The Notts survival wagon continued to roll along on its road to Division two safety today, and now looks to have all but
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Notts now find themselves 13th in the table (or equal 12th as I would prefer to look at it!) and 10 points off the drop zone. This would mean that bar a minor miracle Notts will, if their future is secured, be playing (touch wood) in the second division next season.
The starting eleven was identical to that which started last weekend against Huddersfield Town, with Danny Allsopp making his return to the squad on the bench.
It was an exciting game in which Notts seemed to dominate most of the play. Saul Deeney in the Notts goal was never seriously tested but did make an excellent save, tipping the ball over from underneath the crossbar after Fenton had sliced a clearance, with the score standing at 1-0 to the visitors.
The game started very slowly with neither side having many
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Mark Stallard had to come off after just 20 minutes due to an injury. Danny Allsopp replaced Notts’ top scorer up front. For the remainder of the half Notts missed Stallard’s presence in attack and the little flicks and layoffs that he had done before picking up the injury.
Blackpool took the lead 15 minutes later when Paul Robinson picked up a good ball from Martin Bullock after a long throw out from the Tangerine’s keeper. Before I had chance to say "this is a goal" the Blackpool number 21 had slotted the ball past the advancing Saul Deeney.
Although Notts were playing reasonably well, you had a feeling that after losing Stallard, they would face an up hill struggle to equalise and get something out of the game.
Deeney then made the tip over from Fenton before the Notts fullback had a chance to level scores at the other end but instead his header was diverted wide of the goal.
HALF TIME: 0-1
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Anyhow, Notts were on course for another second half comeback at Meadow Lane and could have scored many more had it not been for wayward shots and Phil Barnes, the Tangerine's keeper.
Danny Allsopp had a shot that went wide of the post before Paul Heffernan could and should have had a second goal. Kevin Nicholson sent in a low ball that ran across the face of the goal as Heffernan failed to get a touch on it. It looked like he only needed to stick his foot out and it would have been a definite goal, but that chance went begging.
Bolland had a free kick parried wide of the post and from the consequent corner Notts found themselves in a deserved lead as Craig Ireland headed the ball in from the back post for his first goal this season.
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With 8 minutes left to play, Nick Fenton, another defender, secured all 3 points for Notts with a low shot into the net after several players had failed to find it in a goalmouth scramble.
Paul Bolland and Danny Allsopp were brought off to be replaced by Willis Francis and Tony Hackworth respectively.
FULL TIME: 3-1
The whistle couldn't come a moment to soon for the Blackpool Boss. McMahon had just about caused himself a heart attack by the end of the match as he bellowed more than a few, I'm sure, choice words on to the pitch. The players obviously didn't take a blind bit of notice as by the end of it Steve McMahon's face was about as red as the shirt from a certain team across the river.
Anyway, another home win for the Magpies and another set of three points which makes it 6 wins and 2 draws out of the last 10. Also, and perhaps most significantly, Notts have lost only one of their last 11 home games; a run that started back on the 14th December when Notts beat QPR 3-0.
Lets hope it keeps going!