tier for just one season, in 1991-92. Brentford is a popular team with many musicians who grace the pages of NME. Hard-Fi lead singer and guitarist Richard Archer, Bluetones guitarist Adam Devlin, Status Quo bassist John "Rhino" Edwards, The Who guitarist Pete Townshend and Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman are all supporters of the Hounslow club. Gunnersbury Park Museum is in Gunnersbury House, narrowly in Gunnersbury (the north-west of Chiswick) containing artifacts and former furnishings of the Rothschild family, who were culturally and financially pre-eminent across France, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and North America (basically, one of the most powerful families in the world). Kew Bridge Steam Museum houses the world's largest working beam engine and its narrow cuboid tower is an emblem of the town. Team news Striker Emiliano Marcondes may make his debut for Championship Brentford after being a substitute in the defeat to Wolves. Midfielder Alan Judge is expected to face his old club in his first game in 21 months following a broken leg, but left-back Rico Henry is out with an injured knee. Lewis Macleod is another looking for game time as he builds up his fitness following a cruciate ligement injury. Notts midfielder Liam Noble is finally set to make his first appearance since returning to the club, while the Magpies could also welcome back veteran striker Shola Ameobi. Rob Milson might be involved again after injury while the likes of Carl Dickinson, Nicky Hunt, Terry Hawkridge and Alan Smith are options should Magpies manager Kevin Nolan wish to make changes. Share your thoughts about this match preview 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.

Head to head and stats Notts County have met Port Vale 102 times over the years, with the first two fixtures coming within a week of each other back in February 1921. The Magpies won the first game 2-1, but lost 1-0 at Meadow Lane. Notts have the upper edge having won 46 games, lost 36, and drawn 20 against the Valiants, with the highest scoring matches coming in February 1927 (a 6-2 defeat) and April 1935 (a 5-3 defeat). Our last meeting was on September 2 this year, with County winning 1-0 at Vale Park. None of the last 17 league matches between these sides has ended as a draw - Notts County have won eight and Port Vale have won nine of those 17 games. The Valiants, 1-0 winners in this exact fixture in the third-tier in February 2015, haven't won back to back league matches at Meadow Lane since January 2002. The Magpies won 17 home matches in all competitions in 2017 - two more than in 2015 and 2016 combined (15). Port Vale have lost nine of their last 11 league matches on New Year's Day, drawing the other two - they last won in 1990, hammering Ipswich 5-0 in a second-tier fixture. Neil Aspin’s men are currently unbeaten in five league games, their last two matches against Coventry and Luton yielding two wins, five goals scored, and none conceded. History Port Vale is one of the few English league clubs not to be named after a geographical location. The name Port Vale exists on maps pre–dating the formation of the club, which probably occurred in 1879, and is a reference to a valley of ports on the Trent and Mersey Canal, associated with the city's pottery industry. The club itself is actually based in Burslem, one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. Port Vale have never been in the top tier of English football, and the last time they were in the second tier was back in 1999-2000. In terms of silverware, the Valiants have won the Staffordshire Senior Cup twice, in 1920 and 2001, whilst being runners-up in 1900 and 2010, as well as several other regional cups like the Birmingham Senior Cup, one of the oldest county football competitions still active. The club, despite being fairly small, enjoys the support of some world-famous celebrities, including singer Robbie Williams, darts legend Phil "The Power" Taylor, and Blue singer Simon Webbe. Team news Shola Ameobi, Jonathan Forte and Rob Milsom remain doubts for Notts County against Port Vale after missing the 1-0 defeat at Swindon Town. Boss Kevin Nolan was hopeful the trio might return to face the Robins after missing the clash against Morecambe, but none of them made the matchday squad for the game at the County Ground. Richard Duffy dropped out of the squad altogether after being substituted on Boxing Day and could miss out again. Matt Tootle, Carl Dickinson and Terry Hawkridge were brought into the team on Saturday and will be hoping to keep their places. For Port Vale, James Gibbons is back in contention as he returns from suspension. The defender has missed the last four games after being handed a second red card of the season in the recent FA Cup defeat at Yeovil. The Valiants extended their unbeaten league run to five games with an emphatic 4-0 win against Luton on Saturday, so manager Neil Aspin could be tempted to go with the same XI. Defender Kjell Knops remains a long-term absentee due to a knee injury, as does Adam Yates, who is recovering from fractures to his nose, cheekbone and eye socket sustained in November. Share your thoughts about this match preview 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.

