Preview: Carlisle (A)

Notts looking to get back in the winner's circle at Brunton Park

20 October 2017

Notts County travel to Carlisle United this weekend looking to get back to winning ways in Sky Bet League Two.

The Magpies were beaten 2-0 at Crewe in midweek as Luton Town leapfrogged them to claim top spot and manager Kevin Nolan is hoping for an improved performance after an inconsistent couple of weeks.

Carlisle, meanwhile, were left deflated on Tuesday evening as a last-minute equaliser denied them victory at home to Wycombe Wanderers.

It would have been a welcome three points as the Cumbrians are without a league win at Brunton Park since they beat Cheltenham Town 3-0 on 19 August.

But former Notts boss Keith Curle will still harbour greater ambitions than reaching the play-offs for their second successive season.

Notts manager Kevin Nolan says...

"You can't go away from home and expect to be given anything cheaply. You have to earn it.

"We can't worry about anyone else. We need to strip everything back and make sure we are ready for Carlisle, which will be another tough game; they are a good footballing outfit."

Click here for more from the manager.

Carlisle boss Keith Curle says...

“Notts County are one of the division’s good sides and I’ve played against Kevin Nolan a few times. He likes to play a certain way. We’ve reviewed their last three or four games and their approach is based on percentages.

“They like to get the ball forward, keep it alive and get it into good areas quickly. They’re a real threat in the box and they’re reliable, consistent and dependable in what they do.

"They’re very inventive with set pieces and they’re comfortable in their style. We know what to expect so it’s now down to how we deal with it.

“They’ll be full of confidence even though they were knocked slightly with the result at Crewe the other night.

"If you isolate that result you see they made a few changes and other players had opportunities to shine. That probably means that their line-up will have a bit more in the way of predictability about it on Saturday.”

Team news

Goalkeeper Adam Collin will miss out against his former club after injuring his knee during Saturday's 2-1 win over Barnet, with the knock set to keep him sidelined for longer than first thought.

Defender Danny Grainger and striker Richie Bennett both return from suspension for Carlisle, while striker Shaun Miller could be banned after becoming the first player to be charged by the FA in relation to simulation laws introduced over the summer. United have appealed the decision.

Dangerman

Reggie Lambe is the top scorer for the Blues so far this season with six goals in 15 games from the wing.

The former Mansfield man struck a brace in the 3-3 draw with Wycombe in midweek to close within two strikes of his tally for 2016-17.

The Bermudan international is scoring at a rate of a goal almost every four games for the Cumbrians and has proved a worthwhile signing since making the move from the One Call Stadium in the summer of 2016.

We've met before

Carlisle have won four of the last six meetings between the sides but it was Notts who won the most recent outing as goals from Jon Stead and Matt Tootle secured a comeback victory at Brunton Park in April.

Notts also hold a superior record in the head-to-head standings with 17 victories to Carlisle's 12 in the 32 previous matches.

What are the odds?

Sky Bet have priced Notts up as 9/5 outsiders for victory, while Carlisle are 6/4 to get a first home win since 19 August. The draw is available at 23/10.

Notts' last win at Carlisle was a 2-1 win in April and a repeat result is 9/1 this time around, with a tight 1-0 victory available at 8/1.

Fancy Notts to win and keep a sixth clean sheet? It's 4/1 for Nolan's men to win to-nil and the same odds for both teams scoring with the three points coming back to Nottingham.

After sitting out the defeat at Crewe in midweek, Shaun Brisley could be restored to the heart of the defence against his former club. The central defender is 40/1 to open the scoring at Brunton Park or 12/1 to find the net at any time.

Shola Ameobi opened his account for the season with the first goal of the game against Barnet last weekend and the former Newcastle striker can be backed at 13/2 to repeat the feat against the Cumbrians.

You can bet on the game here.

Supporters who sign up to Sky Bet using this link can help the club financially.

Match Reports

Report: Carlisle 1-1 Notts

Yates strike earns Magpies a point

21 October 2017

Ryan Yates' second league goal of the season earned Notts a 1-1 draw at Carlisle United's Brunton Park.

The midfielder rounded off a flowing team move to cancel out Hallam Hope's first-half goal for the hosts.

Kevin Nolan made four changes to the team that faced Crewe in midweek.

Front pairing Shola Ameobi and Jon Stead returned to the starting 11, while there were also recalls for Jorge Grant and former United man Shaun Brisley.

