Preview: Barnet (H)

Notts host Bees looking to get back on winning track

13 October 2017

Notts County host Barnet this weekend looking to cement their spot in the Sky Bet League Two automatic promotion places.

The Magpies snatched a late draw against Forest Green Rovers last weekend and are now looking to get back to winning ways before heading into a busy three-game week.

Barnet make the journey north looking to put more distance between themselves and the relegation zone, though they have picked up just one point from their last three away trips.

Notts boss Kevin Nolan says...

“Barnet are a good side who can cause us problems but we think we can handle them and then exploit their weaknesses to return to winning ways.

“There is no pressure on the boys from me. They deserve to be where they are because of their outstanding performances and they have to put pressure on themselves to get back to those high standards they set."

Click here for more from the manager.

Barnet head coach Rossi Eames says...

"They have had a great start. They are organised and have a good mixture of youth and experience in their squad with players like Jorge Grant, Jon Stead and Jonathan Forte.

"But it's about us and doing what we do well. We need to build on the point and clean sheet against Coventry last weekend."

Team news

Nolan revealed in his pre-match press conference that the game was likely to come to soon for defender Dan Jones, who is close to making a return from a hamstring injury sustained against Lincoln.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce, who failed a fitness test last weekend, should now be available for the visitors, who are likely to be without League Two's September Player of the Month Shaquile Coulthirst.

John Akinde, Jamie Stephens, Curtis Weston, Dave Tarpey, Elliott Johnson and Richard Brindley will all miss the trip.

Dangerman

A graduate of Spurs' academy, Shaquile Coulthirst is yet to truly find a home in his short, yet nomadic career, but the early signs in amber and black have been promising.

Moving to the Hive during the summer meant Barnet became the ninth club he has represented despite being 22 years old.

Loan spells away from White Hart Lane to Leyton Orient, Torquay, Southend, York and Wigan preceded a move to Peterborough United, where he spent just one season, including a loan to Mansfield.

He was allowed to leave the Posh for free in the summer after scoring eight goals in 41 appearances during his 18 months at the ABAX Stadium.

The youngster chose Barnet as his next destination, making an immediate impact by scoring his first goal for his new club against his former employers in a 3-1 Carabao Cup victory.

Coulthirst took momentum from that strike and had a stunning September, scoring six goals in seven games - including an eye-catching hat-trick in a 4-1 win away at Swindon Town – which resulted in the pacy forward picking up the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Month award.

We've met before...

Notts have reason to be confident having won the last four home league fixtures against the Bees.

The Magpies lost 3-2 at the Hive last season before winning 1-0 in the return fixture despite going down to 10 men.

Mark Yeates saw red early on for a challenge on Ricardo Almeida Santos but Notts still ground out a narrow victory as Matt Tootle's stunning strike secured three points.

What are the odds?

Sky Bet have priced Notts up as 19/20 odds-on favourites to get back on the winning track this weekend, while the visitors are the outsiders at 11/4. The draw is available at 5/2.

A 2-0 Notts win is 17/2 with a more entertaining 4-2 victory for the Magpies, which would be a repeat of the meeting from September 2015, a big 50/1 shot.

Lewis Alessandra is the subject of the Big Interview in this weekend's Mag and talks about his lack of goals on home turf. Could that change this weekend? The former Hartlepool man is 5/1 to be the first name on the scoresheet.

Rob Milsom got his first Notts goal deep into stoppage time against Forest Green last weekend and the midfielder will want to find the net on a more regular basis. He's priced 20/1 to open the scoring at Meadow Lane this weekend.

County have kept a clean sheet in five of their six home victories over the Bees and Sky Bet have odds of 5/2 on Nolan's men winning to-nil this weekend, while a Magpies victory with both teams scoring is available at 11/4.

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: Notts 2-1 Barnet

Ameobi and Yates sink the Bees

14 October 2017

Notts County beat Barnet 2-1 at Meadow Lane to return to the top of Sky Bet League Two.

Shola Ameobi and Ryan Yates were on the scoresheet, the former heading home Rob Milsom's corner in the first half and the latter doubling Notts' lead in the second.

Simeon Akinola pulled a late goal back for Barnet but, despite a nervy finish, Kevin Nolan's men held firm to claim the win.

Nolan made two changes to the side that drew with Forest Green Rovers last weekend.

In came Lewis Alessandra and Ameobi, Terry Hawkridge and Jonathan Forte having to settle for a place on the bench.

Notts came close to taking the lead with seven minutes on the clock. Carl Dickinson's cross caused chaos in the middle, the ball eventually falling for Richard Duffy two yards out. A Barnet man was alive to the danger, however, making a crucial block.

