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Match Preview: Grimsby v Notts County

By: Kevin Dolan
Date: 19/10/2006

GRIMSBY Town welcome Notts County to Blundell Park this Saturday and, with tough looking upcoming fixtures, face pressure to climb away from the relegation places.

Home > 2006-2007 Season > Previews > Notts Co (h)


The Opposition

Overview
Notts County were relegated along with Town in 2003/04, but have had a dismal two seasons since, finishing 19th and 21st. Gudjon Thordarson was appointed manager at the start of last season and they started strongly, becoming the early pacesetters ahead of Town, before slipping back into mid-table. A good run in the new year saw them level on points with the play offs in late January; but a horrendous run of one win in the last 16 games, meant County were fighting to stay in the League on the last day of the season and ended up relying on the fate of others to secure safety.

After finishing in their lowest ever position, Thordarson predictably left the club by mutual consent. Ex-Lincoln and Cambridge manager Steve Thompson was surprisingly then appointed as manager, a move that was initially unpopular with the supporters as Thompson had been assistant manager when County had been relegated to Division 3 in 1996/97. With few contracted players, Thompson made a big overhaul of the squad and signed a large number in the summer, which seems to have paid dividends as County have made a much better than anticipated start whilst also progressing to the third round of the Carling Cup.

Their Squad
The Magpies currently lie in 6th place, four points from the automatic promotion spots and nine points ahead of Town. They had their first home defeat of the season last Saturday to Bristol Rovers and were also beaten at home by Barnet in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday. Despite these two setbacks, their away form has been very strong with only one defeat from their seven away games, which was at MK Dons when they had two men sent off, and have also recorded impressive victories at both Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup.

Town are likely to face four ex-Mariners on Saturday in the shape of Andy Parkinson (top), Junior Mendes (left), Jason Lee and Mike Edwards. Parkinson and Mendes both left Blundell Park for Meadow Lane in the summer and have established themselves in the first team; Parkinson has started every league game and scored once, whilst Mendes has started 10 matches and claimed three goals so far. Well-travelled striker Lee was Thompson’s first signing of the summer and has been appointed as club captain, scoring twice so far this season. In goal is ex-Man Utd ‘keeper Kevin Pilkington who joined County in the summer of 2005 after five seasons at Mansfield.

Key Player
Ex-Mariner Mike Edwards (left) has established himself as an integral part of the County defence, signing a new two-year contract in the summer. Now in his third season with the Magpies, Edwards has started every league game this season and started every league game but one last season. Occasionally used in midfield, he scored seven times last season (County’s 2nd highest scorer) and has made a similar start to his season with three so far.

Recent Form

TownNotts Co
WLincoln(a)0-0 (5-3p) (JPT)
LSwindon(a)0-3
WHereford(a)2-1
DDarlington(a)2-2
LHartlepool(h)1-4
Currently 20th in League Two.
LBarnet(h)0-1 (JPT)
LBristol R(h)1-2
DMansfield(a)2-2
WTorquay(a)1-0
WStockport(h)1-0
Currently 6th in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownNotts Co
Peter Bore4
Gary Jones3
Martin4
Dudfield3
Edwards3
Mendes3
White3

Team News

TownNotts Co

  • After some encouraging individual performances in midweek, Graham Rodger has to decide whether to revert to the side that lost heavily at Swindon.

    Definitely out is Ricky Ravenhill who, after only eight games for the club, picked up his fifth booking of the season at Swindon and now serves a one-match ban; Danny Boshell should deputise.

  • County have an almost fully fit squad to choose from and rested several first team players in midweek. Their only injury problem is midfielder Tom Curtis, who recently broke a metatarsal in his foot.
  • Probable Teams

    TownNotts Co
    1Phil Barnes
    2John McDermott
    5Nick Fenton
    6Justin Whittle
    20Gary Croft
    18Peter Bore
    16Danny Boshell
    8Paul Bolland
    10Ciaran Toner
    27Tony Thorpe
    19Gary Jones
    1Kevin Pilkington
    22Dan Gleeson
    5Alan White
    4Mike Edwards
    3Austin McCann
    6Matt Somner
    2David Pipe
    24Ian Ross
    11Andy Parkinson
    9Jason Lee
    20Junior Mendes

    Subs

    TownNotts Co
    13Robert Murray
    3Tom Newey
    17Andy Butler
    23Nick Hegarty
    11Peter Beagrie
    23Saul Deeney
    12Gary Silk
    18Stephen Hunt
    15Tcham N'Toya
    10Lawrie Dudfield

    Head to Head

    The Mariners have a good record against The Magpies, especially at Blundell Park where they haven’t lost to the visitors since 1950, and have won this fixture in each of the last three seasons.

    P 70 W 31 D 16 L 23 F 101 A 100

    Notts Co Head-to-Head (23rd on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    The last time The Magpies visited Blundell Park was little over a year ago when Town produced one of their best performances of the season to record a 4-0 victory and remain top of League Two. The match included Martin Gritton’s last and Gary Cohen’s first goal for the club.

    Grimsby4 - 0Notts Co
    R Jones 28
    Gritton 45
    Kalala 46
    Cohen 81
      

    Grimsby Team: Mildenhall, McDermott, Whittle, R Jones, Croft, Francis, Kalala, Bolland (Toner, 54), Parkinson (Newey, 79), Reddy (Cohen, 71), Gritton
    Subs (not used): Ramsden, Barwick

    Notts Co Team: Pilkington, O'Callaghan, Edwards, Wilson, Ullathorne (Martin, 62), Pipe (Long, 54), Gill, McMahon (sent off 48), Sheridan, Berry, McGoldrick
    Subs: (not used) Gavin Gordon, Palmer, Marshall

    Attendance: 5,577  Report

    Prediction

    Town 2-1 Notts County

    Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Blundell Park (left).

    Admission Prices

    Click on the link for ticket prices to Blundell Park.

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