The Fishy - Grimsby Town FC

Question of the Week

Who will go down?







Home Again!
Home Again!

Notts County Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 26/09/2005

THE Mariners' busy schedule continues this week with a home match against Russell Slade's former team, Notts County, who like Town have enjoyed an excellent start to the league campaign.

Home > 2005-2006 Season > Previews > Notts Co (h)


It hardly seems a week ago since Town beat Tottenham at Blundell Park, but there is no chance to dwell on that famous victory. A 1-1 draw at Boston on Saturday saw Town drop their first points of the season away from home and hot on the heels of that is the visit of Notts County, who are 5th in League Two. The Magpies drew at home to Rushden on Saturday but will want to get three points from this tie, something they haven't managed to do in their last 20 visits to Blundell Park.

The Opposition

Overview
County had a poor season in 2004/05. Like the Mariners, they were relegated the season before from the "old" Division Two. They eventually finished 19th but did languish lower than that at times last campaign. Gary Mills was dismissed in November and so defender Ian Richardson took charge for the rest of the campaign. In the summer, the Magpies board opted for a more experienced boss so placed Gudjon Thordarson (left) in charge of team affairs. So far the former Barnsley and Stoke man has done an excellent job with limited resources, guiding the team to 5th place and losing just one league game in the process.

Their Squad
The vastly experienced Kevin Pilkington signed for the Magpies in the summer from local rivals Mansfield Town after five years at Field Mill. He takes the number one jersey and will play in goal. In front of him is former Barnsley man Brian O'Callaghan and ex-Town defender Mike Edwards (left), who has also been deployed in midfield this season. Lewis Mcmahon is a handy little midfield player who made 15 starts for Sheffield Wednesday last season. Former Peterborough player Matthew Gill accompanies him in midfield along with recent loan signing David McGoldrick who rejoins County after leaving the Meadow Lane Club in July of 2004. In attack is former Hull and Lincoln forward Gavin Gordon along with recent loan capture Tyrone Berry, who joins from Crystal Palace.

Key Player
Glynn Hurst (left). Former Stockport and Chesterfield striker who has grabbed five goals already this season and was their top scorer last season with 15 goals. Strong and determined, Hurst started his career in English football but struggled to make the grade so moved to Ayr in Scotland where he enjoyed great form, scoring 51 goals in under 100 appearances, which persuaded Carlton Palmer to bring him back to England with Stockport in 2001.

Recent Form

 

TownNotts Co
DBoston(a)1-1
WSpurs (LC)(h)1-0
WTorquay(a)3-0
WPeterborough(a)1-0
WChester(a)2-1
Currently 1st in League Two.
DRushden(h)0-0
LShrewsbury(a)0-2
DChester(h)1-1
DDarlington(a)1-1
WMansfield(a)3-2
Currently 5th in League Two.

Top Scorers

 

TownNotts Co
Kalala4
Reddy3
Gary Jones3
Hurst5

Team News

 

TownNotts Co

  • The Mariners will hope to include new loan signing Simon Francis in the squad, providing he completes the necessary paperwork in time to secure his move from Sheffield United. Francis can play in defence or midfield, though may be more likely to start on the bench.

  • Martin Gritton could keep his place in attack after a decent performance at the weekend, although Slade may opt for the aerial presence of Gary Jones ahead of the Torquay man.

  • Furthermore the Town boss will have to decide whether to recall Andy Parkinson after the winger was rested at the weekend, with Tom Newey replacing him. Newey may make way or possibly move to left back in place of Gary Croft to accommodate Parkinson.

  • Elsewhere, Town have no new injury worries.
  • County have two slight concerns over veteran defender Rob Ullathorne and midfielder Matthew Gill. Gill has a back strain whilst Ullathorne took a knock to his ankle in the first half of the game with Rushden at the weekend.

