2018 articles in this category
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Notts County manager Kevin Nolan has vowed to keep using Alan Smith up front rather than in midfield. The former England international came to prominence as both a striker and as a right-winger during his time at first club Leeds United. However, he was converted to midfield while he was on the books at Manchester United, where he's largely remained in terms of position since leaving Old Trafford. Despite his positional reshuffle, former Newcastle United teammate Nolan used him up
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Kevin Nolan has played down the importance of Wednesday's friendly between Notts County and city rivals Nottingham Forest, reiterating that it's all about players getting game time ahead of the new season. Fans of both teams are eagerly awaiting the clash at Meadow Lane as a chance to renew rivalries and see which side will claim the bragging rights come the final whistle. Nolan, however, is keeping an eye firmly on preparations for the 2017/18 campaign as a whole, and sees this game -
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Kevin Nolan has played down suggestions that Notts County are to make a move for Dover Athletic striker Ricky Miller, claiming that he costs a lot of money and could invest his budget more wisely. The 28-year-old has scored 37 goals this season to top the National League goalscoring charts and was also named the division's player of the year. Notts were quoted with an interest in the player both in January and heading into the summer, but Nolan says he could get "a lot of good players"
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Kevin Nolan has played down Shola Ameobi's hamstring injury, suggesting that he will not be out of action for too long. The veteran striker was forced off in Notts County's win over Morecambe last weekend and was unavailable for the midweek win over Swindon Town. Ameobi is not expected to play any part in the Magpies' trip to Crawley tomorrow, but Nolan insists his backroom team will take good care of him and should be able to establish a recovery timeline in the next few days. “W
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Kevin Nolan has poured cold water on suggestions that Notts County can be considered title challengers in League Two next season. Sky Bet has put the Magpies joint-fourth to win the championship outright, while promotion is at a mere 3/1. This is following the resurrection of the club following Alan Hardy's takeover and Nolan's shrewd management, culminating in a 16th-placed finish just weeks after being on the brink of relegation. However, Nolan insists that there is a lot of wor
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Notts County boss Kevin Nolan has hailed his side's 3-2 win at Leyton Orient as the end of their away hoodoo and something to build on. The Magpies took a two-goal lead through Jorge Grant and Jon Stead but were pegged back before Stead struck a late winner at Brisbane Road. It helped Notts climb further away from the League Two relegation zone and also marked a first away win since October. Nolan told the official site: "I'm pleased to end the hoodoo of not putting in performance
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Kevin Nolan has expressed his delight with Shola Ameobi's return for Notts County, but insists he will not rush him back into action. The former Newcastle United forward had not played for the Magpies since injuring his hamstring in the win over Morecambe. However, Ameobi was given more than 20 minutes on the pitch in the derby with Mansfield Town, and Nolan says his return gives him more attacking talent at his disposal. “Shola’s return is great as it gives us more options,” Nola
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Kevin Nolan has hailed his "brilliant" Notts County side for responding to the defeat at Swindon Town with a 1-0 victory over Port Vale. Jon Stead's late penalty proved the difference between the two sides and stopped Vale from notching up a third win in a row against League Two's big hitters, having beaten Coventry City and Luton Town prior to their visit of Meadow Lane. "I thought we were brilliant," Nolan told the official Notts site. "I was pleased with the positive nature in how w
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Kevin Nolan has hailed his Notts County charges for putting in a great performance against Everton Under-21s in the Checkatrade Trophy. The Magpies, playing before a crowd of just under 1,500 at Meadow Lane on Tuesday night, took the lead via Jonathan Forte and consolidatedit via Haydn Hollis. Although Toffees substitute Anton Donkor halved the deficit in the second half, Notts saw the game out to claim a 2-1 win, keeping their momentum going after their 2-0 win over Chesterfield in Le
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Kevin Nolan believes his Notts County side "more than matched" Wigan Athletic, but admits work needs to be done regarding the Magpies' defending. Saturday's pre-season friendly at Meadow Lane saw Lewis Alessandra give Notts the lead in emphatic fashion, but a Richard Duffy own goal and a Callum Lang strike gave the Latics the win. Nolan told the official site: "Throughout the 90 minutes we more than matched them and made a lot of chances. "But the manner in which we gave away the
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Kevin Nolan was pleased with Notts County's second half performance against Colchester United, coming from a goal down at the break to run out 3-1 winners at the Weston Homes Community Stadium. The Magpies trailed at half time to Drey Wright's ninth-minute opener but scored three goals after the restart, through Jonathan Forte, Shola Ameobi and Richard Duffy, to seal victory in Essex. “We didn’t match the standards we set last week against Coventry,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post.