Head to head Notts County have met Swindon Town on 64 occasions, the first time being in the FA Cup over a century ago. On that day in January 1911, the Robins beat the Magpies 2-0 at the County Ground. In terms of head to head, 25 games have been won by Notts, 27 by Swindon, and 12 have been drawn. Swindon suffered a 0-1 defeat to Notts County on match day seven; despite failing to score on that occasion, the Robins have netted six goals in their last three matches against Notts County, more than in their previous nine combined in all competitions. Swindon Town have won five of their last eight home games against Notts County in the Football League (D2 L1), keeping six clean sheets in the process; in fact, Notts County have failed to score at the County Ground since their 2-1 victory back in April 2011. Stats Swindon have lost three home games in a row in League Two and have won just 11 points at the County Ground this season, a joint-league low on home soil (alongside Forest Green Rovers and Crawley Town). Jorge Grant has had a hand in more goals (18) than any other player in League Two this season (13 goals, five assists). History The club was founded in 1879 by Reverend William Baker Pitt. Whilst curate of Christ Church, the high church of Swindon, Pitt formed Swindon Association Football Club to provide recreation for young men in his parish. Swindon won the Southern League championship in 1910-11, earning themselves a Charity Shield clash with Football League champions Manchester United. This, the highest-scoring Charity Shield game to date, was played on 25 September 1911 at Stamford Bridge with Manchester United winning 8–4! Some of the proceeds of this game were later donated to the survivors of the Titanic. During World War II, The War Department – the government body responsible for the supply of equipment to the armed forces in the UK – took over the County Ground in 1940. For a while, prisoners of war were housed in huts placed on the pitch. For this, the club received compensation of £4,570 at war’s end. Swindon Town were the first League club to use floodlights, having had them installed in 1951. The County Ground is also the only football stadium in the world with a Rolex watch acting as its timekeeper –the clock on the Stratton Bank stand featuring its name was erected to celebrate promotion in 1963. Swindon have spent one season in the top flight, in 1992-93, during which Glenn Hoddle managed them. Sadly, they didn't do too well, being relegated at the end of the season after conceding 100 goals. The most notable silverware in the Robins’ possession is undoubtedly the League Cup, won in 1969 after beating Arsenal in the final at Wembley. Royle Family and Two Pints Of Lager actor Ralf Little was rumoured to be on trial at Swindon back in 2002, though the funnyman later claimed that he was just training with the squad. Jazz singer Jamie Cullum is also a fan of the Robins. Team news Swindon boss David Flitcroft will consider changes after Luton beat them 5-0 at the County Ground on Boxing Day, leaving the Robins winless at home in League Two since October. Fit-again Scott Twine, Kellan Gordon, Ellis Iandolo and Chris Robertson could all come into the reckoning, but Harry Smith has played his final game for Swindon as the on-loan striker has returned to parent club Millwall. Notts County will assess strikers Shola Ameobi and Jonathan Forte, as well as midfielder Rob Milsom. All three players missed the Boxing Day win at Morecambe with knocks but Magpies manager Kevin Nolan is hopeful he will have the trio back in contention on Saturday. Lewis Alessandra took full advantage of his opportunity in the absence of Ameobi and Forte by scoring twice and he will hope that is enough to see him retain his place in the side. Defender Carl Dickinson and midfielder Terry Hawkridge are among those who will come into Nolan's thinking should he opt to freshen things up. Share your thoughts about this match preview 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.

Head to head Notts County and Morecambe have met 11 times in their history, with the first ever clash taking place 10 years ago, in September 2007. On that day, it ended as a 1-1 draw, Michael Twiss putting the visitors ahead at Meadow Lane in the first half, before the late Richard Butcher equalised in the 87th minute. The Shrimpers are ahead in the head-to-head, with Notts having lost to them five times, beaten them twice, and drawn thrice. The Magpies ended a run of four League Two matches without a win against Morecambe when the sides met on September 9, claiming a 2-0 victory - their first clean sheet against the Shrimps since December 2008. This fixture has yielded a scoreline of 4-1 three times already - once in our favour and twice in Morecambe's. The fixture on 19 September 2009 was former Arsenal and England legend Sol Campbell's only game in a Magpies shirt. Meanwhile the rematch later in the season, on 17 April 2010, is when Notts mathematically secured promotion to League One. Stats Notts County have lost each of their last three Boxing Day fixtures in the EFL, including the last time they were on their travels in 2013 (2-1 at Port Vale). Meanwhile Morecambe have only won two of their last six Boxing Day fixtures (L4), failing to score more than once in any of those games. History Football in the town dates back to the turn of the 20th century; however, it was not until 7 May 1920 that Morecambe FC was formed. The club then took its place in the Lancashire Combination League for the 1920–21 season. The fourteen years from 1960 could be said to be Morecambe's golden era. This included an FA Cup third round appearance in 1961–62, a 1–0 defeat to Weymouth; a Lancashire Senior Cup Final victory in 1968, a 2–1 win over Burnley; and an FA Trophy success at Wembley in 1974, a 2–1 win over Dartford in the final. Morecambe, a non-league side for most of their history, were promoted to the Football League for the first time in 2007 after winning the Conference Playoff Final, beating Exeter City 2–1 at Wembley in front of over 40,000 fans. Morecambe was a thriving seaside resort in the mid-20th century. While the resort of Blackpool attracted holiday-makers predominantly from the Lancashire mill towns, Morecambe had more visitors from Yorkshire, due to its railway connection, and Scotland. Between 1956 and 1989 Morecambe was the home of the Miss Great Britain beauty contest. Team news Notts will assess the fitness of Jonathan Forte and Shola Ameobi before making the trip to Lancashire. Both strikers are nursing knocks following Saturday's 3-3 home draw with Cambridge United, with Forte hurting his hip while scoring the Magpies' equalising goal in stoppage time. Should neither be available on Boxing Day, Lewis Alessandra could return to the starting XI to partner Jon Stead up front - if manager Kevin Nolan opts to play with two strikers. Left-back Dan Jones will hope to be recalled to the team after impressing as a substitute for half an hour against Shaun Derry's side. For Morecambe, midfielder Kevin Ellison could be in contention after starting on the bench in the 2-1 defeat by Mansfield after making a recovery from a hamstring injury. Callum Lang scored against the Stags to notch his second goal in three games and could keep his place in Bentley's starting line-up. The Shrimps will be without goalkeeper Danijel Nizic after he was called up to the Australia Under-23 squad for the Asian Federation Cup. Share your thoughts about this preview 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.

