Here’s a bit of nostalgia for you.

Based on a mean of 5...gut ratings follow

Collin 4 Some may say harsh, but getting so annoyed at his inability to dominate his area. A simple catch for a cross first half, he inexplicably punched away under no real pressure. Lucky to gather when Grimsby looked like scoring a second just before half time. One good near post save worthy of note but that's his job

Hunt 4 Hopelessly exposed for pace first half, no matter how much experience he has. Tightened up after half time

Duffy 4 Writing before video highlights but was it his soft header that led to Grimsby's first? Stand to be corrected. Unlucky with a near post corner header.

Brisley 5 No nonsense defending at times when needed

Jones 6 Clean finish for the equaliser... always looking to cross the ball

Noble 4 Less able to influence the game, just hopeless at winning the second ball

Hewitt 4 I would be interested in his % pass rate completion stats.... All effort as usual, but his limitations are there to see

VirtueThick 4 Unluckily booked IMHO, where far worse offences by Grimsby went unpunished. 

Alessandra 4 Another game where for large patches he goes missing. You need a winger to accept some responsibility but he hides too often...and never makes himself available in space to receive a pass

Shola 5 seemed harshly treated by the ref who gave him nothing.

Forte 5 a real lack of incisive passing didnt help. He tried to make runs but was never found.

Subs

Grant 5 Tried to get into game, one good chance hit wide.

Stead 4 Not a target man to replace Shola. Tried to work openings but lack of pace apparent. Will he last another season, despite triggering contract extension clause?

O'Connor 5.5 Bolsters midfield but maybe needed an earlier subsitution

Who was your man of the match for Notts County at Grimsby Town?

Game 45 - The Mariners (A)

Team: Grimsby Town

Date: 28/04/18

Where: Blundell Park

What line-up should Kevin Nolan 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.

I didn’t go today I listened to Radio Notts, it sounded a grim performance from Notts but they still managed to equalise in the dying minutes only to throw it away again at the death. I sort of expected this result after I saw a single magpie in our garden this morning.

Oh well on to the playoffs.

Cast your minds back to 8 years ago, when Notts County wrapped up the League Two championship in style, winning 5-0 at Darlington.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the stunning bicycle kick by Mike Edwards, and very much summed up the night and the season as a whole - the Magpies played with flair and panache for most of it.

Here is footage of that incredible goal - hopefully we'll get another moment of magic from one of our players over the next few weeks to earn a spot in League One??

And if you want a more comprehensive account of how the night panned out, well we've only gone through the YouTube archives to get you this gem!

We’ve spent the last few days in the peaks of Derbyshire in our campervan, isn’t it great to see a bit of sunshine and warm weather? It seems like the winter has lasted forever.

We’ve just followed a path from the campsite alongside a lovely stream to the village and had a fabulous meal in the pub, life doesn’t get better than this. How have you been enjoying this lovely weather?

Based on a mean of 5

Collin 5 Well protected this afternoon, but whether he had chosen the wrong stud, 2 kicks played Notts into trouble. Quicker distribution again.

Hunt 5 Reads the game well, but doesnt offer the forward momentum Toots offers

Duffy 6 Back to his best form but still tried to con the ref for a foul which wasnt.

Brisley 6 It's all about doing the simple things right

Jones 7.5 Putting in some good crosses and a great strike for the first

Noble 6 Less influential than expected.

Hewitt 6 All effort and whilst criticising his lack of a positive pass, then takes centre stage wrapping his foot around the ball for a good shot 

Virtue-Thick 8 Maybe not a right winger, but always made himself available for the pass. Intelligent use of the ball and "grew up" with defensive duties too

Alessandra 5 Wandered aimlessly but scored from good build up by Forte. Noticeable Jones has to put in all the crosses. Reminders of Legg's inability to beat his man

Shola 7 Pivotal target man performance, we look far stronger with a Shola/Forte partnership

Forte 6.5 Runs the channels well and always looking to link with Shola

Subs

O'Connor 5.5 Captain fantastic back. One wasted free kick though

Stead 5 Upset the balance, less effective with Forte as Stead isnt an out and out target man

Husin 6.5 Some real touches of class with the match already won

That was one of the funniest things I've ever witnessed at a football match

Take a bow Tom James, that was something special

Has anyone seen anything quite as amazing as that in terms of own goals at Notts

Apologies its been a manic week, was in Turin last weekend watching Juve. Will do last weems scores tonight. 

Tomorrow's games: 

Derby County v Middlesbrough

Leeds United v Barnsley

AFC Wimbledon v Oldham Athletic

Portsmouth v Charlton Athletic

Forest Green Rovers v Chesterfield

Wycombe Wanderers v Accrington Stanley

Who was your man of the match for Notts County against Yeovil Town?

Hopefully I will be going to the Yeovil match with both my grandsons on Saturday, the eldest George has been before and likes coming but Freddie who is 6 has never been and unfortunately because his best friend is a F*r*st support he wants to go to one of their matches, although none of our family will take him so unless he gets invited to go with his friend he won't be going.

I am hoping to get him to go to Yeovil in the hope that he will enjoy the game and the atmosphere and become a true magpie, it doesn't help when F*r*st go to his school and give out shirts for free.

Game 44 - The Glovers (H)

Team: Yeovil Town

Date: 21/04/18

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should Kevin Nolan 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.

