Schofield 4 - Not commanding enough and should have saved the goal. Scares me

Tootle 6 - Got up and down the right flank and put in a good cross for Notts' goal but was partly at fault for the equaliser when he let Nathaniel-George cut inside

Stubbs 6 - Dealt with Ollie Palmer well

Barclay 3 - Looked ok until a stupid challenge. Such an unnecessary red card. A tackle he didn't even need to make. All he had to do was run in to him, not attempt to break him in half

Bird 7 - Comfortable. Bought the ball out of defence and pressed

Milsom 5 - Steady

Doyle 4 - A bit ineffective again. Had a goalscoring opportunity but passed it back to O'Brien instead

O'Brien 6 - Ran about like normal and covered the yards. Almost scored with a Forestieri type strike against Norwich

Rose 6 - Kept going through the pain and battled hard to keep the Crawley centre mids quiet

Stead 6 - Some alright link up play in the first half. Had a good chance to score when O'Brien put a ball across in the first half only for the antique to stand still

Mackail-Smith 7 - Scored with a good header and constantly try to unsettle the Crawley defence. Don't know why he was subbed

Subs

Ward 7 - Came on and was comfortable as cheese at centre-back 

Boldewijn 5 - Tried to battle when he came on but difficult as he was the lone striker and we were down to ten

Ardley 3 - The 3-5-2 looked ok early doors. Second half we had to put another attacker on to play with Mackail-Smith but he didn't. Four at the back after Barclay had been sent off would have been fine. Should have taken a midfielder out and bought Enzio on to play with Craig, as Crawley's threat wasn't coming from the centre. Not brave enough with his subs

How do you rate our chances of staying up? I give us a 25% chance.

In favour of us staying up:

- Despite the season we're having and thanks to the epic crapness of a couple of teams around us, we're still just three points (and an X-rated goal difference) off safety. We need to make up one point on Yeovil over seven games to have a chance on the final day - surely that's doable?

- Our last matches are against Grimsby and Swindon, who probably won't have anything to play for. Maybe they'll be thinking of their holidays already?

- We've brought in some players who are up for the fight, the defence looks tighter and Hemmings has found his shooting boots.

- Two seasons ago Newport had 33 points from 38 games - the same as us - and were six points adrift, yet stayed up.

In favour of relegation:

- We've already had a series of six-pointers, and we have choked every time (one example being the six unanswered goals Yeovil put past us this season, that could cost us big).

- We have one player who looks capable of scoring, a pretty bad position to be in when we need wins.

- In 2016-17, Newport won five and lost three of their last eight games and stayed up by two points on the final day. When have we showed signs of putting that kind of run together?

What do you all think? Still got hope, or have we had it?

Two rounds in one this weekend

Good Friday Fixtures:
Birmingham City v Derby County
Swansea City v Rotherham United
Rochdale v Wycombe Wanderers
Walsall v Southend United
Cheltenham Town v Oldham Athletic
Newport County v Bury


Easter Monday Fixtures:
Blackburn Rovers v Bolton Wanderers
Hull City v Sheffield United
Peterborough United v Sunderland
Plymouth Argyle v Barnsley
Lincoln City v Tranmere Rovers
Swindon Town v Crewe Alexandra

Mine:
Birmingham City 1-0 Derby County
Swansea City 3-1 Rotherham (Joker)
Rochdale 1-1 Wycombe
Walsall 1-2 Southend
Cheltenham 3-1 Oldham
Newport County 0-1 Bury

Blackburn 2-0 Bolton
Hull 1-2 Sheff Utd
Peterborough 0-2 Sunderland
Plymouth 0-2 Barnsley
Lincoln 1-2 Tranmere
Swindon 1-0 Crewe

How good or bad have your predictions gone?

Mine were

1. MK

2. Notts

3. Lincoln

PO: Northampton 

23. Macclesfield

24. Yeovil 

Hi all,

I am involved in a research study looking at fans' views of sex and gender classification in sport and I am hoping you can spare a few minutes of your time to share your thoughts in an online survey: https://teesside.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/transgender-and-sport

Thanks in advance.

County manager Neal Ardley as told the evening post “he takes full responsibility for County’s no show in Crewe” as County fall to 3-0 loss. 

For the full interview click the clink below 

 https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/neal-ardley-takes-full-responsibility-2758250

So this Friday Notts face MK Dons at meadow lane who’s heading to the lane to cheer the lads on.?

Firstly apologies as I've not had the chance to update the table after last weeks round yet. Should get to do that tomorrow and will post it.

