Notts Aiming To Continue Momentum

Notts County face another lengthy trip on the road this weekend, as the Magpies face Aldershot Town in a fixture where the stakes are well and truly high for both sides.

Ian Burchnall’s side come into the fixture off the back of a comfortable midweek victory over already relegated Dover Athletic. Goals on the evening from Ed Francis, Cal Roberts and the in-form Ruben Rodrigues ensured the travelling Magpies faithful left Dover with all smiles following the third attempt to complete the fixture. The three points concluded the matter of the fact that the Magpies now sit just four points adrift of the third spot, following FC Halifax Town’s defeat last weekend. Unfortunately for Notts County this week, there will still be no Kyle Cameron or Richard Brindley present in the matchday squad. The duo are still on their roads to recovery following two injuries in which led to them being able to play no recent part in the Magpies’ promotion push. However, as May beckons, the pair are scheduled to return for the beginning of the Vanarama National League Play-Off campaign. Beyond these two injuries, Notts do not have any fresh injury concerns or suspensions and therefore have the opportunity to field a highly strong eleven in this weekend’s big game. Finally on Ian Burchnall’s side, just one defeat in their previous eight league outings, with the Magpies netting eighteen times as their key players have well and truly stepped up as the business end of the season is now in full swing.

As for this weekend’s hosts, they come into this fixture off the back of a 1-1 draw away to Bromley. Mikael Ndjoli’s late strike was cancelled out by an eighty-eighth minute equaliser to the joys of all at Kings Lynn Town, as the goal ensured they live to fight yet another week as relegation from the Vanarama National League is on the horizon. On the topic of relegation, victory over the Magpies this weekend would ensure Aldershot Town of safety from the drop and would also conclude a horrid run of form in which has seen Mark Molesley’s side win twice in their previous fourteen fixtures. With the Shots requiring a victory this weekend, they will be heavily reliant on Sinclair Armstrong to find the back of the net to send them on their way. The Queens Park Rangers loanee spent the first half of the season out at fellow Vanarama National League outfit Torquay United. The youngster’s impressive spell in Devon led to Gulls faithful hoping for a return. However, Sinclair opted in the end to join Aldershot Town to help them in their quest for survival. In addition to this, the Magpies defenders will have to keep their eyes firmly on the pacey forward as you can almost guarantee he will be the vocal point of all the home side’s attacks this weekend.

So, what can you expect from this fixture?

You can expect an open encounter as both sides are playing for vital points at opposite ends of the table. The Magpies will come out strong and they will be relying on their key players to fire them to victory, as I believe they will. The quality of the Notts side is too hot to handle for many in this league and I believe Aldershot Town will fall into that category. With an away end of what is expected to be a number of 500, I believe the travelling Magpies faithful will return home smiling on Saturday evening.

My prediction: Aldershot Town 0-3 Notts County.

Current form:

Aldershot Town: WWLLD
Notts County: WLWWW

Probable line-ups:

Aldershot Town: Ross, Oxclaide-Chamberlain, Jordan, Phillips, Kinsella, Berkeley-Agyepong, Harris, Lyons-Foster, Sylla, Ndjoli, Armstrong.
Notts County: Jaros, Chicksen, Graham, Rawlinson, Richardson, Arter, Palmer, Roberts, Rodrigues, Nemane, Sam.

Venue & time: