After the day out at Manchester City last Sunday, where the game was played on actual grass, it really hits home that it is back to the league in a Friday night game in the pouring rain.
Notts were in front of the cameras, this time of the Sky Sports variety, for the 3rd time in the last month, as they played a Charlton team challenging for promotion. The game earlier in the season at The Valley had been one of the most disappointing results of the season – not because of a bad performance, but exactly the opposite; Notts had dominated the game, only to suffer the consequences of not taking their chances as Joe Anyinsah scored in the eighty fifth minute to complete a ‘smash and grab’ to sum up Notts’ early season.
But enough of that game, it was important for Notts to prove to everyone that they weren’t going to allow the cup run to affect them and to get a result in a tough game.
Notts started the first half brightly, even if no real clear cut chances were made – a ball flashed across the face of goal by new loan signing Carl Regan, which Craig Westcarr failed to make contact with, being the best chance in the opening stages.
As the Sky Sports commentators talked about Notts’ solid defensive record this season, the team weren’t exactly showing why they have that proud record with Krystian Pearce and Mike Edwards initially struggling to cope with the pace of Bradley Wright-Phillips and Nathan Eccleston.
Questions were asked of the Notts defence when Anyinsah got clear of Krystian Pearce, before attempting to lob the ball over Stuart Nelson who clattered into him. The Notts goalkeeper got away with only a yellow card as the referee adjudged the back-tracking Pearce to be sufficient cover to not warrant a sending off, although some may argue, especially the 686 that travelled up from London, that he did prevent a clear goal scoring opportunity.
Wright-Phillips also spurned a golden opportunity to put the Addicks in front. After a cross from ex-Notts man Johnnie Jackson was spilled by Stuart Nelson, the ball fell to the Charlton striker who – fortunately for Notts – was unable to bundle it home.
Charlton then had another great opportunity to go in front later in the half, when Eccleston’s well timed run and pace allowed him to beat the offside trap and get through on goal, only to be thwarted by the on-rushing Nelson. At this point it seemed as though it was only a matter of time until Charlton grabbed the games opener.
Notts did also had chances in the opening 45 – both Westcarr and Alan Gow had shots that forced good saves from Rob Elliot in the Charlton goal, who spent a single season at Meadow Lane as a reserve goalkeeper – but neither side were able to find the net in an eventful first half.
I suppose it wouldn’t be right to write about a Notts game without mentioning the horrendous state of the pitch at Meadow Lane – I’m sure most football fans in the country have seen it during one of the games aired on TV in the last month and it didn’t make yesterday’s game, between two sides who wanted to pass the football, easy – but as Notts fans, I think we’ve heard enough about it from Paul Ince recently, “It’s not good, it doesn’t help passing football.” Okay, we get it! The sooner we get it sorted, the better, but for now we will have to deal with it, so stop moaning!
Back to the game, and Notts started the second half as they started the first – in the ascendancy. However, this time, they were able to make the chances count as Neal Bishop, somewhat fortuitously, managed to divert Alan Gow’s poorly taken free-kick off his backside, via a deflection of Charlton’s Simon Francis, into the bottom corner – leaving Elliot scrambling across his line to no avail. Not pretty, but a goal’s a goal.
Charlton then came onto the attack trying to get back into the game and, undoubtedly, their best chance came from the spot after a clumsy challenge from the usually solid Mike Edwards sent the tricky Anyinsah flying in the box. It was at this moment I had the sinking feeling that we had thrown away a lead for the umpteenth time this season. Wright-Phillips stepped up from the spot, but Stuart Nelson’s ‘death stare’ obviously did the trick as the striker dribbled the ball to Nelson’s right – an easy save for the ‘keeper. It was a penalty which may have reminded Notts fans of when Lee Hughes steps up from twelve yards – it looks calm and confident if it goes in, but terrible when it is saved.
Notts had been forced to shooting wildly from range for most of the game, but when Westcarr took aim from distance late on in the game, anyone at the ground or watching on Sky, must have thought the ball was flying into the back of the net, but Elliot pulled off a fine save to keep Charlton’s hopes of a point alive.
But they weren’t able to salvage a point and Notts were victorious in what was not a classic, but definitely was an entertaining game. All in all a good day at the office for Notts who’ve now won their last two league games – against two teams chasing promotion – without conceding a goal, which has to be a major positive.
It may not have had the glamour of the cup-tie in Manchester, but it is definitely a more significant result and with all our games in hand, who knows? A late dash for the play-offs may be difficult, but just remember last season – anything can happen.
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