Football is a funny old game. Except, if you're a Rochdale fan making your way back up to Lancashire at this moment in time. A few facts that have been banded about recently include Notts' defence being the meanest in all the leagues, Steve Cotterill is yet to lose in charge of Notts County and Rochdale have not been promoted since the invention of the wheel.
Today, Cotterill took his Magpies side to Sixfields to face the other inform team in League Two; Northampton Town. The Cobblers got turned over at Meadow Lane earlier in the season 5-2 but a lot has changed since then including the managers job at both clubs. Ian Sampson has guided the Cobblers from mid-table obscurity to play-off hopefuls whilst Steve Cotterill has turned County from free-flowing, promotion candidates to stubborn title favourites. Neither team had lost since February, so this was always going to be a close one.
Northampton were missing top scorer Akinfenwa, whilst their counterparts welcomed back John Thompson and Johnnie Jackson who was named amongst the substitutes.
The Cobblers dominated the first half with their dogged determination and desire to win the ball. These endeavours resulted in Northampton having 6 first half corners and the best chance of the half; a one-on-one situation between Steve Guinan and Kasper Schemiechel with the Notts 'keeper getting the upper hand and saving with his foot. A stubborn Notts defence restricted the rest of Northampton's chances to long-distance shots and corners. Meanwhile, at the other end an ineffective Luke Rodgers (who must surely have his eye on New York already) failed to combine with Lee Hughes and muster a shot to trouble Cobblers 'keeper, Steele.
Rodgers was replaced at half-time for cult-hero Delroy 'the face' Facey whose impact on the game must not be undervalued. Suddenly, Notts had an outlet - one who could hold the ball up instead of simply letting it bounce off him. A ball straight into the Cobblers' area at the start of the second half led to a defensive blunder by Craig Hinton; allowing Ben Davies to take control of the ball and place it into the far corner with his left foot for his 14th of the campaign.
The lead was nearly short-lived as a Guttridge shot found its way goal-bound after Schmeichel failed to punch away successfully. Fortunately, Graeme Lee spared the Danish star and managed to hack the ball away and keep the score at 1-0.
Notts could have doubled the lead after brilliant work from Delroy Facey down the left who managed to get a cross off and straight onto Hughes' head, but the County top scorer was unfortunate to see his header hit Steele and with the rebound Hughes, once again; found Steele in his way. Notts managed to hold out for a vital 3 points as fellow title-chasers Rochdale capitulated away to Torquay and were hit for 5 without reply. Notts are now 3 points closer to Dale and the title.
You pies!
Saturday, 10 April 2010
Monday, 5 April 2010
Away Days - Shrewsbury
In the middle of what seemed to be a Shropshire hurricane Notts were able to overcome the task of beating play-off hopefuls Shrewsbury Town. The Shrews hadn't won in 5; whilst County hadn't lost in 11 games. The stadium had echoes of Rushden & Diamonds' soulless, generic Lego stadium. As for the Shrewsbury fans they are possibly the most bitter, spiteful and uninspiring 'supporters' I've had the misfortune to witness. The Shrews fans concentrated their minimal brain capacity on insulting the County players, hierarchy and even singling out individual fans for the duration of the 90 minutes instead of getting behind their team so the 'worst fans of the season' award has swapped hands from Bury to Shrewsbury in the matter of a week. Maybe if they had focussed their energies on supporting their team instead of their juvenile attempts at banter then maybe they could have lifted their team out of their slump. But in line with current form Notts were able to keep their 9th clean sheet in 10 games under Cotterill with a 1-0 win.
Notts were unchanged from the side who hit Bury for 5 on Saturday. This meant that there was no starting place for Karl Hawley or Delroy Facey with the out-of-form Luke Rodgers keeping his place.
A rasping volley from Simpson stung Kasper's palms with the Shrews best chance of the half. Notts soon grew into their own and but for the goalkeeping of Button, Notts may have been in front on 20 minutes, a Lee Hughes header troubled the Shrews defence with Button scrambling across his goal and turning the header around the post. Hughes came close again with a low shot that flew inches past the post prior to Neil Bishop having a shot that demanded another good save. The Notts goal came on 36 minutes from former Shrewsbury midfield dynamo Ben Davies, after good work from Westcarr down the left who managed to cut the ball across the box which was left when skillfully dummied by Luke Rodgers, before falling to Lee Hughes who rolled it into Ben Davies' path, who composed himself before blasting the ball past Button.
The second half was a dire affair with the wind having the upper hand over either team. Notts persisted with the long ball but with the lwind against them, Shrewsbury were able to have sustained pressure with neither Hughes or Rodgers able to hold the ball up. Shrewsbury nearly pulled themselves level when an ambitious lob nearly caught Schmeichel out in the County goal, but fortunately for the Magpies the effort was just off target. Notts' best opportunity in the second half, again fell to Ben Davies but this time, Button was equal to the shot from 10 yards. Shrewsbury had neither the guile or quality to break down to the stern Notts defence; as Karl Hawley came on and helped Notts retain the ball better in the Shrews half. The 1-0 scoreline was a fair reflection on a close game played in awful conditions.
Notts' dreams of pipping Rochdale to the title are becoming more and more like reality with every passing game. You pies!
Notts were unchanged from the side who hit Bury for 5 on Saturday. This meant that there was no starting place for Karl Hawley or Delroy Facey with the out-of-form Luke Rodgers keeping his place.
