Notts Co - Chesterfield (Derby!!!)

Notts Co - Chesterfield

@Meadow Lane, Nottingham

NOTTS: Schmeichel, Thompson, Edwards, Lee, Clapham, Hunt, Westcarr, Ravenhill, Bishop, Davies, Hughes, Rodgers, Hoult, Hamshaw, Facey, Akinbiyi, Canham, Fairclough, Hollis, Troke, Fox.


CHESTERFIELD: Lee, Gray, Breckin, Page, Goodall, Whaley, Niven, Allott, Rundle, Conlon, Small, Talbot, Boden, Madine, Austin, Crossley, Whing, Boshell, Clay.

TEAM NEWS
Notts County: Stephen Hunt could return to action tonight after making good progress with his hamstring injury, though Karl Hawley looks set to miss out. Apart from that, the Magpies have a clean bill of health ahead of the local derby.

Chesterfield: Striker Jack Lester and centre-back Aaron Downes will both be absent with knee injuries. Drew Talbot, however, could be available after returning from illness.

FORM
Notts County: The Magpies have picked up three consecutive wins under new boss Steve Cotterill, scoring nine and conceding none. A win could see them climb into the top three, leapfrogging tonight's opponents.

Chesterfield: Manager of the Month John Sheridan's side are the form team in the division, having won seven of their last eight matches. They currently reside in third position and could climb above Bournemouth into second with a win at Meadow Lane.

KEY MEN
Notts County: Lee Hughes returned from suspension with a bang at the weekend and will be a vital figure in claiming three points. It looks set to be a tight game and a single goal could prove to be the difference.

Chesterfield: A tricky, goal scoring wide-man, Simon Whaley joined Chesterfield on loan from Norwich in January. The Notts defence will have to keep a close eye on him if they are to record a fourth consecutive clean sheet.

Lee Hughes v Ian Breckin: The Magpies' leading scorer Lee Hughes made a scoring return to action after a three-game ban, in the 3-0 win at Accrington. He will face former Forest centre-back Ian Breckin, who joined Chesterfield in the summer after being released by the Reds.

PRE-MATCH COMMENTS
Steve Cotterill: "Tonight's game is a big one but equally that term applies to every game we have faced so far and every game we will face between now and the end of the season.

"We haven't not had a big game in the time that I have been at Notts County and while the two home games, against Hereford United and Macclesfield Town, were against teams lower than us in the table, they were important ones we needed to win because if we hadn't we would have been adrift of the teams around us in the table.

"Three wins out of three is a good start but it is only a start - there are a lot of games left to play this season."

Tommy Wright (assistant manager): "They have some quality players and have spent a lot of money whether they actually have the money they have spent is a different matter.

"But like I can say they have quality players, they have a great goalkeeper that can easily play at a higher level and they have a good goal scorer in Lee Hughes."

COME ON YOU PIES!

GET IN! SUPER BEN!!!

Notts County vs Chesterfield 1 - 0

Date: 09/03/2010
Venue: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 7,341
Referee: Keith Stroud

A single goal proved to be enough for Notts County to take all three points in a vital six-pointer at the top of League Two.

The result made it four wins and clean sheets on the bounce for Steve Cotterill's team. They now sit in fourth place in the standings, one point behind third placed Bury with three games in hand.

Ben Davies' stunning first half volley was the only strike in a hard-fought 90 minutes between two impressive outfits. It was the midfielder's 11th goal of the season and his second in as many games.

Before the players even descended onto the field of play, the importance of the match could be sensed all around. Both the away segregation and the Kop Stand were in fine voice for this local derby.

Enthusiasm in the stands appeared to filter onto the pitch from the first whistle in an exciting, end-to-end opening. Craig Westcarr, skipping past Alan Goodall on the right wing with great acceleration, provided a low centre that flicked off the heels of a rapidly encroaching Davies and away from danger.

A quick break towards the other end could have resulted in a goal for the visitors after this early scare. However, Davies had shown great determination to track back and flicked away a dangerous looking cross that was destined for the head of Simon Whaley.

The encounter continued at an exciting pace, both sides chasing down relentlessly and showing no signs of tiredness that would be expected from the recent fixture pileup. And it was Hughes' commitment in chasing down an awkward back pass that helped to break the deadlock.

Spireites goalkeeper Tommy Lee failed to clear and his defence was unable to rid the threat, allowing Neal Bishop to head inside. Controlling smartly just outside the area, Davies then rifled a stunning half volley into the bottom corner, sending the home ends into a rapturous frenzy.

Hughes almost found himself with an opportunity to add a second within two minutes following some dogged hassling inside the Chesterfield box by Westcarr. By scooping the ball forward with an outstretched leg, he paved the way for Luke Rodgers to fire across goal, where Hughes was waiting unmarked, but Allott hacked clear with desperation.

Westcarr almost grabbed one himself, too, meeting a bobbling ball 15 yards out. Utilising some smart footwork, without fully controlling, he managed to open up his body and fire narrowly over with his left boot.

The next 45 minutes looked set to be arguably County's biggest of the campaign and they almost got off to a flying start. Westcarr threaded in John Thompson, who cut inside from the right and hit a thunderous strike against the post.

Kasper Schmeichel had to remain alert, as well, and was nearly caught out by the tricky wide-man Whaley. Notts' number 23 had to quickly adjust his movement as Whaley's surprising volley headed towards his left side but he reacted quickly to grip the ball, low to his left.

The Magpies were definitely frustrating Chesterfield with another organised showing at the back. John Sheridan, the visiting boss, appeared to be feeling the effects and was sent to the stands for remarks made from the touchline.

