15 matches into their return to League Two Notts County were second and looked one of the favourites for automatic promotion. Since then, it’s all gone wrong. What has happed to the Magpies?
Notts County fell to their third straight defeat on Tuesday, losing 4-3 to bottom of the table Sutton United, a result that epitomises their downturn in form and defensive troubles. It drops them to 14th in League Two and they are now a seismic 14 points off the top three. Here at The Real EFL, we predicted them to finish fourth, just missing out on the top three so it fair to say their current position is a shock.
When Notts County met Wrexham on October 28th, it seemed a big early crunch match between sides who had been two of the best non-league teams of all time in 2022/23. Wrexham edged out County in the National League title race last season, so it felt like a chance for them to get revenge, but a 2-0 defeat at Meadow Lane left them with a bitter feeling and one of a missed opportunity.
Despite that setback, almost nobody would have predicted what has followed. Since that game The Magpies have won just five times in the league, conceding 34 times and slipping down the League Two table. Their demise was perhaps emphasised when highly regarded manager Luke Williams was poached by Swansea City on January 5th. The 43-year-old was a real fan favourite in Nottingham, having been the man who returned them to the Football League, and so losing their boss at the turn of the year felt like another turning point in a topsy-turvy season.
That's how it ends. pic.twitter.com/iaqt6DMLcC
— Notts County FC (@Official_NCFC) February 27, 2024
Stuart Maynard was the man tasked with replacing Williams, another highly rated boss from the lower divisions following success with Wealdstone, taking them to their best league finish in 35 years. The 43-year-old signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Meadow Lane, but has won just once in his eight games in charge and is already facing questions from the Notts County faithful.
The team have conceded 66 goals so far this campaign, only the team that beat them this week Sutton United have conceded more. The Magpies are simply struggling to keep the ball out their own net and it’s costing them crucial points in what is now a play-off dog fight. Maynard may have been hoping a change of goalkeeper might help their fortunes following Luca Ashby-Hammond’s January arrival on loan from Premier League Fulham, but the 22-year-old has conceded nine in four thus far.
Of course, a goalkeeper is only the last resort behind a defence that has struggled all season, and the team have struggled to find a settled backline, using 11 different defenders throughout the campaign. As a result, they have been unable to build any real relationships or patterns on the pitch that allow a top defence to function. They have regularly switched from a back five to a back four at points throughout the season, meaning a system has never become fully ingrained in the player’s minds.
Despite this, it is not all bad for Notts County as they have League Two’s top goal scorer Macaulay Langstaff at their disposal. The 27-year–old has 23 goals so far this season could well go on to lift the golden boot come May. However, he would undoubtedly rather lift a play-offs winner’s trophy under the Wembley arch than a golden boot. With a striker of his quality in their ranks, they stand a chance in any game, but they have just repeatedly let him down at the other end.
Jodi Jones has been another of their standout performers this season notching an incredible 21 assists, already surpassing the previous League Two record of 17. He has been the man that has provided Langstaff with the opportunity to continuously put the ball in the back of the net. The Malta international will certainly be at the centre of things if County are to turn it around in the final 12 games of the season.
With just those 12 matches remaining, time is running out for the Magpies to find a resurgence and put themselves back in the play-off positions. Although they are certainly helped by how close the League Two table currently is, as just seven points separate sixth placed Barrow and 16th placed Bradford City. It is one of the hardest divisions in the world to call at the moment and in true EFL style, anyone can truly beat anyone.
Stuart Maynard takes his side to Valley Parade this weekend to ace a Bradford side that are also underperforming and on their second manager of the season. It’s a match that could signal a moment of significance. A big away win at this point of the season could propel them back up to the top half and beyond, but defeat would condemn them to a fourth straight loss for the second time this season.
League One football might seem a long way off at the moment for the side from Nottingham but with the quality they have in attacking areas, they could turn it on and go on a promotion worthy run at any moment. Whatever happens in the final quarter of the League Two season for Notts County, they have unquestionably entertained us upon their return to the EFL with goals at both ends. They will just hope it can lead them to the top seven and not the mid-table mediocracy they are currently heading for.