A rasping volley from Simpson stung Kasper's palms with the Shrews best chance of the half. Notts soon grew into their own and but for the goalkeeping of Button, Notts may have been in front on 20 minutes, a Lee Hughes header troubled the Shrews defence with Button scrambling across his goal and turning the header around the post. Hughes came close again with a low shot that flew inches past the post prior to Neil Bishop having a shot that demanded another good save. The Notts goal came on 36 minutes from former Shrewsbury midfield dynamo Ben Davies, after good work from Westcarr down the left who managed to cut the ball across the box which was left when skillfully dummied by Luke Rodgers, before falling to Lee Hughes who rolled it into Ben Davies' path, who composed himself before blasting the ball past Button.
The second half was a dire affair with the wind having the upper hand over either team. Notts persisted with the long ball but with the lwind against them, Shrewsbury were able to have sustained pressure with neither Hughes or Rodgers able to hold the ball up. Shrewsbury nearly pulled themselves level when an ambitious lob nearly caught Schmeichel out in the County goal, but fortunately for the Magpies the effort was just off target. Notts' best opportunity in the second half, again fell to Ben Davies but this time, Button was equal to the shot from 10 yards. Shrewsbury had neither the guile or quality to break down to the stern Notts defence; as Karl Hawley came on and helped Notts retain the ball better in the Shrews half. The 1-0 scoreline was a fair reflection on a close game played in awful conditions.
Notts' dreams of pipping Rochdale to the title are becoming more and more like reality with every passing game. You pies!
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Champion Elects?
Ian McParland; Michael Johnson; Hans Backe; Dave Kevan & Steve Cotterill have all been in the dugout for Notts County in this turbulant season which makes their current position even more remarkable. Meanwhile, their Lancashire rivals; Rochdale - have had a very quiet, efficient season, ploughing their way towards the title. It was in the last week of February that new chairman Ray Trew declared that the ex-Burnley and Cheltenham man would be taking charge of the Magpies until the end of the current season. Not one Notts fan would have dared imagine what was in store for the next month. When Cotterill took over Notts were occupying the last play-off place 14 points behind leaders Rochdale. County hadn't won in 4 games including a defeat away at promotion-chasing Bournemouth and dropping points at home to struggling Grimsby Town. These results, combined with the uncertainty of whether the club would sink into administration had Notts fans worried. Now, on Easter Sunday, a day before Notts travel down to promotion-hopefuls Shrewsbury they are sitting pretty in second place. It is not only the grit, determination and organisation that Cotterill has installed since he took charge but the modesty and professionalism which is lacking from Keith Hill's locker (after his rant on Sky during the broadcast of Notts - v - Bournemouth).
One of the main contrasts since Cotterill started his reign as Notts manager is the defence. Eight clean sheets out of a possible nine has helped Notts' rise to the upper echelons of the league. The team have inflicted 5-0 home defeats upon Hereford and Bury, but it is not all flambuoyance. It is the dedication and the willingness to work for the other man which has seen Notts pick up precious 1-0 wins against Chesterfield, Rotherham, Crewe and Macclesfield. Notts also claimed a 3-0 win against Accrington Stanley (the only team thus far to beat Notts on their own patch). A last-minute goal from Bournemouth substitute Jeff Goulding secured a point for the visitors in a 2-2 draw. Notts also failed to finish off Bradford at Valley Parade as they dominated without any reward besides taking a point back from Yorkshire after a goaless game.
Notts' eighth clean sheet of Cotterill's reign came against an out-of-form Bury who hadn't scored from open play in 7 games. This statistic would not have been feasible to even the most imaginable fan in November after an enthralling 3-3 draw at Gigg Lane after a mud patch had spared Notts' blushes (see video below).
But the Shakers' lack of confidence was evident as Mike Edwards put Notts into a 1-0 lead and after Kasper pulled off a magnificent save, low down to his right; there was only going to be one winner. Craig Westcarr added a second at the beginning of the second half with a side-footed finish after good work by Luke Rodgers down the left-hand side. Ben Davies effectively finished the game off after a move that would not have looked out of place in the Premiership. Lee Hughes and Delroy Facey put the gloss on the scoreline and had it not been for Cotterill replacing Davies, Hughes & Rodgers - Notts may have added even more to the scoreline.
Cotterill is definitely not getting carried away with the win though.
One of the main contrasts since Cotterill started his reign as Notts manager is the defence. Eight clean sheets out of a possible nine has helped Notts' rise to the upper echelons of the league. The team have inflicted 5-0 home defeats upon Hereford and Bury, but it is not all flambuoyance. It is the dedication and the willingness to work for the other man which has seen Notts pick up precious 1-0 wins against Chesterfield, Rotherham, Crewe and Macclesfield. Notts also claimed a 3-0 win against Accrington Stanley (the only team thus far to beat Notts on their own patch). A last-minute goal from Bournemouth substitute Jeff Goulding secured a point for the visitors in a 2-2 draw. Notts also failed to finish off Bradford at Valley Parade as they dominated without any reward besides taking a point back from Yorkshire after a goaless game.
Notts' eighth clean sheet of Cotterill's reign came against an out-of-form Bury who hadn't scored from open play in 7 games. This statistic would not have been feasible to even the most imaginable fan in November after an enthralling 3-3 draw at Gigg Lane after a mud patch had spared Notts' blushes (see video below).
But the Shakers' lack of confidence was evident as Mike Edwards put Notts into a 1-0 lead and after Kasper pulled off a magnificent save, low down to his right; there was only going to be one winner. Craig Westcarr added a second at the beginning of the second half with a side-footed finish after good work by Luke Rodgers down the left-hand side. Ben Davies effectively finished the game off after a move that would not have looked out of place in the Premiership. Lee Hughes and Delroy Facey put the gloss on the scoreline and had it not been for Cotterill replacing Davies, Hughes & Rodgers - Notts may have added even more to the scoreline.
Cotterill is definitely not getting carried away with the win though.
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