Stuart Maynard is excited about Notts County’s upcoming tough test against Crewe Alexandra, another team vying for promotion, this Saturday.
In Maynard’s first five games in command, the Magpies have faced three of the top eight teams in the division, with the lone victory coming against Newport County, which is currently ranked fifteenth. The performances have generally given the new guy in the dugout ample motivation, even though the results have not quite lived up to expectations.
With just four points separating them from table-toppers Stockport County, Crewe is hotly vying for one of the three automatic promotion berths. Their next opponent will be the fourth team in the top eight group that Notts have faced under Maynard.
Crewe has only lost once in their first nine games of 2024, winning six of them. On paper, this is another difficult assignment for County, who still believe they are in a strong position.
Maynard said: “We’ve warranted more points that we’ve gotten [from the first five games] looking back at the performances which in the end is a positive for us because it is something to build on.
“It’s a huge credit to the group of lads that they’re taking on the detail and we look very fluid when we’re playing within the two different shapes. They’ve taken the info on board quickly because we’ve not been in the building that long, and oui can see that they’re comfortable out there.
We’ve got to manage the players that are coming back from injury, particularly the long-term ones, to make sure they don’t have any further issues, but it is a nice headache to have when you’ve almost got a full squad of players available.
“It’s a squad game, we’re all in this together so everyone is going to play their part like we’ve seen in the last few weeks. We’re looking forward now with a couple of home games to come now so we’re excited to feel the backing of the home fans again.”
Just three points separate 16th-placed Walsall from seventh-placed Harrogate Town in a highly competitive League Two season so far, and Notts are in the middle of that pack of teams looking to force their way into the play-offs come the end of April.
A win in this game, in front of the Meadow Lane crowd, would be a huge psychological and potential position boost for the Magpies and success in the “big moments” is what Maynard is desperate for early in his tenure
He went on, “I think the league is really competitive overall.” With the narrow point differential separating the middle group of clubs up to the playoffs, it’s arguably the most competitive it’s been in a while.
It will be a terrific tactical struggle since [Crewe] are a very flexible club; we’ve seen them change formation in games a few times this season. These games are always close, so we need to be on the winning side of the big moments.
“We don’t view our start as tough because it is what we want. All games in this division are tough, but as a football club, we want to be involved in the big games where we’re going toe-to-toe with the best in the league.”
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