Notts County

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Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton said the side’s performance in the 4-1 home defeat to National League leaders Notts County was evidence of their struggles this season.

The Glovers had golden opportunities to pull level for a second time through defenders Jamie Reckord and Edwin Agbaje having after fallen behind to a penalty from Reuben Rodrigues six minutes from time.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, Staunton said: “Those chances are chances we should score and it has changed the game and (if we score) it switches the momentum again and we probably come away with at least a point but that is why we are where we are.

“It is a testament for how far we have come, but it shows where we are shooting ourselves in the foot because we are capable of performances like that.

“That is a reflection of a team which is in 19th place and we have to find it in ourselves to turn good performances in to results, because at the end of the season (good performances) do not mean a great deal.”

The defeat sees Yeovil drop to 19th place in the table, three points off the division’s relegation places with relegation rivals Torquay United and Scunthorpe United both picking up important wins.

They travel to Maidenhead United, who sit two places and one point above them having played two more games, on Tuesday night and Staunton admits that game is more important in the context of the season.

He said: “The most important thing about today, which most people probably class as a free hit, is that we re-group for Tuesday.

“That is where have to look seriously at targeting points, we had a lot of physical exertion today and Tuesday is a massive game for us, we need to start picking up points.

“We can take some heart from today, but Tuesday is going to be a completely different challenge. We have to roll out sleeves up and make sure we are in the best physical condition to do that.

“We owe it to each other, the club and the fans to make sure we are in the best condition. There is no reason why a group of young lads should not be able to play Saturday and then Tuesday.

“We can all sit here and make excuses but that is not the character of the team and the squad, we try and take ownership and we try and look at ourselves because it is down to us and take responsibility.”

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Mark Cooper said his Yeovil Town side picked up a “moral victory” despite being beaten 4-1 at home to table-topping Notts County at Huihs Park on Saturday.

Having fallen behind to an early goal from the National League’s top scorer Macauley Langstaff after just four minutes, the Glovers pulled level when substitute Andrew Oluwabori equalised after 65 minutes but a penalty from Reuben Rodrigues and another two for Langstaff completed the scoring.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, Cooper said: “I thought we were magnificent from start to finish. At 2-1 (down) I gambled looking to get back in it, pushed people forward hoping that we would get a chance and we did, we had a great chance more or less on the goal line but put it wide.

“I think it is a moral victory for us and we have expended a lot of energy today and got nothing, we didn’t get what we deserved.”

He added: “I thought second half we were brilliant, we had a game plan which was clear for all to see, people were sat behind me shouting ‘go and press them’ but we knew exactly what we were doing.

“We kept winning the ball back in the middle of the pitch, we had numerous chances and at 1-1 we looked like we could have won it and then I don’t know if it’s a penalty.”

The boss had praise for debutant defender Ryan Law about whom he said: “He was calm, no drama. He was a 7/10 and improves us down that left hand side definitely” and Oluwabori, adding: “It was a great goal from Andrew and we need more of them.”

Having started the game with strikers Alex Fisher and Malachi Linton, the boss said he believed his side had tried to entertain the Huish Park crowd. He said: “I think we had a duty at home to try and entertain our hands. We played two strikers, played a little wider which was part of the game plan to try and stretch them and I thought it worked really well.”

Yeovil were without the creative forces of Jordan Maguire-Drew and Jack Clarke against Notts and named just four substitutes, and Cooper said he was hopeful of having Maguire-Drew back in time for Tuesday night’s trip to Maidenhead United.

He added that he did not think Chiori Johnson would be available for the midweek match.

Of his team, he said: “They are fit, we have some real athletes in the middle of the pitch and if we play with that endeavour in the middle of the pitch on Tuesday we will be competitive.”

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Yeovil Town have named just FOUR substitutes for their clash against Notts County.

Jordan Maguire-Drew misses out and there is a full debut for Ryan Law in what we expect to be a five-man defence.

Jamie Reckord is back at left back after serving his suspensio and there is a reunion up front for “Fish ‘n’ Mal”… the four man defence includes a goalie, the returning Will Dawes and two attackers…

That team in full.