Saturday's fixtures

Barnsley v Bolton Wanderers

Middlesbrough v Bristol City

Blackpool v Fleetwood Town

Plymouth Argyle v Portsmouth

Accrington Stanley v Exeter City

Grimsby Town v Barnet

On this day five years ago, Notts County took on promotion-chasing Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Under a virtually cloudless sky, with the mercury at a nice level (much like this year now actually), we won 1-0 thanks to Joss Labadie's Roy of the Rovers style free kick.

Here it is in all its glory!

From Sky Sports News:

The FA, Premier League and EFL are close to agreement over the introduction of a winter break, Sky Sports News understands.

The FA council were being briefed on Wednesday on the progress of talks which were prompted by FA chief executive Martin Glenn almost two years ago.

Sky Sports News understands the majority of planned changes are agreed in principle - with the first break pencilled in for January and February in 2020.

If agreed, one round of Premier League matches would be played over two weeks, giving clubs a break from league action.

In return, the FA Cup fifth round will be played in midweek, with extra-time and penalties replacing replays.

Would you be happy with this, or should it remain as it is?

Hereford FC fan site Bull News has conducted an interview with Phil Stant, who had a stint at Notts County between 1989 and 1991, and also served in the Falklands in the SAS.

Although it's obviously more slanted towards Hereford, he also talks about his relationship with Neil Warnock at Meadow Lane, so if you fancy listening to the interview, here it is.

From The72 (original link here):

Notts County have had a decent season under Kevin Nolan and are chasing down an automatic promotion place to League One. Here are five players they should sign in the summer-

Jorge Grant, Nottingham Forest- The highly-rated midfielder has spent this season on loan at Notts County and has impressed for them. Kevin Nolan should try and sign him on loan again for the next campaign as he is a key player for this side.

Sam Mantom, Scunthorpe United- He has proven himself at League One level for Walsall but has fallen out of favour at Scunthorpe. He is currently on loan at Southend but could become available in the summer and would be a decent signing for Notts County.

Hope Akpan, Burton Albion- The former Everton, Hull City, Crawley Town, Blackburn Rovers and now Burton Albion midfielder is out of contract in the summer and would be a shrewd signing for Notts County, especially on a free transfer.

Tom Elliott, Milwall- If Notts County do get promoted to League One, then Elliott would be a decent signing for them. He has struggled for goals at Milwall this season in the Championship and could leave them this summer for the right price.

Harry Forrester, Rangers- The winger has spent this season on loan at AFC Wimbledon and Rangers are keen to offload him again in the summer. He would be a decent signing for Notts County as he is a decent player at League One/Two level.

Thoughts on these players? How well would they fit in the team (aside from Grant ofc), and are they realistic targets? Let's get your thoughts!

There are a few important matches going on in League Two right now: Accrington v Yeovil (Stanley are 2-0 up), Exeter v Chesterfield (Exeter 2-0 up) and Lincoln v Wycombe (0-0). If it stays that way Accrington will be officially promoted, Exeter will move three points ahead of us (and two behind Wycombe) and Wycombe will be five ahead of us.

If Wycombe don't win today and fail to beat Accrington at the weekend, we could potentially move within shooting distance with two games to play. It still feels like a long shot but stranger things have happened...

EDIT: Lincoln v Wycombe finished 0-0. So Lincoln miss their opportunity to catch up with us and the door to third remains slightly ajar.

I hope I don't offend anyone as this topic may be a bit controversial but here goes. Do we really have to have a minutes applause/silence every time anyone in football dies. For example Ray Wilkins died recently and at the Notts match there was a minutes applause, as far as I know (please correct me if I'm wrong) he has no connection with the club whatsoever. I can understand paying respect when a former player, manager, chairman or director dies. Ray Wilkins was a great player and well loved in football and it's sad when anyone dies but where do we draw the line? There will be ex footballers dying all the time do we have a round of applause or minutes silence every time one of them dies?

Am I being insensitive? What are your views?

Stat gods Experimental 3-6-1 have drawn up all the various possible permutations in the PL and EFL.

Getting to the point, Notts County can finish anywhere from second to 12th in the table.

From the article:

Accrington and Luton are now mathematically guaranteed a play-off place at worst, although both look incredibly likely to go up automatically. Everybody down to 9th-placed Swindon could still secure automatic promotion and a whopping 16 teams in total are still technically able to be promoted this season. Two of these – Stevenage and Yeovil – are also still capable of being relegated, with the Glovers one of eight teams who could end up at the bottom of the pile.

Thoughts?

Who was your man of the match for Notts County at Colchester United?

I hope I don't offend anyone as this topic may be a bit controversial but here goes. Do we really have to have a minutes applause/silence every time anyone in football dies. For example Ray Wilkins died recently and at the Notts match there was a minutes applause, as far as I know (please correct me if I'm wrong) he has no connection with the club whatsoever. I can understand paying respect when a former player, manager, chairman or director dies. Ray Wilkins was a great player and well loved in football and it's sad when anyone dies but where do we draw the line? There will be ex footballers dying all the time do we have a round of applause or minutes silence every time one of them dies?

Am I being insensitive? What are your views?

An interesting item on the radio this morning, a university is doing a study into the rise of cheap hand car wash outlets and whether the foreign workers are being treated properly, are they getting a fair wage? what conditions are they living in? Are they protected by proper health and safety at work? Do they get days off and proper breaks? What hours do they work?

I must admit I have never used one but they do seem to be very cheap and I wonder how they can operate so cheaply.

Something to think about next time you take the car or van to have it washed?

Thoughts?

Game 43 - The Us (A)

Team: Colchester United

Date: 14/04/18

Where: Colchester Community Stadium

What line-up should Kevin Nolan 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.