Been watching this game and several of the other play off games..... Is it my imagination???? Because I've seen more head tennis in these games than I've seen at Meadow Lane all season.... Anyone else noticed this??? 

Anyone else captivated by this competition this season? I spent yesterday evening watching Eintracht Frankfurt deservedly winning away at Barcelona in front of 30,000 travelling fans. As all the flights to Barcelona were sold out, some even took a detour via Tunisia to be there. Eintracht exposed Barca with their fast counterattacking time and again and could have scored more than three. Barca, on the other hand, carved out very few chances until they woke up in stoppage time. It looked like the kind of evening you always dream about as a football fan, and I'm also relieved that the competition won't be won by a team that sees it as a consolation prize.

It'll be interesting to see Eintracht, West Ham and Rangers scrap it out in the semis - the competition means the world to all of them. Just have a sneaky feeling RB Leipzig will nick it instead.

So Easter Monday brought good and bad news. Grimsby's win against KL means they leapfrog us in the table having played a game more, while Halifax's win over Chesterfield means we're now ten points adrift of third place, which will be a really tall order, especially with the Shaymen in fine form. Realistically, I think it's gone - if Halifax win three of their last five, we can't catch them whatever we do. On the other hand, a win in our game in hand (against Dover) would put us in fifth place above Chesterfield, and a finish in fifth or fourth would at least get us a home quarter final in the play-offs. But looking at their fixtures, Grimsby may well push us to the wire for that.

Looking downwards, Dagenham are only a couple of points behind us and have won three on the bounce, but they have to play Solihull and Wrexham still. On the other hand, those teams might well have their play-off spots booked by the time the Daggers play them ans be resting players. How do you think it'll turn out?

Remaining fixtures:

Halifax: Southend (a), Yeovil (h), Eastleigh (a), Aldershot (h), Stockport (a)

Solihull: Aldershot (h), Weymouth (a), Bromley (h), Dagenham (h), Boreham Wood (a)

Chesterfield: Dover (h), Bromley (a), Stockport (h), Torquay (a), Woking (h)

Grimsby: Torquay (h), Barnet (a), Maidenhead (h), Boreham Wood (h), Eastleigh (a)

Dagenham: King's Lynn (h), Wealdstone (a), Torquay (h), Solihull (a), Wrexham (h)

Game 44 - The Magpies (A)

Team: Maidenhead United

Date: 15/05/2022

Where: York Road

What line-up should Ian Burchnall opt for? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

Slocombe 6.5 another clean sheet

Brindley 7 Assured performance, carries the ball well when he cuts inside, on that trademark diagonal run

Lacey 7 Defensive and ball at feet, comfortable

Cameron 7 One particular defensive header was a stand out

Richardson 6.5 If only the final ball could be delivered...

DKE 6.5 Busy performance as you would come to expect

Palmer 6.5 Does what it says on the tin

JOB 6 A couple of good opportunities to shoot went begging

Ruben 7 Well marked, protected the ball well when receiving

Roberts 7.5 Won penalty, scored penalty MoTM

Wootton 7 Again well marked in a good defensive Maidenhead performance

Remy Clerima, right sided in a back 3

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/remy-clerima/profil/spieler/333348

https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/gallery/maidenhead-utd-fc/174070/remy-clerima-i-know-there-s-a-lot-more-i-can-give-to-the-team.html

Emile Acquah

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emile_Acquah

Daniel Gyollai, Hungarian keeper

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dániel_Gyollai

It’s the month where the big decisions fall, whether in pointless competitions like the Premier League, or in incredibly important, era-defining contests like the Vanarama National League or the PON prediction league. Who will make history? Who will finish fifth? And will anybody notice if I give myself an extra 100 points? These matches take place on Saturday, with the two Championship games kicking off at 12.30 and all the others at 3pm. And remember those jokers. Good luck!

AFC Bournemouth v Millwall

Sheffield United v Fulham

Exeter City v Port Vale

Leyton Orient v Tranmere Rovers

Mansfield Town v Forest Green Rovers

Solihull Moors v Dagenham & Redbridge

Wealdstone v King’s Lynn

Yeovil Town v Boreham Wood

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2022/may/nemane-suspension-100522/

George has been made available by Peterborough!!!! Worth a look????? 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Pringle

In summary, Bristol Rovers needed to beat Scunthorpe by 7 goals to clinch promotion on Saturday. They won 7-0 and pipped Northampton on goals scored. Northampton have to settle for a playoff place. This is where it gets interesting. In January, Ryan Loft moved from Scunthorpe to Bristol Rovers for an undisclosed fee. Loft didn't play against Scunthorpe. He was an unused sub. It's being reported that as part of the deal, Scunthorpe would get an extra 50K if Bristol Rovers achieved promotion. Scunthorpe have been awful all season, but last Saturday they were absolutely awful. They rolled over and played dead. The circumstances around the game will certainly raise questions about why Keith Hill felt he shouldn't play his strongest side. 

Slocombe 6 A quiet afternoon, well protected. One shot by Altrincham whistled by his post

Brindley 8 Always confident moving forward to create space

Lacey 7.5. Motored through the game

Chicksen 7 Again too many times cutting inside

DKE 7 Missed a great headed chance. Busy.

Palmer 7 Ticks the team over but when had an opportunity to shoot, just hasn't got it in front of goal

JOB 6 Missed 2 golden chances in the first half, 2nd set up by Cal

Richardson 7.5 So important the speed on the right flank. Crossed for Ruben's goal

Ruben 7.5 Great headed goal and ran over to the bench to thank analysis guy

Roberts 7.5 Calmly taken penalty

Wootton 7.5 Took his goal brilliantly

Subs

Sam 7 That ball to Richardson set up his 3rd goal, purring

Francis 6 

It's the penultimate week of this season's prediction league - we say goodbye to League One (no idea why they're finishing a week early) and any mathematical chance most of us have of winning it. But there's pride and honour to fight for. Kick-off is 3pm on Saturday - except for the two League One fixtures, which start at 12.30pm. And don't forget your jokers!

Blackburn Rovers v AFC Bournemouth

Cardiff City v Birmingham City

Cambridge United v Cheltenham Town

Gillingham v Rotherham United

Crawley Town v Leyton Orient

Northampton Town v Exeter City

Bromley v Chesterfield

King's Lynn v Eastleigh

Game 43 - The Robins (H)

Team: Altrincham

Date: 07/05/2022

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should Ian Burchnall opt for? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

despite 76% possession stats

and the most ridiculous offside ever by a linesman