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Josh Staunton has been named in the Yeovil Town starting XI for today’s trip to league leaders Notts County (3pm kick-off).

The skipper is alongside Jamie Andrews and Matt Worthington in midfield and, as for the rest of the formation, we are guessing – but this is what we reckon.

There is a place for on loan Bristol City goalkeeper Will Buse on the substitutes’ bench.

Yeovil Town (5-4-1):

Substitutes: Will Buse, Lawson D’Ath, Louis Britton, Anthony Georgiou, Malachi Linton.

 

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The curse of the old boy struck again as former Yeovil defender Alex Lacey headed home an equaliser four minutes in to second half stoppage time to rescue a point for Notts County on Saturday.

Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll said his side were “magnificent”, Tom Knowles said we deserved the three points, but the history books will show we had to settle for one at Meadow Lane.

Here’s Coatesie’s conclusions from his spot in the away end…

Darren Sarll wasn’t gutted at what can only be described as two points dropped, but admitted his players were. I have to say I am siding with the players.

This was  another hard luck story for this Yeovil side.

Despite my disappointment, I found myself standing, applauding and cheering this team at the final whistle.

It is just impossible not to be impressed and heartened by the sheer tenacity of them, they just never stop working.

As the game ticked past the 90th minute, Charlie Wakefield appeared in the left back position to win a ball back and clear it. Yes, our winger-turned-striker Charlie Wakefield who has played so many minutes this season, he was tracking back and helping out his team-mates.

How can you do anything but admire that spirit? And be so, so frustrated that it was not rewarded with three points. I know, again. Ugh.

The disappointment stings more because this was another good performance against one of the National League’s top teams.

I’d have taken a point before kick-off, especially when I saw there was no Olufela Olomola in the squad. How we missed him.

This was a Notts County which “has not scrimped” on its budget, according to Magpies’ fan Paul Mace who we spoke to pre-match, with a team we were told would control the game with easy-on-the-eye football.

It didn’t happen and it didn’t happen because Yeovil Town did not let it happen. We hassled, we harried, we disrupted the rhythm of a team with quality and experience in abundance. If you saw the win at Stockport County earlier this season, this had a similar feel. We showed Notts County no respect, the difference between this and Stockport was players feeling the rigours of a season – and no-one in any kind of scoring form.

It did not make for a game of great quality, but with our team which is all about effort, that speaks more for our efforts.

On that point, my thoughts on last season’s Reuben Reid were clear.

This season, I was willing to give him a chance and take fully in to account the fact he had an interrupted start of the campaign to put it mildly.

But, Reuben’s mistake at the end of this match was simply not acceptable. A burst forward by Lawson D’Ath, fed the ball through to our experienced striker who we are told has incredibly high standards, and he allows the ball to run under his foot and away to safety.

This was moments after the Notts equaliser and was a golden opportunity to get a shot in on goal. Yes, it is one mistake for a player who was on the pitch for less than 15 minutes, but he is paid to get that shot away. If his standards are as high as we are told – and I have no reason to doubt they are – he will be equally infuriated at his mistake.

The fact we played three midfield players – one of whom, Jordan Barnett, started the season as a left back – tells you all you need to know about our scoring options.

Alex Bradley. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

So, it was pleasing to see a goal of great quality from Alex Bradley.

We’re told he sees himself as a midfield player rather than the right-back we thought we signed and if he carries on performing like he did here, he very well could be.

There was nice passes, quality runs forward, strong tackles. There was a lot to like about Alex Bradley’s performance.

Finally, it was pleasing to hear Sarll and Tom Knowles praising the travelling fans at Meadow Lane.

Even when we weren’t winning, they were making a noise in an otherwise quiet Meadow Lane.

Every one of those 223 people in that away end were magnificent – well, let’s say 222, it’s a bit big-headed to call myself ‘magnificent’! We are supporting a team which in reality has nothing left to play for with promotion out of our reach and relegation almost a mathematic impossibility, yet we still turn up and make a racket. At the final whistle, the vast majority stood to applaud the players’ efforts and chant the manager’s name. There’s a huge effort going in on the pitch, but it is being matched in the stands.

