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Meadow Lane
Meadow Lane

Notts Co v Grimsby Preview

By: Alex Green
Date: 16/02/2010

COUNTY last season was a watershed moment for the club. It showed us all that survival was in our own hands and it was not just achievable but probable. More of the same please.

There’s not much point in repeating what was written last time around considering it was such a short time ago (Their History, Last Season. Etc). So let’s look at what’s happened down at the Lane since we last met.

Bournemouth 2-1 Notts County.

County headed in to the game with a run of 6 away wins in a row including the most recent 1-0 win against ourselves. Bournemouth though started the brighter of the two teams and scored after just 2 minutes. When Danny Holland converted an in-swinging corner with a well-controlled header. From that early stages Bournemouth exerted their dominance and could have had a second shortly after but it was just past the half hour mark that Holland doubled his and Bournemouth’s lead with a deflected chip over the 'keeper. County got one back late on thanks to Neil Bishop’s first goal of the season but that’s how it was to end.

Fulham 4-0 Notts County

Even with 65 places separating them in the pyramid the always modest County fans must have been hoping to see a giant killing as 4,800 Pie’s went to West London to see their team tonked 4-0 by the Premiership outfit. The team held their own and though Kevan believed the score line flattered Fulham it was in all ends and purposes a justified result with goals from Simon Davies, Zamora, Duff and Okaka Chuka completing the defeat. Let’s hope they're still smarting from it.

Latest Finances

New chairman Ray Trew told local BBC Radio Nottingham that debts at the club are currently at the tune of £4 million and he will expect them to rise between now and the end of the season. He also admitted that Munto Finance had not put a single penny of investment into the club during their infamous reign. Caretaker manager Dave Kevan is set to be in charge till the end of the campaign but jobs look to be cut at the club too as Trew believes the club is over staffed. Nevertheless things look a lot brighter at the club then they did just a few weeks ago. Sven has left for another cash cow and moves to release the transfer embargo are currently under way with an ambitious target of The Championship within 5 years maybe too much with current finances, it’s a step in the right direction. Then again James Rodwell now acting on behalf as Trew at the club was formerly chairman of Boston so probably best to keep the Champagne on ice for a while.

Team News

  • Midfielder Lee Peacock is a doubt with an ankle injury
  • Robbie Stockdale and Nick Hegarty are both back in full training and could join the squad travelling to Meadow Lane.
  • Paris Cowan-Hall and Adrian Forbes remain injured.

  • For County Striker Sean Canham is available again after missing the Fulham game as he was cup tied.

    Meadow Lane

    One of the best stadiums in League Two is relatively easy to find. For those who take the train leave the main entrance (or side entrance in to the station car park, this is quicker) and turn left and left again following the station round to its car park walk down to the junction at the end of the road which joins the road bridge crossing the railway. You will see Hooters on your right and the ground is a 5 minute walk down that round and should be visible by now on the opposite side of the street. And if you're going by car take your sat nav.

    Parking: The Cattle Market opposite the away end offers limited parking while along the Trent embankment offers free car parking and just a short walk away.

    Pubs: Course the fantastic Hooters gives you a good atmosphere and a great view otherwise pubs around the ground are also worth a visit. The Globe newly refurbished sits on the County side of the Trent while across the river so does the Trent Bridge Inn famous for its roof terrace during the test matches, The Navigation Inn is just across from the ground on London Road. While the city centres magnificent Market Square offers a hefty choice of places to mull over a pint.

    Ticket Prices

    Adults £20, Concessions £12, Under 16's £5

    Unfortunately the apparently over staffed Notts County couldn't be bothered to respond to my email asking whether its pay on the gate or we have to acquire tickets from their ticket office beforehand which is nice, probably making sure Lee Hughes hasn't tried to park near their car.

    Key Man.

    Lee Hughes caused must annoyance at Blundell Park due to his shameless car driving gestures giving many of us a wake-up call to remind us karma may well not exist then again I have a full head of hair. Whatever his past he is a bloody good footballer too good for this level and his ability was the difference between the two clubs at Cleethorpes. Any whiff of a chance and it will be on target and challenging the keeper like back in the old Championship days I pine for. Unfortunately we no longer have Danny Coyne as out last bastion of defence so it will most probably go in. Bournemouth marked him out of the game closely following him and focusing on his runs at set pieces, we probably won't do that.

    Prediction

    Many have already marked this game off as a defeat but I wouldn't just yet we could always draw.

    Notts County 0-0 Grimsby Town

    Grimsby

    1 GK Nick Colgan
    2 DF Robbie Stockdale
    3 DF Joe Widdowson
    4 MF Dean Sinclair (on loan from Charlton Athletic)
    5 DF Oliver Lancashire (on loan from Southampton)
    6 MF Peter Sweeney
    7 MF Adrian Forbes
    8 FW Nathan Jarman
    9 FW Adam Proudlock
    13 MF Nick Hegarty
    14 MF Peter Bore
    15 DF Matthew Bird
    16 DF Paul Linwood
    19 MF Michael Leary
    20 MF Jammal Shahin
    21 FW Michael Coulson (on loan from Barnsley)
    22 DF Mark Gray
    23 FW Wes Fletcher (on loan from Burnley)
    25 DF Robert Atkinson
    26 FW Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro
    28 MF Josh Fuller
    29 DF Bradley Wood
    30 FW Nathan Dixon
    30 MF Harry Deane
    32 MF Mark Hudson
    33 FW Ashley Chambers (on loan from Leicester City)
    34 FW Paris Cowan-Hall (on loan from Portsmouth)
    35 GK Leigh Overton
    36 MF Tommy Wright
    37 MF Lee Peacock

    Notts County

    1 GK Russell Hoult
    4 DF Mike Edwards
    5 DF Graeme Lee
    6 DF John Thompson (captain)
    7 MF Matthew Hamshaw
    8 MF Ricky Ravenhill
    9 FW Lee Hughes
    10 MF Neal Bishop
    11 MF Ben Davies
    14 FW Sean Canham
    15 FW Karl Hawley
    16 FW Ben Fairclough
    17 DF Jamie Clapham
    18 DF Stephen Hunt
    19 FW Luke Rodgers
    20 FW Craig Westcarr
    21 MF Johnnie Jackson
    23 GK Kasper Schmeichel
    30 FW Ade Akinbiyi
    45 MF Nathan Fox

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