Notts v Darlington... BIG match preview

Last updated : 12 February 2008 By Paul Smith
How hard are Notts to beat at the minute? On the other hand how easy is it to prevent Notts winning at the minute?

The Magpies, with four draws on the spin, have showed a new found
Meadow Lane... A Tuesday Notts win for a change?
resilience that will be vital against a Darlington side with an impeccable defensive record.

But will that make it even more difficult for Notts to win considering goals are so infrequent this season - particularly from those who really matter - the strikers?

The visiting Quakers have kept a staggering 19 clean sheets this term - cause for grave concern for Notts - particularly as a certain Alan White is a mainstay in their backline.

Abbott... Out
Whatever happens, it really is a must win game for Notts with those around them at the bottom starting to hit winning form leaving Notts dropping down the table despite having their longest unbeaten run so far this season!

Team news

Notts
- Jason Lee could start after fully recovering from his achilles injury that left him benched against the Quakers. Neil MacKenzie is still out however. Other than that Ian McParland has no fresh injury concerns.

Darlington - Dave Penney's squad is somewhat injury ravaged at the moment and so losing Notts loanee Paul Mayo due to his loan expiring before the game is a big blow. He is already without injury victims Martin Smith, Pawel Abbott, Kevin Gall, Tim Ryan, Clark Keltie and Andy Oakes, but Tommy Smith should pull through.

Form guide

Notts
- Five unbeaten represents an upturn in form for Notts, but that it is now four without win shows the problems McParland still has. The mini run has actually saw Notts slip to 20th in League Two, and Notts haven't won a midweek game in 13 attempts. At home, Notts have won five, drew three and lost seven.

Darlington - The second placed Quakers picked up a precious, and undeserved, 1-0 win over Barnet on Saturday to make it five wins in seven. In all five of those wins Dave Penney's men have kept clean sheets. Away from home they have won eight, drew two and lost four.

Last time out

Darlington 2-2 Notts County (Saturday August 25, 2007)

Notts chalked up a third successive league draw at the start of the season thanks to a superb brace from Richard Butcher.
Butcher... Brace in return


The summer recruit from big spending Peterborough United popped up with two equalisers after the Quakers twice took the lead through Tommy Wright and Ian Miller.

The draw was the fair outcome with the hosts in control in the first period, and Notts the second - playing some lovely football and creating numerous chances.

Wright opened the scoring after a long ball upfield was laid into his path by Abbott who'd had a goal disallowed, and Wright finished well just five minutes before the break.

But the intorduction from the bench of Andy Parkinson changed the game in Notts' favour with the winger excelling and providing a superb cross for Butcher to turn in an equaliser on 72.

Only a fine save prevented Notts taking the lead before Miller popped up with a header with four minutes left - only for Butcher to steal in late on and give Notts a deserved point.

Key men

Notts - With no strikers again scoring at the weekend, attention will turn to Butcher himself for him to come up with the goods again.

Stockdale... Clean sheets record
The midfielder already has ten for the season, and remains Notts' biggest threat going forward.

Having netted a brace in the return fixture, Butcher will be confident of adding to his tally.

Darlington - David Stockdale has had a superb season and was in breathtaking form at the weekend.

The keeper saved a penalty and kept Barnet out of reach superbly with some stunning saves and another clean sheet.

Notts fans must be fearful of another blank from the strikers - particularly with Stockdale in goal.

Big battle

There is plenty of history between Notts custodian Kevin Pilkington and Darlington striker Wright and should the latter play they will resume old rivalries.


They could have been team mates had Steve Thompson got his way when Wright was available at this stage last season, before he opted for Walsall.

And it was at the Bescot where the 13 goal forntman caused controversy by twice ploughing into Pilkington unnessecarily but somehow getting away withour a deserved red card.

Needless to say he went on to score as the Saddlers won 2-1, and he also scored at the 96.6 TFM Arena against Notts this term. Stay tuned for part three.

Possible line-ups

Notts
- (4-4-2): Kevin Pilkington; Lee Canoville, Adam Tann, Mike Edwards, Stephen Hunt; Ali Gibb, Gavin Strachan, Jay Smith, Richard Butcher; Ryan Jarvis, Jason Lee.

Darlington - (4-4-2): David Stockdale; Neil Austin, Stephen Foster, Alan White, Ryan Valentine; Julian Joachim, Micheal Cummins, Robert Purdie, Ricky Ravenhill; Tommy Wright, Gregg Blundell.

Prediction

Another draw - perhaps 0-0 or 1-1.