But the Magpies didn't have to wait much longer before taking the lead. Milsom's inswinging corner was headed back across goal by Ameobi. Shaun Brisley appeared to get the final touch on the line but it was Ameobi who took the credit for opening the scoring.

The sides exchanged tentative forays forward as they pursued the next goal but, aside from Adam Collin receiving treatment after colliding with a Barnet player in the air, the rest of the half passed without major incident.

There were no changes for either side at the break, with Collin deemed fit to continue.

And the keeper was called into immediate action after the restart, backpedalling to push a deflected Barnet effort over the bar.

Ameobi had an opportunity to double Notts' lead moments later but failed to generate enough power on his header following Alessandra's cross.

But Yates made no mistake with a header of his own on 51 minutes. He was beautifully picked out by Matt Tootle and nodded the ball beyond Craig Ross from six yards to double the Magpies' lead.

Nolan was forced into his first change shortly before the hour when Collin succumbed to the injury he sustained in the first half. Ross Fitzsimons replaced him for his league debut.

But focus was back on the other end when play resumed, Notts creating a brilliant chance to extend their lead.

Milsom played the ball into Stead, who in turn laid it off for the onrushing Alessandra. The winger took it in his stride brilliantly, wriggling past a defender before being denied by a point-blank save. The rebound fell kindly for Jorge Grant but he could only turn the ball over from six yards.

Notts had the ball in the net minutes later when Stead lashed the ball home at the back post, only for the referee's assistant to flag for offside.

Former Magpie Jamal Campbell-Ryce gave Fitzsimons his first test shortly after the hour, the keeper pushing his curling effort away with a strong hand.

Minutes later, Dickinson found himself in the book for a mistimed tackle on Campbell Ryce, before Yates controlled the ball well on his chest and fired the ball wide with a left-footed snapshot from the edge of the area.

Notts then had Fitzsimons to thank for denying Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro with an excellent reflex save, the keeper diving to his left to pluck the forward's sweetly-struck effort out of the bottom corner.

Ameobi was replaced by Forte and Tootle struck the ball just over from range as time ticked away from the visitors.

But the Bees gave themselves a lifeline when substitute Akinola capitalised on a loose ball in the area to fire the ball low into the far corner. Fitzsimons appeared to get a fingertip to it but was beaten by the power of the strike.

Elliott Hewitt replaced Alessandra in Nolan's final change as a nervy finale beckoned.

Seven mintes were added on at the end of the match, in the first of which Forte was desperately unlucky not to kill the game off with a sublime effort. The substitute controlled the ball on his chest and turned his body in the same movement before volleying across goal and just wide from the edge of the area.

Barnet were desperate for one last chance - and they got one in the dying embers when a loose ball fell to Ricardo Almeida Santos eight yards out. The defender blazed over on the half-volley and Notts breathed a sigh of relief.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Tickets: Barnet (H)

14 October 2017

Tickets for Notts County's Sky Bet League Two match against Barnet on Saturday 14 October (3pm) are on general sale.

Category	Derek Pavis Stand	Air-IT Kop Stand	Haydn Green Family Stand
Adult	£20	£20	£20
Senior (60+)	£14	£14	£14
Young adult (18-21)	£14	£14	£14
Under 18 (16-17)	£7	£7	£7
Under 16 (12-15)	£5	£5	£5
Under 12 (7-11)	£1	£1	£1
Under 7†	Free	Free	Free

Prices for supporters aged 12 and over will rise by £2 on matchday.

†Under 7s' tickets cannot be claimed online.

Season ticket holders: Bring a friend for free!

This is one of 10 fixtures to which season ticket holders can bring a friend or family member free of charge.

Supporters can exchange their Bring a Friend voucher for a match ticket at the club shop.

Click here for more information.

Families

Try out Notts' Skills School, see world-famous football freestyler Dan Magness and interact with creepy crawlies and furry critters at the Wildlife Workshop in the Family Stand!

All activities are included in the price of your ticket. Click here for more information on the newly redecorated Family Stand.

All ticket purchases in the Family Stand will receive a free family pass to West Bridgford’s new soft play centre – a galactic world where juniors can explore the universe and beyond. Find out more about AstroWorld here.

How to buy

Tickets can be purchased online and printed at home by clicking here. More information on buying tickets online can be found here.

Alternatively, visit the Meadow Lane ticket office or call 0115 955 7210.

Notts County Football Club

Standings

Preview: Barnet (H)

Report: Notts 2-1 Barnet

Tickets: Barnet (H)