Preview: Carlisle (A)

12 March 2019

Notts County are in Sky Bet League Two action on Tuesday night as they visit Carlisle United.

A second away game in three days presents the Magpies with the long trip to Cumbria to face the play-off chasers, where they will look to bounce back from a disappointing defeat in Cheltenham at the weekend.

The 4-1 loss was one of the side’s worst of the season, with manager Neal Ardley left fuming by what he saw from his players.

But a quick return to action could be the best possible antidote and Notts will hope that proves to be true as they continue their battle against the drop.

Carlisle, meanwhile, climbed back into the play-off positions with a 2-1 victory over Swindon Town on Saturday.

That brought an end to their five-game winless run and earned Steven Pressley his third win since taking over as manager in mid-January.

With Notts seven points from safety and several teams in play-off contention, victory could prove vital for either side.

Ardley says…

“When you perform like we did on Saturday the best thing that can happen is having another game three days later so you don’t spend all week dwelling on it and can move on. That only counts if you put in a better display on the Tuesday, though.

“We have to get back to basics and get those right because we didn’t on Saturday. The fans are entitled to see their team fight and scrap for every point and not doing that at the weekend is what hurt me the most.

“It’s another tough game against a side who will play great football and look to make the pitch big but we need a certain amount of wins and are running out of matches to get them.

“We need to go out there and give it everything and create our own confidence because we do things right. Let’s not waste another game.”

Pressley says…

“After their result at the weekend, I think Notts will come here looking to turn it around – they’ll be determined to put things right.

“They’re fighting for their lives at this moment in time and, if they have the right players, I would imagine they’ll have a bit of pride about themselves so we certainly won’t be taking anything for granted.

“The victory at the weekend gives us the belief that we can go into another tough home fixture and get a positive result once again.

“We’re in a mini-league of games and it’s the business end of the season, so however we win matches will be fine with me.”

Team news

Jon Stead and Jim O’Brien were both forced off with injures during Saturday’s defeat at Cheltenham but the knocks aren’t as bad as initially feared and the pair face late fitness tests to see if they’ll be available.

Ardley could be tempted to ring the changes as he looks to arrest a four-match winless run and players including Lewis Alessandra and David Vaughan will hope for a return to the starting line-up.

Forward Mark Cullen was the latest to join Carlisle’s injury list after going off with a groin problem at the weekend and he will miss out.

He was replaced by former Notts loanee Nathan Thomas, who could be in line to start along with the Magpies’ ex-goalkeeper Adam Collin.

We’ve met before

Notts are unbeaten in their last four matches against the Cumbrians, recording a win and a draw on their last two visits to Brunton Park.

Late goals from Stead and Matt Tootle completed a turnaround to secure a 2-1 success in April 2017 after Carlisle had taken the lead just before the hour through Jabo Ibehre.

This season’s reverse fixture ended 1-1 at Meadow Lane as Elliott Hewitt’s opener midway through the second half was cancelled out by an 84th-minute equaliser from Jerry Yates.

Elsewhere in League Two

Second-bottom Macclesfield are one point ahead of Notts but are in the midst of a seven-match sequence without winning, which they’ll look to end when they welcome Exeter to Moss Rose.

21^st-placed Port Vale ended their long wait for a victory with a 2-1 success against Mansfield at the weekend and host Yeovil who are 22^nd.

The Glovers had recorded back-to-back wins before suffering a 1-0 defeat to table-topping Lincoln on Friday and success for either side would put some breathing space between themselves and the dropzone.

Morecambe have won three of their last five and visit Meadow Lane at the weekend – they’ll hope to come to Nottingham on the back of a positive result at home to MK Dons who’ve won five in a row.

The evening’s officials

Referee: Eddie Ilderton

Assistants: Natalie Aspinall and Wade Smith

Fourth official: Geoffrey Liddle

Match Previews

Match Reports

Carlisle 1-3 Notts

Hemmings at the double on dramatic night in Cumbria

12 March 2019

Kane Hemmings scored twice as Notts won 3-1 in stormy conditions at Carlisle United's Brunton Park.

The forward put his side ahead in the first half before doubling the lead from the penalty spot after the break.

Hallam Hope set up a nervy finish with an opportunist's goal late on but Lewis Alessandra made sure of the points deep into stoppage time.

Neal Ardley made four changes to the starting line-up that tasted defeat at Cheltenham days earlier.

