Peterborough v Notts... HOPEFUL match preview

Last updated : 14 March 2008 By Paul Smith
Nobody will expect Notts to leave London Road with anything. As NCM's prediction panel illustrated, nobody carries any hope that a vital three points, or even a point, will be eamed against a side looking simply awesome at the moment.
London Road... Not a happy hunting ground for Notts


They are the Manchester United of League Two, particularly with the way they have splashed the cash.

The similarities don't end there as Posh also have a Fergsuon in charge in Sir Alex's son Darren, while they have a three pronged attack in Aaron McLean, Craig MacKail-Smith and George Boyd who have been as important to Darren as Tevez, Rooney and Ronaldo have to Sir Alex.

They both also have the best goalscoring records in the division while hardly conceding all season thanks to a hugely important central defensive partnership.

Strachan... Fit to face former club
But Notts must remember it is Peterborough they are playing, not the Old Trafford giants. Battle, and you never know.

Team news

Notts - Gavin Strachan and Myles Weston could make surprise returns to the squad but Danny Crow won't play against his parent club owing to a gentleman's agreement.

Posh - Set to be unchanged.

Form guide

Notts
- Just two wins in 17 now for the Magpies, and both against out of sorts Chester City. During that same spell there have been eight draws and seven defeats, a spell that sees Notts in 21st position in League Two, just five points above the drop zone. No wins in four now, although the Magpies are unbeaten in five on their travels.

Posh - Simply awesome, the Posh have stormed ahead of MK Dons in the race for the title with a run of eleven games unbeaten in the league, of which an incredible ten were won. They have won eight on the bounce meaning things look bleak for County. The saving grace may be that the last side to get anything against United were bottom side Wrexham who managed a point eight games ago.

Last time out

Notts County 0-1 Peterborough United, Tuesday December 4, 2007

A 52nd minute MacKail-Smith strike was enough for Ferguson's men to take a three points they just deserved against a hard working Notts side.
Lee... Missed golden chance to break season's duck


A fair Notts reaction to the shock FA Cup exit to giantkillers Havant and Waterloovile in the second round just three days earlier, but they still found promotion hunting Posh far too hot to handle and went down to MacKail-Smith's perfect volley.

Ian McParland rang the changes and saw a close battle in which chances were few and far between until the end of the opening half.

Then McLean produced a strong contender for miss of the season as he spooned Jamie Day's centre over the bar from just six yards out, despite having nobody round him and the goal gaping.

Notts heeded the warning and former Posh striker Jason Lee was beautifully released through the middle one-on-one by Richard Butcher, but Lee found Mark Tyler too good and missed a fantastic opportunity.

County were made to pay not long into the second half as a Butcher foul gave Posh a free-kick which Claude Gnapka took and MacKail-Smith volleyed past the unmoved Kevin Pilkington who could do nothing.

Posh then killed the game and for all Notts' huff and puff it was a deserved win for the visitors who looked classy on the ball.

Key men

Notts
- It really could be a simple case of how long Notts can keep their opponents at bay, for which experienced stopper Russell Hoult will have to be at his impeccable best.

Only a superlative display from the former West Brom and Derby Premier League ace will give the Magpies any chance in what the bookies are likely to label as a dead cert.

That makes Hoult, no matter his current form, the most important Notts player on show. He must be at his best, and that may be good enough to at least keep a respectable scoreline.

If he plays even better than his best, then Notts could nick a valuable but unlikely point.

Posh - Aaron McLean is probably the pick of the bunch of exciting attackers owing to the fact he has 29 goals so far this term and looks a favourite to
become the first United player to hit 30 in a season since 1972.

He will be eager to get that marker out of the way and his form suggests he is likely to do that.

The former Grays man is a dynamic forward who works hard and causes problems with his pace, aggression and natural finishing ability.

A player who will no doubt play at a much higher level, McLean needs to have an off-day for Notts to stand any chance. No chances must be given to him.

Big battle

McLean's partner in crime up the top is MacKail-Smith who is the perfect foil for League Two's top scorer, owing to his creative talents and deeper role.

That the former Dagenham ace has also notched 18 times this term illustrates that he is more than just McLean's foil. Therefore he too must be kept quiet.

It really is going to take something of a mammoth effort from the Notts backline, and the best defender at the club will no doubt find himself up against MacKail-Smith, and so he must perform to his best.

That is Michael Johnson who hasn't let anybody down on his three
appearances back at the club so far.

Johnson will match MacKail-Smith for speed of thought and on the ball, and must use his experience to see out the youngster.

If he wins that personal duel, then it might make it just a little bit more of a comfortable afternoon for the Magpies.

Possible line-ups

Notts (4-4-2)
- Russell Hoult; Adam Tann, Mike Edwards, Michael Johnson, Paul Mayo; Andy Parkinson, Richard Butcher, Gary Silk, Jay Smith; Ryan Jarvis, Jason Lee.

Posh (4-4-2) - Joe Lewis; Claude Gnapka, Ashley Westwood, Craig Morgan, Jamie Day; Joshua Lowe, Micah Hyde, Dean Ketes, George Boyd; Aaron McLean, Craig MacKail-Smith.

Prediction

Anybody who predicts anything other than a defeat is surely kidding themselves. As I said on the prediction panel, I think Notts' defence can hold up better than most, but we won't score. 2-0 Posh.