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Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll was very positive about the Glovers’ 1-1 draw with Notts County on Saturday.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, he said whilst the players might be ‘gutted’, he wasn’t and he sang his team’s praises.

“I’m not (gutted), the players are and it’s my job to ensure they understand the fruits of their labour, and that’s a magnificent performance, again.

“This is a process, we’ve got young players that are developing, they are exactly where they should be and this is about their journey long term”

The manager went on to make comparisons to Sutton United, who won the National League in 2020/21, but not before building a young squad who finished mid-table in the curtailed 2019/20 season.

Sarll spoke of his side’s endeavour and spirit – something all Glovers’ fans know is second to none.

“I’ll be surprised if anyone has come here this year and stuck it so boldly to Notts County. I told them, and I mean it, I’m not playing games, I was delighted with them. I can see in our attacking play, that we are getting better.”

There was praise for Alex Bradley whose second start of the season brought his first goal and for Jordan “Gareth Bale” Barnett who found himself as part of a front three citing their athleticism, hard work and determination to play for the team.

“I think the chaps have shown an incredible amount of desire and I think we’ve given something back to the people, to the supporters who have travelled so far and spent so much money and that’s all I can ever ask of them.

“I think if we have longevity with the team, I can start to ask a bit more, but right now they are exactly where they are and exactly where I think they should be, and they’re growing week in, week out.

“It’s very ballsy to come here and play in that manner, we didn’t sit off like 90% of the teams, we went after Notts County, and we went after Notts County with all of the things we know are against us.”

Sarll also confirmed that on loan striker Olufela Olomola, who missed out at Meadow Lane, should be available to make the squad for the visit of Dagenham & Redbridge to Huish Park on Tuesday night, and that there is no long term concern over forward Tom Knowles who limped off at the end against Notts.

Looking ahead to Tuesday, Darren Sarll hoped that the Huish Park faithful would see more of the same, even if he wasn’t overly enamoured with having to play on Tuesday after two long away days… and Dagenham having a weekend off.

“I just hope the home support sees the growth in the team, I hope we show them that there’s growth in the team.

“We need to be very very careful, physically with the team, because it’s a long journey, I didn’t want this game on this Tuesday (vs Dagenham) I thought it was unfair after two long away trips to put another game in, the league voted against us… we always seem to lose those ones… but we’ll go.

“This team can be such a good team, such a good team, and I love working with them and I really do hope people can see their progress, because they are fighting for dear life, bless ’em.

“Once we break the ceiling of those two goals in a game, I think we will unleash a war chest of other attributes we haven’t seen yet. We are pushing, we are really pushing and I’m really proud of them today.”

 

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Venue: Meadow Lane
Saturday 5 March, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Cold and breezy.
Pitch: Like a snooker table in comparison with what Chesterfield served up in the previous match.

Attendance: 6,943 (223 away supporters)

Scorers: Alex Bradley 47 (1-0), Alex Lacey 90+4 (1-1)

Bookings: 

Notts: Francis 41, Chicksen 54, Rodrigues 70, Sam 73.

Yeovil: Bradley 54, Williams 90+6.

Referee: Matthew Dicicco


Yeovil Town : (4-3-3)

Grant Smith

Mark Little, Luke Wilkinson, Ben Barclay, Morgan Williams

Alex Bradley, Josh Staunton, Dale Gorman

Jordan Barnett, Charlie Wakefield, Tom Knowles

Substitutes: Lawson D’Ath (for Bradley, 63), Matt Worthington (for Barnett 79), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Reuben Reid (for Knowles 87), Adi Yussuf.

Notts County: Jaros, Chicksen, Cameron (for Lacey, 28), Rawlinson, Richardson (For Kelly-Evans, 57), Francis (for Mitchell, 79), Palmer, Rodrigues, Sam, Roberts, Wooton.

Substitutes: Lacey, Kelly-Evans, Brunt, Nemane, Mitchell.

Match Report

Yeovil Town’s inability to kill a game off saw them denied an impressive win at promotion chasing Notts County who grabbed a late equaliser.