Elliott Hewitt retained his place but moved into midfield alongside Yates, with Rob Milsom joining Liam Walker, Lewis Alessandra and Jonathan Forte having to settle for a place on the bench.

Notts nearly had the dream start when Carlisle gifted them possession in midfield and Ameobi's clever flick rolled the ball into Yates' path on the edge of the area. There wasn't quite enough pace on the ball, however, and the on-loan midfielder's shot was diverted wide by a sprawling Mike Jones.

Carlisle's response came from Tom Miller, whose close-range effort was brilliantly saved by Ross Fitzsimons, before Brisley's goalbound header was blocked moments later at the other end.

Notts were well in the game and had a good chance to snatch the lead when Stead's floated cross to the back post picked out Grant in time and space. With the angle against him, however, Grant could only side-foot the ball wide on the volley.

But it was also proving to be a busy start for Fitzsimons, who was called into important action once more on 17 minutes, making an excellent double-save to deny Hope then Reggie Lambe.

The game was on a knife edge and Notts almost cut the tension in unorthodox style when Terry Hawkridge wriggled his way into space down the right before seeing his fierce low cross strike the near post, deflect off United keeper Jack Bonham and away to safety.

And Carlisle capitalised on their good fortune by taking the lead moments later, Hope bundling the ball home after Notts had failed to clear Nicky Adams' cross.

Grant and Ameobi saw shots blocked on the edge of the box and a Carl Dickinson corner came to nothing as the clock ticked down towards half-time.

Shortly after one minute of added time was indicated, Matt Tootle's late run into the box was well spotted by Stead, who laid the ball off for the full-back to send the ball goalwards with a first-time effort. Bonham was equal to it, however, making the save and preserving the hosts' slender lead going into the break.

The sides reemerged unchanged and Notts quickly resumed their pursuit of an equaliser, Brisley hooking the ball a yard wide and Grant bending a 25-yard effort off-target shortly after the restart.

But the Magpies didn't have to wait much longer for their goal. Hawkridge played Matt Tootle to the byline with a beautifully angled pass and the full back's cut-back bypassed Ameobi to present Yates with a simple finish beyond the stranded Bonham.

A flurry of Carlisle half-chances came and went before Ameobi came within inches of completing Notts' turnaround with 16 minutes to go.

The ball was returned to Grant by Hawkridge after his corner had been half-cleared and the Forest loanee curled it back into the middle. Ameobi rose highest, crashing the ball off the base of the post with a header.

Nolan's first change followed shortly afterwards, Alessandra replacing Stead, and the substitute so nearly had a golden opportunity to fire Notts ahead when he raced through one-on-one with Bonham. Former Magpie Gary Liddle did brilliantly to make a last-ditch tackle.

Notts continued to press and Ameobi was unfortunate to see his instinctive header from Tootle's cross sail over the bar.

United sub Richie Bennett fired a long-range effort narrowly over the crossbar as the hosts reminded Notts of their own threat, shortly before Nolan sent on Alan Smith in place of Ameobi.

Miller went into the book for a foul on Tootle shortly before three minutes of added time were indicated, presenting Notts with a free-kick in a dangerous crossing position. Grant whipped the ball into the middle and Yates could only send it wide with a diving header.

There was still time for Nicky Hunt to replace Tootle, who was hobbling a little following Miller's earlier challenge.

But 1-1 was how it stayed as both sides had to settle for a point in Cumbria.

Ticket News

Tickets: Carlisle (A)

Tickets available from Brunton Park

20 October 2017

Tickets for Notts County’s Sky Bet League Two trip to Carlisle United on Saturday 21 October will be available from Brunton Park on the day.

Tickets for this fixture are no longer available at Meadow Lane and will be priced at the following matchday rates:

Adult: £22

65 and over: £19

18-22: £16

11-17: £10

7-10: £7

0-6: Free

Disabled supporters

Disabled supporters were required to purchase their tickets in advance from Meadow Lane.

Information for visiting supporters

Click here for detailed information for visiting supporters, obtained by Notts' SLO team.

Official away travel

Official away travel will depart from near the club shop on Meadow Lane at 9.30am.

Prices are as follows:

General adult/senior: £27

General under 18: £15

Season ticket holders/Lifeline members/NCFCOSA members: £26

Season ticket holder under 18: £14

Notts County Football Club

Standings

Preview: Carlisle (A)

Report: Carlisle 1-1 Notts

Tickets: Carlisle (A)