Greg Abbott says winning promotion this season would be as enjoyable as the achievement he and Shaun Derry masterminded at the end of 2013-14.
Abbott, now in his second spell at Meadow Lane as number-two to Neal Ardley, played a big role in our famous ‘Great Escape’ from League One relegation and is targeting a similarly joyous conclusion to this campaign, albeit in very different circumstances.
“We weren’t expected to win games at that particular time,” said Abbott.
“We were something like 14 points adrift when we turned up and changed things around. We had impetus, belief and support – it was crazy. The Oldham game was phenomenal – you’d have thought we’d have won promotion.
“This time around, the pressure’s different. We’re the team that’s expected to win and when we fall below par you don’t get the sympathy vote and it’s a real downer. In that respect, the pressure’s heaped on you more.
“When we survived relegation it was a great achievement, and winning promotion would be a great achievement in a different manner because everyone looks at Notts County as one of the top teams in the league.
“Opposition teams’ approach and mentality is different and we have to deal with it as a club. It comes with the territory.”
Heading into this weekend’s home match against Yeovil Town we’ve played the joint-fewest games in the division, leaving us with games in hand on many of the teams around us.
But Abbott is refusing to read too much into the deficit, preferring to take a game-by-game approach.
“I wouldn’t say it’s an advantage or a hindrance at the minute,” he said.
“Obviously, we’d have liked to have played a few more games and have nine extra points on the board because that would mean the congestion at the end of the season would be more limited.
“But it’s something that’s there and we’ve got to deal with it. The more you think about it, the more it becomes an issue.
“We’re playing a game on Saturday – let’s win it. Next one’s on Tuesday – let’s go and win that one, too.”
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