  • Both should be fit to make it, but if not then Stacy Long and Daniel Martin are on standby.
  • Probable Teams

     

    TownNotts Co
    1Steve Mildenhall
    2John McDermott
    20Gary Croft
    4Rob Jones
    6Justin Whittle
    15Gary Cohen
    7JPK Kalala
    8Paul Bolland
    11Andy Parkinson
    19Gary Jones
    9Michael Reddy
    1Kevin Pilkington
    6Brian O'Callaghan
    4Mike Edwards
    20Kelvin Wilson
    17Robert Ullathorne
    2David Pipe
    7Matthew Gill
    24Lewis McMahon
    27Jake Sheridan
    9Gavin Gordon
    10Glynn Hurst

    Subs

     

    TownNotts Co
    14Terry Barwick
    4Simon Ramsden
    3Tom Newey
    TBASimon Francis
    19Gary Jones
    35David McGoldrick
    31Tyrone Berry
    26Daniel Martin
    22Stacy Long
    30Shaun Marshall

    Head to Head

    Fixtures between the two clubs go back a number of years, with Notts County being the oldest team in the football league and Town not being far behind. The first recorded meeting in the league was in 1893 and since then there have been 68 clashes between the two teams, with the Mariners having the slight edge with 29 wins to their 23. Town are infinitely better at Blundell Park with County failing to win in Cleethorpes since 1950.

    P 68 W 29 D 16 L 23 F 96 A 100

    Notts Co Head-to-Head (32nd on The Opposition Ladder)

    Connections

    Phil Turner (left). Sheffield-born player who was comfortable at either full back or in midfield. Turner made over 250 appearances for County after a £125,000 move from Leicester in 1989. He was signed for Town in 1986 by Mike Lyons but lasted only 18 months at Blundell Park and was sold by Bobby Roberts to Leicester City in February 1988, just three months before Town were relegated for the second season in a row, down to Division Four. Meanwhile, current Town forward Jermaine Palmer's father, Charlie, played over 200 times for the Magpies between 1989 and 1994.

    Last Meeting

    The two sides last met right at the tail end of last season when the Mariners were denied victory through two late Notts County goals through Stefan Oakes. Andy Parkinson gave Town the lead against his former club in the 27th minute and a Jason Crowe strike after half time looked to give the Mariners all three points until the former Leicester City midfielder popped up with two excellent strikes.

    Grimsby Team: Williams, McDermott, Robert Jones, Whittle, Ramsden, Forbes, Crowe, Fleming, Coldicott (Pinault, 49), Gritton (Reddy, 51), Parkinson
    Subs (not used): Crane,Bull,Hegarty

    Notts Co Team: Deeney, Pipe, Bolland, Baudet, McFaul, Palmer, Gill, Oakes, Zadkovich (Scully, 77), Hurst (Scoffham, 45), Stallard
    Subs: (not used) Elliot,Harrad,Friars

    Attendance: 5,478    Report

    Prediction

    A 1-0 win for the Mariners

    1-0

    Recent Predictions

    GamePredictionScorePoints
    Boston2-11-10
    Spurs1-21-00
    Torquay2-23-00
    Peterborough1-01-03
    Chester1-12-10
    Stockport3-21-30
    Barnet2-21-00
    Derby0-31-00
    Darlington2-00-10
    Bristol R0-22-10
    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.




    Add To Facebook


    This site is by the fans, for the fans, and we will consider articles on any subject relating to the Mariners whether it be related to current news, a nostalgic look back in the past, a story about a player, a game or games in the past, something about Blundell Park or football in general. Click here to submit your article!


    Related Stories


    Forum Latest
    Thread TitlePostsLatest Post
    Youth players out on loan9sam gy28/03 10:57
    Twenty First Group / Overseas Market29louth_in_the_south28/03 10:43
    Prediction Thread Barrow A24RonMariner28/03 09:45
    New Training Ground.!!46DB28/03 09:04
    "Beat the Clock"  Barrow21gobby28/03 08:32
    TV Games/Upcoming Fixtures4SiteBot28/03 03:30
    Scunthorpe.4,342diehardmariner27/03 21:32
    Just Back 159HerveJosse27/03 19:31
    Bradford KO time?3mimma27/03 16:58
    Barrow22BAFC7227/03 16:57