This Saturday's fixtures: 

Aston Villa v Bristol City

Middlesbrough v Hull City

Charlton Athletic v Luton Town

Southend United v Wycombe Wanderers

Tranmere Rovers v MK Dons

Yeovil Town v Crawley Town

Mine: 

Aston Villa 2-2 Bristol City (joker)

Middlesbrough 1-0 Hull City

Charlton Athletic 1-1 Luton Town

Southend United 2-1 Wycombe Wanderers

Tranmere Rovers 1-0 MK Dons

Yeovil Town 1-0 Crawley Town

So it’s caption this time and today’s picture was taken during Harry kewells  reign at meadow lane with Alan .. that’s big Alan not little Alan. 

so give us your best caption and I’ll choose a winner on Friday. 

So Ross Fitzsimons gave his post match reaction to the sending off and getting some unexpected minutes .

To watch the interview click on the link below. 

Today Alan Hardy was in the high court  court to resolve the moneys owed to HMRC. 

The judge as given Alan Hardy till the 5th June,2019 to pay what is owed in light of the possible sale of the club.

So after Schofield was sent off I think most people thought Notts would crumble but they didn’t instead Notts adopted a all for one attitude especially in defence with off the line clearance and working together. 

I know we only got a draw but it wasn’t a loss and and it’s very much in our own hands still.

Let’s hope the lads can carry on with the defending and keep the attitude of all for one as well.

Below is just a example of the lengths and team work the lads did to at least ensure a point. 

http://trainingground.guru/articles/thomas-appointed-academy-manager-of-watford

worth a good read of this thread, double click on twitter link below

https://southsquare.com/barristers/hilary-stonefrost/

Hoping Hilary performs better than our team on the pitch

Emergency loan in Alex Palmer has trained with the squad as he prepares to play in goal for us Away in Crewe tomorrow before returning to West Brom on Monday after Fitzsimons has withdrawn from the game on Dr’s Advice.  

Well what a day it’s been Notts fell to another defeat but Yeovil lost 2-0 to forest Green and Macclesfield lost 1-0 Crawley so favours all round just unable to to capitalise. 

So this is how is it looks at full time what’s everyone’s thoughts. 

Macclesfield won Exeter City in a goal fest tonight, Notts are now back to the bottom of the League Two table.

5 remaining games, each one as important as the next one.

Will Neal Ardley regret going for points rather than wins? If Notts controls the game its a win, if not he parks the bus and I am skeptical if its good enough. We best hope Crawley or Macclesfield slip up.

Game 42 - The Alex (A)

Team: Crewe Alexandra

Date: 13/04/19

Where: Gresty Road

What line-up should Neal Ardley 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.

Palmer 4 - Couldn't really do owt for the goals. Released the ball too slowly on occasions

Tootle 5 - Looked dejected at full time. Pushed upfield a lot, trying to help the attack late on. 

Stubbs 3 - AFC Passback at it again. Lost out to Chris Porter a few times in the air

Duffy 4 - Didn't really do much as Porter battled Stubbs instead of Duffy. Went off injured

Milsom 2 - If he passed the ball backwards anymore than he did, he would have ended up in Industrial Revolution Britain. He's not brave enough with the ball. Too scared to play a forward pass

Doyle 3 - Never had the impact on the game he had at Stevenage. Take him off corners please I'm begging

O'Brien 3 - Forgot to take his Red Bull. Was bypassed too many times by Ryan Wintle who was MOTM for Crewe. Silly fouls created

Rose 4 - Was better in the second half than he was in the first half. Tried to get counter attacks started and made challenges sometimes

Hemmings 4 - If he scores, it changes the game. Struggled on occasions

Stead 3 - Won one flick on all game and has the first touch of a camel

Boldewijn 3 - Ineffective yet again

Subs

Mackail-Smith 3 - First touch of a horse, runs around like a headless chicken

Alessandra 2 - Came on when the game was virtually over. Did nothing when he came on like normal. 

Barclay 3 - Bought on for Duffy when he got injured. Covered ok

Ardley 0 - Set up defensively in a relegation battle away from home. The opposite of Stevenage away. When you need points and wins, setting up to take a point and hoping for any old knock on or bounce when hoofing it to Stead is pathetic 

So starting tomorrow the club begin  there closing season sale. 

With up to 40% off the puma range online and in store.

So I’m sure by now everyone has had the email or heard that Alan Hardy has decided to freeze the season ticket  renewal prices until the end of April for 19/20 season. This is despite the fact that we do not know what league we will play in next season. I’ve spoken to someone from meadow lane and even If we do get relegated the price I’m told is not going to be lowered and will remain the same.

So the gaffer took to the media room this morning and gave his pre match press conference. 

So last night we needed a favour from Exeter as they faced fellow relegation fighters Macclesfield but unfortunately it turned out to be a night that Macclesfield may just look back at and smile come the end of the season . 

While It’s ironic that Exeter were the team that beat us 1-0 at meadow lane a few weeks ago. I just hope that the Exeter game is not the game that proves to be our down fall and that we do get a chance to  turn things around 

Macclesfield sit just two places and two points above the drop zone with Notts rooted to the bottom of league two.