Preview: Stevenage (A)

29 March 2019

Notts County travel to Stevenage this weekend in a fixture that could have a big impact on both the relegation battle and play-off race in Sky Bet League Two.

The Magpies are still rooted to the bottom of the table after losing 1-0 at home to Exeter last week but remain just three points from safety.

Their last trip to a play-off hopeful ended in a phenomenal 3-1 win at Carlisle earlier in March and Notts will hope for a repeat as they attempt to put the pressure on Yeovil, who sit just outside the dropzone.

Stevenage were on the receiving end of a late goal themselves last time out, with Notts' relegation rivals Macclesfield scoring a 93^rd-minute equaliser in the 2-2 draw.

The late drama at Meadow Lane and Moss Rose took Boro from three points off the play-offs to seven, and they will hope to close the gap with victory at the Lamex Stadium.

Notts boss Neal Ardley says…

“Some of the performances when I arrived were way off the mark but in the last three matches we’ve been the better team and should have had clean sheets in all of them.

“This weekend we’re away from home against a team trying to get in the play-offs and we know there will be no easy games in our last seven.

“In League Two you need to have certain qualities and Stevenage have got them. They are a big strong team who are very athletic so we have to match them physically.

“We’re not worried about how pretty we look. It has to begin with the basics of this division and hopefully then we can find the moments to win the game.”

Stevenage boss Dino Maamria says…

“I felt deflated on Saturday because the margins in football are so small and in the 93^rd minute you can go from three points off the play-offs to seven like we did.

“You deal with that by being pragmatic and looking at the facts because there will be more twists and turns.

“We have to grab every game by the scruff of the neck and do our bit, giving it our best shot and leaving no regrets at the end of the season.

“We have to be ready for Notts County on Saturday - ready to give our fans a good performance and a good win as well.”

Team news

Ardley says he has no fresh fitness concerns following last week’s exertions but he could be tempted to shuffle the pack after seeing his side fail to hit the target in their two most recent outings.

Jon Stead returned from injury to play the second half against Exeter and will push for a starting berth, while Lewis Alessandra and Virgil Gomis will also contest places in attack.

Former Notts man Luther Wildin has been a regular for Stevenage this season, making 35 appearances in all competitions, and he is expected to line up against his former club.

Following ankle surgery in February, Danny Newton came off the bench to mark his return to action with a goal in last week’s draw at Macclesfield and will push for a starting spot on Saturday.

We’ve met before

Notts are unbeaten in three meetings with Stevenage and earned a point on last season’s trip to the Lamex Stadium as Elliott Hewitt cancelled out Newton’s opener.

Earlier this campaign, the sides played out a thrilling draw at Meadow Lane where the Magpies led three times through Jon Stead, Enzio Boldewijn and Kane Hemmings.

Stevenage pegged Notts back on on each occasion, though, with Ben Kennedy, Alex Revell and Newton on target for Boro.

Elsewhere in League Two

Yeovil will hope that a change in management signals an upturn in results as temporary boss Neale Marmon takes charge of the Glovers for the first time when they welcome Newport to Huish Park.

Darren Way was relieved of his duties on Sunday after overseeing 10 defeats in 12 games and they will hope for a swift change of fortune against the Exiles.

Macclesfield, meanwhile, sit one point clear of Notts and two behind Yeovil ahead of Saturday’s trip to Sincil Bank to face league leaders Lincoln.

The Silkmen will hope to be buoyed by last week’s late leveller against Stevenage but the Imps haven’t lost since Boxing Day.

Port Vale occupy 21^st spot, seven points clear of the dropzone, and travel to Meadow Lane’s next visitors Northampton on Saturday.

In the play-off race, Tranmere - who’ve won six in a row - host Carlisle who are three points outside of the top seven.

Exeter, meanwhile, will look for a third straight victory as they host Mansfield, who are winless in four and have slipped out of the automatic promotion places.

The weekend’s officials

Referee: Andy Haines

Assistants: Wayne Grunnill and Grant Taylor

Fourth official: Ravel Cheosiaua

Match Previews

Match Reports

Stevenage 0-3 Notts

Sensational first half wins Notts the day

30 March 2019

First-half goals from Jim O'Brien, Kane Hemmings and Enzio Boldewijn fired Notts to a spectacular 3-0 victory at Stevenage.

It was a result which lifted the Magpies off the bottom of the Sky Bet League Two table - and they're now level on points with Yeovil Town in 22nd.