Head to head Notts County and Cambridge United have met 27 times in their history. The first meeting came on Boxing Day 1970 at Meadow Lane, with the Magpies earning a 4-1 win. Notts hold the advantage in the head to head, with 11 wins, 7 draws and 9 defeats against the U’s. Recent form is not good, however - we've lost our last four meetings against Cambridge. The last meeting was on 2 January this year at the Abbey Stadium, and we lost 4-0. Notts County are on a run of five League Two matches without a victory against Cambridge (D1 L4) having previously won three on the bounce in all competitions. Cambridge have won back-to-back away Football League matches against Cambridge for just the second time; they have never done so on three consecutive trips. 43 points from 22 games is Notts County's best return in a league season since 1987/88 (3rd tier) and nearly twice the tally of points they had won at this stage last season (22). Cambridge have scored just seven goals in their last 12 League Two matches, failing to score in seven of these games. History The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United before taking the name Cambridge United in 1951. It first competed in the Football League in 1970 and stayed there until relegation in 2005, nine seasons in the Conference following until climbing back out of non-league. Cambridge have had two spells in the league's second tier, and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup twice and Football League Cup once during the early 1990s, the club's most successful era to date. United's highest ever finishing place in the Football League is fifth in the Second Division during the 1991–92 season, competing in a season-ending four team playoff for the final promotion slot to the Premier League's inaugural season. The club is based at the Abbey Stadium on Newmarket Road, approximately 1.86 miles east of Cambridge city centre. The stadium has a capacity of 8,127, made up of terracing and seated areas. During their days in Division Two, with John Beck at the helm in the 1980's, the club earned a reputation for bizarre training methods and "dirty tricks" to make their opponents feel ill at ease. These included freezing cold showers for his own players, dirty changing rooms and deflated kick-about balls for the opposition and long grass in the corners of the pitch to slow the long balls into those areas, allowing the U’s forwards to reach them. Beck carried on his dirty tricks even after leaving to take charge of Preston North End – taking nine of the Cambridge United players with him. He was not the only famous manager at the club, with Ron Atkinson taking the club from Fourth to Second division and Ex-England and Derby County centre-half Roy McFarland also sitting in the hot seat. Before their entry into the League, a local animal sanctuary had an escapee and it was found grazing on the pitch at the Abbey Stadium. This lead to the moose connection with the club, and in the club shop you can buy a range of moose souvenirs to show your allegiance to the U’s. Famous alumni include Dion Dublin and Luke Chadwick, while famous fans include football commentator Gary Newbon and Tom Findlay of Groove Armada. And connecting the two clubs – none other than former Notts manager Shaun Derry, now a the helm of the U’s. Team news Adam Collin is back in training and rebuilding match fitness after suffering a knee injury in October, but Saturday's match comes too soon for the goalkeeper. Club captain Michael O'Connor remains a long-term absentee having suffered a major knee injury in April. Jonathan Forte, Lewis Alessandra and Rob Milsom all stand by in hope of recalls. Cambridge boss Shaun Derry goes to his former club with his future on the line and he could make changes. Striker Uche Ikpeazu is available again following a one-match suspension. Last Saturday's last-gasp loss to Newport means United have just one win in eight games, while they are the lowest scoring side in the division and Derry has only been assured of his position for the Christmas period. Ade Azeez played 90 minutes on his first start following three months out with a calf injury. Derry named just four substitutes against Newport and could be short of options, with Gary Deegan and David Amoo expected to miss out again. Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack 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.