Magpies V Stags, a look back.

Last updated : 08 March 2007 By Richard Brown

As an in-form Mansfield side prepare to make the short trip to the 'Lane, Notts fans can take some comfort from the fact the Stags have landed just two competitive victories at Meadow Lane in almost fifty years.

That fact, however, will count for nothing come Saturday, as the general consensus amongst Notts fans is an entirely negative one.

Whilst Notts have won just one of their last six, the Stags - under former Magpies boss, Billy Dearden - have claimed three straight victories to turn their season around on its head.

Dearden... Three straight victories
And, after a mid-week victory over Chester, Saturday's game has been given extra spice by the fact Mansfield are now above Notts on the League Two ladder.

Despite receiving heavy criticism during his troublesome spell at Meadow Lane, the Stags' remarkable turn in fortunes has been thanks, in no small part, to Dearden, after the former Notts chief returned for a second-spell at Field Mill.

Since his reappointment, the Stags have been a side reborn.

With a few inspired signings in Lincoln's Martin Gritton and ex-Notts target, Barry Conlon, Dearden seems to have his side fired-up, making one thing now a sure bet for Saturday: That Dearden's men will make the 15-mile trip down the A60 baying for blood, as both prepare to do battle for the much-coveted title of Nottingham's second club.

In the meantime, though, NCM bring you a 'bit of previous' from recent years.

Mansfield 2-2 Notts

Saturday 7 October, 2006

A Reet good performance

In recent seasons, away days at Field Mill have produced perhaps the most nail-bitingly brilliant encounters of County's season, and October's clash certainly did not disappoint.

In a game that saw seven yellow cards, one red, four goals and an, ahem, starring role for Premiership referee, Mike Riley, the Magpies snatched a point from the jaws of defeat with a late Lawrie Dudfield equaliser four minutes from time.

A scrappy Mike Edwards goal with 19 minutes left on the clock roused a fine comeback from Steve Thompson's men, after Mansfield had gone ahead through a Danny Reet brace.



Notts 2-2 Mansfield

Saturday 4 March, 2006

In a highly-charged encounter, the burly figure of Chris Palmer produced the pick of the goals in a topsy-turvy game at Meadow Lane.

Palmer... Hit a cracker
The now Wycombe man produced a fine, curling effort to loop beyond the ailing Kevin Pressman to open the scoring.

The Stags, however, would equalise the other side of half-time with Lawrence Wilson bagging his first for the club, before the now departed Richie Barker added a second against a Notts side widely thought of as the club's worst in recent years.

It was the task of loan striker, Daniel Chillingworth then to snatch a late point for the Magpies with a smash 'n' grab goal.

In the dying moments, the game was there for the taking, as Mansfield's Giles Coke rounded former Stags 'keeper Kevin Pilkington, only to strike the post.


Mansfield 2-3 Notts

Monday 29 August, 2005

After a flying start to August, the Magpies were so very nearly brought crashing down at Field Mill as Gudjon Thordarson's newly-adopted Notts side were perhaps guilty of slacking on derby day.

Hurst... Great finisher, at least on this day

The early exchanges saw Mansfield go ahead through Richie Barker in just the 15th minute, only for Notts' own sharp-shooter, Glynn Hurst to drag the Magpies level in perhaps one of the most memorable Notts games since the infamous Great Escape match in 2002.

Despite Notts registering twice as many shots on goals as their hosts, County's early promotion-pitch would be shaken to its very core as Gareth Jellymen was unmarked to head home thanks to some characteristically sloppy Notts defending.

A late double-salvo from Thordarson's men, though, stole the points for Notts, as Mike Edwards and, then, Glynn Hurst slipped in to secure County's place at the top of League Two at the end of the month.