Notts v Newport, two thirds of the NCFC league

[LongEatonPie]

Notts are most certainly having a wobble but still sit top 3. However the is a queue of teams waiting to take over, it could be that we find ourselves outside the autos Saturday as a draw wouldn’t be too far off.

Looks like Collins is out for a while but Fitz is doing an admirable job as replacement between the sticks.

Need to start scoring and tightening up that defence again.

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

The dip in form was always going to happen especially while for the forwards are not scoring. Begininning to think Grant is over rated great finisher but not a player to start 90minutes. Newport have made great progress I tipped them to finish in the play offs at the start of the season along with Sheffield United Fleetwood Dagenham in their respective leagues so I am feeling very smug with the odds offered at the moment!

Long may their form continue.

 

[Roger Stone]

We should give you a decent game. Need to get our top scorer McCoulsky in the starting 11 so maybe Nouble and Amond will also play in a 433/442. Outplayed the scabs last week and deserved the 3 points. Missing Labadie but Flynn has options up top. Going for a 1-1 stalemate.

 

[william death]

It would be good if we could get a convincing home win to settle a few nerves. Dan Jones will be back after playing an hour last night and I'd expect him to go straight in. It would be nice to see the much anticipated Shola/Forte front line but I don't think we will. Be interesting to see a couple of ex-Notts in the Newport ranks, Scott Bennett, who was dropped after six poor games and never seen again, and David Pipe, who played for us what feels like a lifetime ago.

 

[jacobncfc]

This is an interesting test for us after a few weeks where performances and results have dropped off a little bit. Newport are clearly a good team, but it's a game that a team with designs on a top three place should be looking to win.

I can't see it happening, but I'd like to see Nolan at least experiment with a different formation, using either Grant or Walker as a number ten. I think that we can be a little bit predictable and easy to defend against if teams stop us doubling up on them out wide.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

I'm trying to think of something vaguely interesting to say about this game but.......nope I can't.

Side will pick itself , we will approach the game the same way as always, I trust Super Kev, he knows what he's doing.

Earlier this season this would comfortably enough against Newport surely? But recently the confidence and swagger has gone. We may need an unexpected Moment of Magic from Jorgey Boy Grant to secure a result.

Great time to be playing us

1-1

 

[LongEatonPie]

Milsom out of the side, I really wish we’d play Grant in the middle though, he’s not as effective on the wing.

 

[LongEatonPie]

Seems Newport after bright start are hellbent in helping us to 3 points.

 

[jacobncfc]

That first half was basically a game of chicken to see who could eventually make the ref crack. Probably unwise to lead with your arm about a minute after the ref has given both teams a long talk and told them to stop fucking fouling each other so much.

 

[LongEatonPie]

Grant when he has an off day he is very average. When he has a good day he is too good. 2 goals and an assist so far

 

[jacobncfc]

I mean how that's only finished 3-0, should've been 7 or 8.

Can't grumble, though.

 

[LongEatonPie]

They went down to 10 and it really messed up their 3-5-2. Teams try to outnumber our midfield as we are strong. I very much doubt it would have been 3-0 with 11 v 11 as up until that point they stifled anything we had through the midfield.

A welcome result though and in the history books it’s the score not the players on the field that will be recorded.

 

[jacobncfc]

Why are there like ten Lincoln fans singing and trying to fight anyone in sight outside the ground!?!

 

[LongEatonPie]

Probably a stag do and they got lost at Hooters. Either that or they are unhappy drawing at home to Creepy

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

I did kind of suggest Grant should do his thing to get us a much needed 3 points and boy did he deliver.

Can't believe we are top currently, we aren't very convincing at all at times, especially last 7-8 games

No complaints

 

[Youpies]

The Lincoln fans were embarrassing. Quickly surrounded by Notts police. What are they even doing there?

Cracking turnout from Newport. Nearly 400 fans for such a long trip.

First twenty minutes were terrible from both teams. The sending off looked soft to me. Not sure quite how much contact there actually was but there you go. Both teams clocked up a lot of fouls

Hats off to Matt Tootle. What a man, what a player. Shola was top class today. Pretty much any defence would have struggled against him today. Grant got into the game after his goal. Was roundly terrible before then.