Having gone ahead just two minutes in to the second half when Alex Bradley capitalised on a defensive mix up, the Glovers had to withstand pressure from the hosts.

Just when it looked as if they might manage that, Alex Lacey’s header deep in to nine minutes of stoppage time added on meant the visitors settled for a point.

Here is Coatesie’s perspective from the away end at Meadow Lane….

First half

Having been exposed on the break on a couple of early forays forward by the home side, the first proper chance came on four minutes on a break away led by Charlie Wakefield who picked out Tom Knowles but his shot was deflected wide for a corner.

Eli Sam, the Notts striker with five goals in his last five matches, had a header smartly stopped by Grant Smith soon after, before Kyle Wootton’s deflected effort was blocked on the line by Luke Wilkinson.

A lot of the home side’s threat was coming down the flanks with Sam on the left and Callum Roberts on the right.

On 22 minutes, it was Roberts’ whipped ball in from the right wing which found Ruben Rodrigues whose diving header went wide with only Smith to beat. Golden opportunity.

Notts lost captain Kyle Cameron on 28 minutes after  an innocuous looking tussle with Knowles. He was replaced by former Glover Alex Lacey, and moments later Ben Barclay put a header in to the hands of hosts’ keeper Vitezslav Jaros from a Knowles long throws.

Six minutes from half-time, a ball through from Alex Bradley set Barnett away down the left but his ball in to Wakefield was over hit giving Notts the chance to clear. It was yet another almost moment for us going forward.

In terms of clear cut chances, Rodrigues’ header wide was as good as it got for either side in a scrappy opening 45 minutes.

For a side pushing for promotion with a dearth of attacking talent in their squad, Notts County have not lived up to their billing and us….surprise, surprise, we look a side sorely lacking a striker.

Half time: Notts County 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

Any fans returned from the half time break late will have missed a misjudged header back to Jaros which found the younger keeper all at sea. The ball eventually broke to Alex BRADLEY who lifted it over the stranded keeper.

Alex Bradley. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

That seemed to spark the home side in to action and on 53 minutes danger man Roberts got on the ball and fired a ball in to the near post where Rodrigues stabbed it goalwards but Smith denied him with an instinctive stop with his feet.

On the hour mark, Gorman’s free-kick found Wilkinson in the middle but he could not quite get enough contact to give Jaros more than a simple save.

As the game reached its closing stages, the wind off the nearby River Trent started to pick up and free-kicks were causing both defences.

On 77 minutes, another deep free-kick found Wilkinson in a bit dissimilar position to the one he found himself in at Chesterfield seven days earlier. This time he could not get clean contact on it.

There was battling, hassling, harrying from a Yeovil side who truly do not know when they are beaten, but the biggest lift came when nine minutes of injury time came up on the board.

Some of the stream of home fans leaving Meadow Lane turned around, sending something was about to happen and, a couple of minutes in to the nine it did. A lofted free-kick in found the head of Alex LACEY who seemed to have the freedom of the penalty area to head home.

But, it wasn’t over there, moments later the ball broke to D’Ath who brought it forward and squared it to substitute Reuben Reid. The ball ran under his foot and away to safety.

Full time: Notts County 1 Yeovil Town 1

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Lawson D’ath and Co warming up at Chesterfield ? Ben Barrett

There is no place for striker Olufela Olomola in the squad for the match at Notts County this afternoon (3pm kick-off).

The on loan forward, who it had been hoped would be back from injury for the match, appears to be replaced by a front three of Tom Knowles, Charlie Worthington and (possibly) Jordan Barnett up front.

Yeovil Town: Grant Smith, Mark Little, Luke Wilkinson, Ben Barclay, Morgan Williams, Josh Staunton, Alex Bradley, Dale Gorman Jordan Barnett, Charlie Wakefield, Tom Knowles.

Substitutes: Matt Worthington, Lawson D’Ath, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Reuben Reid, Adi Yussuf.

Notts County Team: Jaros (GK), Chicksen, Cameron, Rawlinson, Richardson, Francis, Palmer, Rodrigues, Sam, Roberts, Wooton.

Bench: Lacey, Kelly-Evans, Brunt, Nemane, Mitchell.