Notts v Peterborough... BIG match preview

Last updated : 04 December 2007 By Paul Smith
Nobody saw it coming. Did they? In NCM's preview for the FA Cup second round clash with non-league Havant and Waterlooville we predictied a 5-0 win, so confident that Notts would get the job done.

Now we are fearing a 5-0 reverse of our own as big-spending, free-scoring Peterborough roll into Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane hosts second of three games in seven days


The Posh are in their best form of the season, and ominously have netted 12 goals without reply in their last two games. Notts on the other hand are under intense pressure.

Pessimism it isn't, realism it is as Magpies fans turn on Charlie McParland's under-performing and apparently under-achieving "stars."

NCM cross their fingers and pray - Notts haven't beaten Peterborough in nine games since a 1-0 win at London Road in 2002.

Weston... Notts' big doubt
Team news


Notts - Under-fire Jay Smith is now out until the New Year with a re-occurent groin injury. Mike Edwards is also out until January while Micheal Byron continues his loan spell at Hinckley. Jason Lee has proved his fitness following a substitute appearance against Havant but Myles Weston is a big doubt. McParland is expected to ring the changes after Saturday's calamitous display, with Andy Parkinson back in contention. Krystian Pearce is set for a recall, while fellow loanee Craig Lindfield is back at Liverpool.

Peterborough - Micah Hyde and George Boyd will start despite being substituted early on in United's cup win over Staines Town. With competition for places so strong at London Road changes could happen with recently acquired loanee Jeff Hughes pushing for a start but in this form Darren Ferguson is likely to remain unchanged. The game comes too soon for Shane Blackett and Keiran Charnock.

Form guide

Notts - The Magpies are at their lowest ebb for some time following Saturday's horrific cup shock which was also their third defeat on the bounce. The reality is that in 21 games in all competitions, only five have brought wins. At Meadow Lane the form is as shoddy as ever this season, with four wins, two draws and five defeats in all competitions. Only four clean sheets all season too. Notts are currently 19th in League Two with eighteen points - ten points from the playoffs and six from the relegation zone.

Peterborough - In their best form of the season, the pre-season title favourites are ominously living up to their billing. The big spenders have lost just once in nine games, winning nine of them. November saw them net
Tann... Wants to see players become men
sixteen times in five games. They are up to fifth in the table, two points from an automatic promotion place, and four off the top. On their travels the Posh have won five, lost four and drew two in all competitions.

The view

Notts - Skipper Adam Tann has made fans stand up and take notw of hisforthright views following Saturday's Havant debacle. He said: "This isn't about Peterborough against us, it's about us turning into men. We should be doing it from day one, and if we don't start doing it soon people are going to start losing their jobs - and I don't mean the management, I mean the players. January time things will be happening if we don't sort things out."

Peterborough - Red hot striker Craig Mackail-Smith on his form and prolific partnership with Aaron McLean: "I'm catching Aaron up in total goals and he knows it, but we're enjoying playing together and the partnership is just going from strength to strength. I was lucky enough to be on hand to finish the goals in this game (Staines) and it's good that we are creating goals for each other. I should have scored five because I missed an open goal in the second half."

Key men

Pilkington... Needs clean sheet
Notts - Can only be goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington. Some have suggested that rookie understudy Tim Sandercombe should be given a run out but this is unlikely and perhaps unwise given United's incredible scoring run. If Pilkington could somehow keep them out, and there is little doubt he will be considerably busy, then Notts may
Lee... Holds it all together
sneak something. Notts need a huge performance, and morale boosting win, and will perhaps only get that with a clean sheet. Pilkington's best will only do.

Peterborough - So many to choose from, but NCM see further than the obvious. Despite Mackail-Smith and McLean banging in stacks of goals, and Boyd creating havoc with every touch, it is the more defensive minded Charlie Lee who could be key to their hopes at Meadow Lane. Notts are likely to play on the counter-attack and former Spurs youth Lee, the holding Posh midfielder, will need to be wary of his attack minded team-mates leaving him stranded. Lee is in great form and breaks up attacks with ease. Doing that again will leave Notts frutrated and give Posh the platform for another win.

Big battle

Adam Tann versus Aaron McLean


Tann came out of the Havant match as one of very few with any credit whatsoever, mainly because of his post-match comments that hitt he nail on the head as far as fans are concerned. Now he needs to help his side and back up his spirited words with a spirited performance. He won't have many harder tests than McLean, a similar type of player to Emile Heskey. Full of commitment, pace and power, McLean frightens all comers. He also scores plenty, perhaps unlike Heskey. Tann will need to battle hard, grapple, fight and commit to everything to stand a chance. Keeping McLean quiet won't be enough alone, but it will help a lot, and perhaps inspire is Magpies teammates - as a captain should do.

Somner... dropped?
Possible line-ups


Notts (4-4-2): Kevin Pilkington; Adam Tann, Krystian Pearce, Stephen Hunt, Paul Mayo; Richard Butcher, Neil MacKenzie, Gary Silk, Myles Weston; Jason Lee, Spencer Weir-Daley

Peterborough (4-4-2): Mark Tyler; Claude Gnapka, Craig Morgan, Chris Westwood, Jamie Day; George Boyd, Charlie Lee, Micah Hyde, Chris Whelpdale; Aaron McLean, Craig Mackail-Smith

Prediction

NCM's recent predictions have been topsy-turvy. A 2-1 loss at Lincoln City proved a good prediction but the educated 5-0 guess of success over Havant went terribly wrong. This will be a defeat, and the question could be how many should Posh get ahead early. But Notts might fight a bit harder than that. 2-1 Posh, Weir-Daley for Notts.