Hereford v Notts... BIG match preview

And what a big match it truly is. Notts' shocking recent form - and performances - see this as a game they have to get something from.

It couldn't be much more difficult, with Graham Turner's men flying high in

Edgar Street... Preparing for New Year clash

second place in the league having picked up back to back away wins over Christmas.

Edgar Street has seen a surprise promotion push this term, but Notts need to pick up what would be their best and most important win of the season to start the New Year as they have to go on.

Another defeat, despite being highly likely, would keep the alarm bells ringing as the already high pressure on Charlie McParland intensifies.

Team News

Easton... Doubt for Turner

Notts - New signing Guy Branston is ineligible and will have to wait until Saturday for a debut. Mike Edwards is still a fortnight from a possible return while Jay Smith is out for longer. Neil MacKenzie is fit to start.

Hereford - Manager Graham Turner has hinted at making a couple of changes to keep the squad fresh. He may be forced into relacing Clint Easton who hobbled off at Bradford, but Simon Johnson should be fit. Definitely out are Richard Rose and Robbie Threlfall while Karl Broadhurst is set to miss out with flu again.

Form guide

Notts - Couldn't be much worse for McParland's men. After again talking about going on another unbeaten run after overcoming four straight defeats with a win and a draw, the Magpies have since lost their last two. That means just one win in the last eight league games. Away from home this season the Magpies have won just once, lost four and drew five. Notts are 20th in the table, six points from the drop zone.

Hereford - Two wins in two away from Edgar Street sees the Bulls in second. It is just one defeat in eleven league games for them, and they have also marched into Round Three of the FA Cup, defeating Leeds United at Elland Road on the way. At home Turner's men have recorded five wins, three defeats and three draws.

Last time out

Notts 2-3 Hereford - (October 2 2007)

Guinan.. Celebrating his second at Meadow Lane

A Steve Guinan double gave the Bulls a deserved win on a Tuesday night at Meadow Lane. The former Forest striker hit the winner despite a spirited Magpies fightback under then boss Steve Thompson.

Ben Smith hit a stunning opener after 13 minutes as Notts sat back before Guinan doubled the Bulls lead 12 minutes later from a Theo Robinson cross.

It could have been more at the break, but Notts got a lifeline in the second half when substitute Gary Silk saw his deflected effort trickle in on 63.

By this point Notts were looking the better team and an equaliser seemed likely until Guinan popped up to extend the Bulls lead on 69 against the run of play.

Another Notts substitute - Hector Sam - again reduced the defecit with his only Magpies goal 16 minutes from the end, but it was too late.

Key men

Notts - Neil MacKenzie. He must start, and if he don't he will surely be used as a substitute. He is no doubt Notts' best player and how ever long he plays he can have a major say in the result. If he hits form he can create or score

Johnson... Former Darlington ace in form

a goal that will potentially change the destination of the points. He is the one Notts player you would back to pull something from nowhere to get a goal. He also spent a spell on loan with the Bulls last term and nearly joined them pre-season before opting for Notts meaning he may have a point to prove, hopefully fuelling his desire.

Hereford - Simon Johnson is finally starting to show his true form after a slow start to life with United. The former Leeds United youngster has been forced to play second fiddle to the likes of Lionel Ainsworth and Theo Robinson so far, but has started to emerge from their shadow with some good displays of late. The winger or striker has been linked with Notts in the past and despite having scored just once for Hereford, his recent displays out wide have seen him create several openings - including two assists at Bradford. His pace and dribbling ability see him as a hige threat.

Big battle

For Notts there will be huge battles all over the park, but none will be as fierce as in the centre of it all as Notts' most in-form player Richard Butcher comes toe-to-toe with Toumani Diagouraga.

Herford's on-loan French midfielder has been likened to compatriot Patrick Vieira and is said to have a big future with parent club Watford. He has been a revelation as a ball winning midfielder for Turner.

He will be charged with stopping Butcher's runs from midfield, and late arrivals in the box that have heralded so many goals this term. If he does it, Notts will lose the one thing that has been good about their play of late.

Not that Diagouraga will only defend. Far from it as he likes nothing better than to go onto the ascendancy, meaning Butcher will have to track back as much as go forward.

That is something the former Lincoln ace has done well recently, and he will have to do more of it if Notts are to have any chance.

This is particularly the case owing to the poor form of others around him.

Possible line-ups

Notts - (4-4-2) Kevin Pilkington; Lee Canoville, Krystian Pearce, Adam Tann, Stephen Hunt; Andy Parkinson, Neil MacKenzie, Richard Butcher, Myles Weston; Lawrie Dudfield, Jason Lee.

Hereford - (4-4-2) Wayne Brown; Trent McClenahan, Dean Beckwith, Lee Collins, Kris Taylor; Simon Johnson, Toumani Diagouraga, Ben Smith, Sam Gwynne; Theo Robinson, Trevor Benjamin.

Prediction

I fear for Notts. This could be a New Year hammering. 3-0 to the Bulls.