As Notts started to get back on top again, Rodgers found himself with two fantastic chances to increase the deficit. His first bent disconcertingly and Lee did well to clutch the ball out of the air with both hands.

Moments after, Westcarr spotted Rodgers' inward run into the area and found him with an incisive through pass. Drifting past two defenders, the lively forward unleashed a stinging, left-footed drive that breezed just over the bar.

Within moments of being brought on, Delroy Facey crafted the next Magpies opening for Westcarr, with a neat pass into a clever, peeling run. He then shot across goal, where Davies forced a near post block from the watchful Lee.

From the resulting corner, Davies tested him again, almost catching him off guard. A fierce in-swinging centre led to the stopper fisting away as he frantically retreated backwards over his goal line.

It was undoubtedly a nervy ending to an entertaining encounter between the two promotion chasers. By holding the ball in the corner, Notts ran down the clock, leaving them in a great position heading into another crucial fixture against second placed Bournemouth.

Attendance: 7,341 (1,519 Chesterfield supporters)

Match report: Notts 1 Chesterfield 0

NOTTS County are on the march, aptly given the time of year.

With two wins in four days against Accrington and even more satisfyingly now against Chesterfield at Meadow Lane, they have climbed three places to fourth in League Two.

Ben Davies scored his 11th goal of the season to seal a hugely significant, and thoroughly deserved, victory against the Spireites.

Amazingly, it is their first win against a top-seven team this season so it will give Notts a massive psychological boost ahead of playing the likes of Bournemouth next Monday night, leaders Rochdale, Bury and Rotherham, all at Meadow Lane before the end of April.

With his recovery from a hamstring injury helped by using an oxygen chamber, Stephen Hunt returned at left-back for Notts after missing the 3-0 win at Accrington.


He replaced Jamie Clapham, who scored his first goal of the season in the Magpies' previous home game, a 1-0 win against Macclesfield.

It was the only change made by Steve Cotterill, from Accrington.

Notts were intent on building on a perfect start to Cotterill's reign against Chesterfield, having won his first three games in charge, by scoring nine goals, and conceding none.

After the victories against Hereford United, Macclesfield and Accrington, the Spireites posed a far greater challenge to the Magpies' promotion credentials.

Not only were the visitors occupying third place in the League Two table before the game, three points above Notts, who were in fifth, they arrived at Meadow Lane as the in-form away side in the basement division, with five wins in their last five away games.

The Magpies began brightly, with Craig Westcarr in threatening form.

Kasper Schmeichel, who was awarded a PFA Fans' Player of the Month trophy on the touchline before kick-off, was almost a complete spectator as his outfield team-mates put the Spireites under permanent pressure in the opening stages.

Notts were thoroughly on top, and Hughes almost put Rodgers through on goal on 13 minutes but one of the visitors' centre-backs, Robert Page, was alert to the threat and intercepted Hughes' attempted pass with an outstretched leg.

Four minutes later, in reply for Chesterfield, Wade Small dragged an effort well side of Schmeichel's right-hand post from 30 yards.

Notts capitalised on their command to take a deserved lead on 20 minutes.

It was another wonder strike for Davies' scrapbook this season as he pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and drove it powerfully past Chesterfield keeper Tommy Lee.

Lee was at full-stretch to his right, but Davies was far too precise in his placement and the ball flew into the bottom corner of the net.

With the Spireites stunned, Notts threatened to take a two-goal lead five minutes later when Rodgers aimed a pass towards Hughes at the far post but Alan Goodall hooked it away from inside the six-yard box.

Later in the first half, the Magpies were infuriated with two free-kick decisions that went against them in quick succession.

Simon Whaley curled them both purposefully into the penalty area with his right foot, one after the other, but Notts looked utterly resolute and cleared confidently each time.

They were soon back on the attack and Westcarr went close to scoring on 37 minutes. He fired narrowly over the crossbar from inside the penalty area.

Westcarr was quickly involved after the break, beating Goodall down the right wing and racing into the penalty area on 49 minutes. But his cross was poor and flashed harmlessly across the face of goal.

Chesterfield responded swiftly, with a counter-attack down their left wing. Small whipped a cross into the six yard box that caused a moment's unease for the Magpies until Schmeichel took control and claimed it.

Notts were denied a 2-0 lead by the woodwork on 53 minutes. Westcarr spread the ball out wide to captain John Thompson, who was raiding down the right wing.

He coolly cut inside Drew Talbot, who had tracked his run from defence, and then struck a powerful effort that hit the outside of the near post.

Just a minute later, the Spireites could have been level. In fact, they would have been if Schmeichel had not pulled off an outstanding save to deny Small.

The winger wrong-footed the young Dane with a powerful low effort from the edge of the penalty area, but the Magpies' No.1 readjusted rapidly and held it at full-stretch low down to his left.

The frustration of Chesterfield boss John Sheridan spilled over just after the hour mark and he was sent to the stands by referee Keith Stroud.

Rodgers then twice went close to doubling Notts' lead. First, he tested Lee with a swerving 20-yard strike on 70 minutes and then he blazed narrowly over the bar on his left foot a minute later.

Delroy Facey replaced Rodgers on 82 minutes and he was involved as they almost wrapped the game up a minute later, crossing the ball to the far post where Davies was denied by Lee at his near post.

With a narrow lead to protect, it was a nervy end to the game.

But Notts claimed a crucial victory after four minutes of injury time. It was a wonderful game, and a win that is worth more than three points to Notts.

@thisisnottscounty.co.uk