Ben Barclay, Virgil Gomis, Craig Mackail-Smith and Jon Stead made way for Richard Duffy, David Vaughan, Lewis Alessandra and Hemmings.

There was room on the bench for Will Patching and Kion Etete, although Mackail-Smith was absent from the squad.

Gale-force winds were swirling incessant rain in Notts' favour in the first half and the Magpies penned their hosts in for the majority of the opening 45 minutes.

Ardley's men first came close to the opener with eight minutes on the clock, Adam Collin saving Enzio Boldewijn's low drive before Hemmings turned the ball over the bar on the follow-up.

Vaughan sent a long-range effort wide before Alessandra was gifted possession in the Carlisle area only to send his cross-shot across goal and out for a throw in.

The game's first booking went to Rob Milsom for a late challenge on Stefan Scougall moments before Notts again came close to breaking the deadlock.

A corner was swung into the Carlisle penalty area and Collin dropped the ball at his back post. Alessandra was first on the scene but a Blues defender managed to turn the ball out for a corner.

O'Brien lashed a 20-yard effort wide before Tom Parkes fluffed a clearance just wide of his own post as the conditions continued to cause havoc.

Collin was called into action again on 35 minutes when Doyle's free-kick took a nick off someone in the middle, forcing the keeper into a good save to his right.

But the former Magpies keeper was finally beaten moments later when Hemmings pounced on Gary Liddle's underhit backpass and scored at the second attempt after his initial effort was saved.

O'Brien tried to double the lead with an audacious 35-yard effort which was carried just over the bar by the wind before Danny Grainger claimed the hosts' first shot of the evening. Schofield made the save low down to ensure Notts went into the break ahead.

There were no changes at half-time and the first shot of the second half went to the Cumbrians as Regan Slater fired the ball wide from 20 yards out.

The wind was now in the hosts' favour but Notts maintained their threat at the other end, applying some good pressure which resulted in Milsom's excellent cross almost being turned home by Boldewijn at the back post.

Former Notts loanee Nathan Thomas was introduced for the hosts on 57 minutes but the winger could do nothing to prevent a penalty being awarded to Notts when Duffy was clumsily brought down in the area.

A scuffle ensued between both sets of players resulting in a booking for Hemmings and a Carlisle player.

But the forward kept his cool to eventually fire his spotkick into the top corner.

A nervy finale was to follow, though, as the hosts halved the deficit with 14 minutes to play.

It came after Hope hung behind Schofield, who didn't know he was there. The keeper dropped the ball in front of him to clear but Hope nipped in to steal it and roll it into the empty net.

The keeper made amends with two strong saves to deny Thomas before Ardley sent Pierce Bird on in place of Boldewijn.

Mitch Rose went into the book for preventing the taking of a Carlisle free-kick and Hope fired an effort wide as the clock ticked down towards full-time.

But Notts made sure of the win deep into stoppage time when, with Collin stranded upfield, Alessandra ran half the length of the field and rolled the ball into an empty net to secure a win which narrowed the gap between the Magpies and third-bottom Yeovil to four points.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Tickets and travel: Carlisle (A)

12 March 2019

Tickets for tonight's Sky Bet League Two match at Carlisle United (7.45pm) will be available from the away ticket office at Brunton Park.

Notts supporters have been given covered seats along the side of the pitch in the Pioneer Foods Stand.

Matchday prices

Adult: £22

65 and over: £19

18-22: £16

Under 18: £10

Under 11: £7

Under 7: Free

Disabled supporters

In line with Carlisle’s policy, tickets for supporters with a disability and their personal assistants are available to those on the high level of PIPS or DLA from the DWP.

Ambulant disabled supporters should obtain tickets in advance from Notts County. They are priced at the appropriate age-related price for the disabled supporter with a personal assistant ticket issued free of charge.

We have been allocated two pairs of wheelchair disabled and personal assistant tickets charged at £4 for the disabled supporter with a personal assistant ticket issued free of charge.

Official away travel

Official away travel will depart from near the club shop on Meadow Lane at 2pm.

Prices are as follows:

General adult/senior: £24

General under 18: £14

Season ticket holders/Lifeline members/NCFCOSA members: £23

Season ticket holder under 18: £13

Notts County Football Club

Standings

Preview: Carlisle (A)

Carlisle 1-3 Notts

Tickets and travel: Carlisle (A)