Neal Ardley made one change to the side that suffered late heartbreak against Exeter City last weekend, Jon Stead returning to the starting line-up as captain in place of the bench-bound Craig Mackail-Smith.

And the boss was rewarded with a clinical first-half display which began in sensational style.

With only 30 seconds on the clock, O'Brien tried his luck from 25 yards and benefited from a big deflection which wrong-footed Stevenage keeper Paul Farman, who could only watch on as the ball nestled into the back of the net.

The frantic start was met with a period of calm which Stead tried to punctuate with a 20-yard left footed effort on 19 minutes. He could only send the ball straight at Farman.

Notts didn't have to wait much longer for their second goal, though, and O'Brien was pivotal once again.

The Scot played a delicious looping ball over the top for Hemmings to race on to and the striker did well to control it before sliding it under the advancing keeper.

Notts were flying but they were nearly brought back down to earth shortly after the restart when Danny Newton headed the ball wide after getting into space to meet a corner.

Boro boss Dino Maamria, clearly unhappy with his side's early showing, hooked winger Moses Makasi with only 25 minutes on the clock. Emmanuel Sonupe replaced him.

But it did nothing to change the flow of the game as the Magpies went agonisingly close to a third when Farman's save from Stead saw the ball loop up in the area. Unfortunately, it was too much of a stretch for Rob Milsom to capitalise.

Boldewijn was the next to have a go, sending a speculative half-volley off-target.

But that proved to be nothing other than a warm-up effort as the Dutchman made it three shortly afterwards, receiving an excellent Stead pass on the edge of the area before bending the ball into the net.

There were no changes for either team at half-time and within seconds of the action getting back underway, Boldewijn saw an effort saved at the near post.

The onus was very much on Stevenage, though, and they pressed Notts with a succession of corners before Sonupe capitalised on a lucky bounce off the referee to get a shot away on the edge of the area. He could only drag the ball wide.

Mitch Rose saw a cross-shot turned behind and Sam Stubbs' header from the resultant corner was easily held as the Magpies reminded the hosts of their own threat.

But Ryan Schofield, who was having a very quiet afternoon, was called into major action for the first time two minutes later when he had to dive to his left to push Ilias Chair's shot round the post.

Chair had another two bites of the cherry shortly afterwards, finding the wall with a dangerously positioned free-kick and seeing his follow-up effort blocked, too.

Time was ebbing away for the hosts and, with 10 minutes to play, Ardley made a double change with Pierce Bird and Craig Mackail-Smith replacing Stead and Boldewijn.

And Mackail-Smith had a sniff of a goal when the ball ran loose after Hemmings had taken it into the area. He didn't catch his shot cleanly, however, and the ball bobbled to safety.

Substitute Michael Timlin blazed an effort well wide on the half-volley as desperation set in for the hosts.

And Notts killed a little more time when Lewis Alessandra replaced Hemmings shortly before Rose's low effort was superbly saved by Farman low down near his right post.

The effort came inside the first of four added minutes and it was to be the final action of note on a memorable afternoon for the Magpies.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Tickets and travel: Stevenage (A)

27 March 2019

Tickets are now on sale for Notts County's Sky Bet League Two trip to Stevenage on Saturday 30 March (3pm).

There will be no price increase on matchday, with cash turnstiles in operation.

Notts have been allocated 390 reserved, covered seat tickets located behind the goal in the South Stand. An additional allocation of tickets is available if required.

Category	Price
Adult	£22
60 and over	£20
Student	£20
Under 18	£15
Under 12	£10

Tickets for away fixtures can be purchased online, by calling 0115 955 7210 or visiting the club shop/ticket office.

Tickets to the value of £1.50 and above are subject to a 60p per ticket admin fee when purchased online or by phone.

Disabled supporters

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

Ambulant disabled supporters should obtain tickets in advance from Notts County. They are priced at the concessionary price for the disabled supporter with a personal assistant ticket issued free of charge. We have been allocated 4 pairs of wheelchair disabled and personal assistant tickets charged at the concessionary price 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 11am.

Prices are as follows:

General adult/senior: £21

General under 18: £12

Season ticket holders/Lifeline members/NCFCOSA members: £20

Season ticket holder under 18: £11

Notts County Football Club

Standings

Preview: Stevenage (A)

Stevenage 0-3 Notts

Tickets and travel: Stevenage (A)