Notts and Newport are both fairly average. But both are effective. We are never going to completely outclass the other team. But we will make it tough for you. Never expected to be too of the league at the end of October. Not sure we will be there come May but I am enjoying it

 

[jacobncfc]

It was kind of a team sending off as much as anything else, I think. All stemmed from their lad leaving one on Grant over the other side, Shola had clattered someone then within thirty seconds and both teams spent the next ten minutes just fouling each other.

Ref finally had enough when someone went in late on Hewitt and had a word with both captains. Two minutes later their lad leads with his arm on Tootle. Wasn't really much force in it but after what had gone before he was always gonna go.

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

Newport seemed to be on a mission to see how many of players they could get booked or sent off in one game. They were the better team before the sending off but in all fairness could have had two red cards before. They seemed to be testing where the refs limit was then their heads completely went. I thought Westley left Newport a while back ?

 

[jacobncfc]

Disagree they were the better team before the sending off meself. Much more even obviously but we were still the only team creating any chances.

 

[Optipez]

Two very similar teams, Newport arguably slightly better before the sending off, certainly had more pace throughout.
In the end though we could have scored six or seven, we looked pretty tidy which after the last few weeks is a welcome relief.
Really not sure we're top of the league material in the way that Plymouth and Portsmouth were last season, but we have got the points on the board and teams around us aren't quite showing the consistency to overtake us at the moment.

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

How that only finished 3-0 I'll never know we destroyed them second half and they got off very lightly.

 

[Pieyedfry]

Really good performance by Notts today, bit scrappy before the red card and could potentially have gone the same way as Forest Green had it not been for the red, but once they went down to 10 Notts showed a lot of nous and were clinical. They didn't take the foot off the gas which has so often been the case after going a goal up, and play really well. People talk about Ameobi and Stead being too slow as a combination but I don't really think it's that bad, and certainly will be ok until January. Ameobi's strength allows notts quick attacking midfield to play off him. Makes the decision not to pick either Stead or Ameobi for Crewe all the more strange.

Back four were good as they generally have been this season, will be even better when Jones gets back as Notts have missed his pace. Fitzsimmons had little to do, first time I've seen him play but looked a bit nervy. Midfield were very good, and Notts used their wingplay well, and up top Stead worked his arse off and Shola was good old Shola, absolute menace.

But yeah, red card obviously changed the game but notts did well to win so comfortably. Credit to Newport though, good turnout by their fans on a long journey, and played some good albeit dirty football before the red, and the manager has got them punching above their weight.

Oh, only thing that pissed me off with today was I had my ticket inspected after entering the ground, which was a bit cheeky, also asked me to show I.D.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Harsh sending off that. Harsher than the Lincoln one. Is that the 4th sending off of an opposition player at Meadow Lane this season? Dirty dirty league two sides trying to ruffle our feathers

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

Not harsh at all the ref warned both teams after a very strong tackle and seconds later directly in front of the ref he led with his elbow. Pretty stupid to be fair didn't even let the dust settle after a word from the ref and only had himself to blame.

Special mention to the 16 year old one can Van Dammes from both sets of supporters who really were embarrassing yesterday spent most of the game flapping like birds at each other. No idea why!

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

But have Notts played anyone good yet?

 

[william death]

But have Notts played anyone good yet?

Only 7 of the top 9 (W5 D1 L1 F17 A8).

Good day, topped off by the Mansfield-supporting unofficial club photographer having a complete meltdown on Twitter.

 

[Roger Stone]

Red card overturned, quite correctly. Ludicrous decision by the ref on the day. Cost us at least a point.

 

[Youpies]

Not sure you can say it cost you a point. I don't think you'd actually tested the keeper by the time he was sent off.

It is right to be over turned though. Said it at the time, looked like a yellow. Generally still agree with Jacobs point though. Ref had to gain control of the game which was turning into a fight

 

[jacobncfc]

Shows one of the problems with being able to appeal red cards, that. Sometimes the context of the game around them is relevant.

The idea that it cost Newport 'at least a point' is bizarre as well. I doubt that it would've been the walkover that it ended up being, but we'd already taken control of the game before the red card imo.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Ridiculous comment. As I said I thought it was harsh, not surprised it’s veen overturned. But even without the sending off, there was far too much time left in the game to judge. We start slow in many matches , but tend not to struggle at Meadow Lane.

Grant had one of those days which would likely have resulted in a home victory