With the new EFL League Two season well underway, Notts County’s second successive campaign back in the fourth tier has so far been good, unbeaten with two draws and a win, but further performances and results will be evaluated with a view towards progression over the remainder of the campaign and what may be in store for Stuart Maynard and his players during the coming months.
Starting with the Magpies transfer business over the summer, which has targeted one area specifically. It is no secret that one of the main issues surrounding the Magpies last season was their defence, which conceded a total of 86 goals in just 46 games, an average of 1.8 goals per match. This left Richard Montague and the County recruitment team with one main objective this transfer window, to sure up the defensive unit.
The result, a complete overhaul of Notts’ defence was set in motion, with long term main stays such as Kyle Cameron, Aden Baldwin, Connell Rawlinson, and Richard Brindley, all allowed to leave the club to make room for multiple new additions. These additions came in the form of; Matty Platt, Jacob Bedeau, Rod McDonald, Robbie Cundy, and Lucas Ness. Also arriving at Meadow Lane was highly rated Goalkeeper Alex Bass on a permanent deal from Sunderland, following an impressive loan spell at AFC Wimbledon last campaign.
This new look Notts County defence already had fans excited, and with further additions made further up the pitch, many fans and onlookers tipped County to have a successful season this time around.
With that optimism, anticipation and excitement, the first day of the campaign rolled around and County fans travelled in their numbers up to Merseyside to spur on their team against Tranmere Rovers. A cagey affair finished 0-0, with both sides coming close to breaking the deadlock. Ultimately though, upon the final whistle both sides had to settle for an opening day point to raise the curtain on their respective League Two seasons.
Next up for the Magpies was a Carabao Cup first round tie away at League One side Shrewsbury Town, where Notts somewhat surprisingly dominated the first half, racing into a 2-0 lead, courtesy of goals from new signing Conor Grant, and fan favourite Sam Austin. However, the League One side replied to devastating affect in the second half, scoring three goals to completely turn the game around. All was not lost though, as just before the 90th minute, a Dan Crowley corner was headed home superbly by Alassana Jatta to take the tie to penalties. Unfortunately, the Shrews would emerge victorious, but there were plenty of positives for Stuart Maynard to take ahead of County’s first home game of the season against Fleetwood.
Charlie Adam’s side came to Meadow Lane, and despite not having much of the ball in the opening exchanges, managed to get their noses in front from a corner which was headed in at the near post by Ryan Graydon half an hour into the contest. The visitors would go into the break ahead by one goal, and just 26 seconds into the second half, they would double their lead through captain Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu who slotted home to put his side in a commanding position.
Typical of Notts County, they continued to play the same way after falling 0–2 behind, and their efforts paid off when Alassana Jatta tapped in a low cross from Lewis Macari to cut the deficit in half. County kept pushing for an equaliser, and when substitute and new signing Nick Tsaroulla was felled in the box by a Cod defender, the referee gave the home side a golden opportunity to draw level from the spot deep into stoppage time. The man to step up was the newly crowned PFA Player Of the Year Jodi Jones, who made no mistake, slotting the ball away to rescue a point for Maynard’s men.
Next up was the visit of Grimsby Town in front of the Sky Sports cameras last Thursday night, and County wasted no time in putting on a show for the TV audience. Just 5 minutes into the contest, Dan Crowley played in a wonderful cross which was bundled over the line by that man again, Alassana Jatta, to put the Magpies one goal to the good. A second goal was added by Dan Crowley barely 10 minutes later as he controlled a Jodi Jones cross and finished emphatically past ‘keeper Jordan Wright to double his side’s lead. Provider would then turn finisher as Jodi Jones’ cross-come-shot found its way into the back of the net via the post to give Notts a 3-0 lead. However, deep into first half stoppage time, the visitors would pull one back through Harvey Rodgers whose quick snapshot squirmed its way into the bottom corner following a freekick. Any chance of an impressive comeback from the Mariners was put to bed just over 10 minutes into the second half, as Dan Crowley added a fourth goal to cap a man-of-the-match performance from the attacking midfielder.
Next up for Notts is a trip to the County Ground where they will take on a Swindon side who are yet to record their first win of the campaign. With the Magpies unbeaten thus far this season, hopes will be high for a positive result for Stuart Maynard and his team to take back to Nottingham ahead of what could be a season to remember for fans of the oldest football league club.
*Article provided by Will Sey (Notts County Correspondent).
*Main image @Official_NCFC Dan Crowley has had an excellent start to the season.
