Keith Curle reflects on the final pre-season friendly...
There is a never-say-die attitude in the Notts County dressing room, says first team manager Keith Curle.
Curle’s team fought out a 2-2 draw with local rivals Nottingham Forest at Meadow Lane on Tuesday evening.
Forest went into the break two goals up thanks to strikes from former Magpie David McGoldrick and midfielder Lewis McGugan.
After the break, Notts looked refreshed and really took the game to the Reds.
There were no arguments when Alan Judge’s free-kick and Yoann Arquin’s low drive from the edge of the box pulled the Magpies level.
Keith Curle was pleased with his side’s desire in the final preparation match ahead of the Capital One Cup clash with Bradford City on Saturday.
“It shows the belief within the dressing room, something that started when we first came into the football club, that we will compete for 94, 95 minutes,” Curle told Magpie Player.
“The players have bought into that spirit and no matter what the scoreline we’ve got a plan and we will try to stick to it.
“There’ll be some games where it doesn’t quite come off for us but the other games that it does, the end result is 100 per cent commitment from the players that are playing and from those that are on the bench, and also sat in the stand.
“We want to compete and be competitive in every game that we play in and for any supporter, they can’t wish for more than that.”
Curle emphasised that the fixture was seen as a training session that gave the management team a chance to work on how they want to play this season.
“I think we started the game very well, playing the game how we wanted to play it but goals do change games,” he continued.
“Goals change the thinking of the manager and if we come in at half time at 0-0 it could’ve been completely different.
“Saying that we started very well and created a couple of chances, we could’ve gone in 2-0 up as well, which could’ve been a different story.
“But the thought that was at the back of my mind, even when the goals went in and chances going by, was that it’s a pre-season friendly.
“That’s what I said to the players at half time, it’s purely a workout, a training session where we can put in place things that we want to do.
“I know out of possession, Forest 2-0 up, we didn’t go and press them but it was something that we’d been working on in training, getting players behind the ball, filling holes and making sure teams weren’t slicing through us.”
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