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Kevin Nolan has described Notts County as "a team in transition" and praised each of the home debutants in Saturday's League Two encounter with Exeter City. The returning Liam Noble was drafted into the starting XI, as were youngsters Matty Virtue and Noor Husin, in a side which had to be rejigged due to the absence of Richard Duffy and Matt Tootle. Nolan says he was happy with how the new players performed, and felt towards the end of the match that the Magpies played some of the best
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Notts County boss Kevin Nolan has singled out goalkeeper Adam Collin and midfielder Michael O'Connor for praise following their respective displays in the 2-1 win over Carlisle United. Collin made up for failing to save Jabo Ibehre's shot for the hosts' opening goal with a great save from the striker one-on-one, while O'Connor impressed after coming off the bench for the last 25 minutes. "I think Adam will be disappointed and he has already held his hand up about the first goal," Nolan
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Kevin Nolan has singled Matt Tootle out for praise and suggested that competition from summer arrival Nicky Hunt has pushed his form to a new level. Tootle grabbed his third assist in four games in the 1-1 draw against Carlisle United last weekend when he set up Ryan Yates for the equaliser at Brunton Park. “We brought Nicky Hunt in during the window and that was to always make sure that Toots pushed on, and if he did have that sticky spell, we had somebody of Nicky’s class to come in,
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Notts County boss Kevin Nolan has thrown his support behind young defender Pierce Bird and exonerated him from his mistake against Lincoln City. The 18-year-old made his competitive Magpies debut in Tuesday's EFL Trophy tie at Sincil Bank and impressed alongside Haydn Hollis at the back. However, Bird was unlucky to concede an own goal when Josh Ginnelly's cross caused havoc in the box and it was diverted into the County net, on the way to a 2-1 defeat. “I thought he did really we
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Kevin Nolan has admitted that there is a lot of work that needs to be done at Notts County, with defending the key aspect. After the impressive goalless draw against Mansfield Town last weekend, the Magpies slipped to a 2-0 defeat away at Grimsby Town. "We know there is a lot of work to be done and I never shied away from that," Nolan told the Nottingham Post. "But we have got to start learning pretty quickly that we can't gift goals away. "It's disappointing after such a goo
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Kevin Nolan was impressed with Notts County's character and resolve as they got back to winning ways with a 2-1 win over Coventry City on Saturday. Pride of Nottingham-sponsored Jonathan Forte was the hero of the day at Meadow Lane with a crucial brace ensuring that Jordan Ponticelli's equalising flick would prove little more than a consolation. The result saw Notts end a run of four games without a win and reignited their promotion hopes, with a top-seven finish still very much on the
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Kevin Nolan has declared himself proud of his Notts County players for their impressive FA Cup run despite it coming to a humbling end in their FA Cup fourth-round replay at Swansea City. When the Magpies claimed a 1-1 draw in the first game at Meadow Lane, there was much scope to believe an upset could have been on the cards in Wales. However, Carlos Carvalhal's charges were on top of their game, while the visitors very much had an off day, culminating in an 8-1 defeat at the hands of
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Kevin Nolan has declared himself proud of Notts County's performance against Scunthorpe United in Tuesday's League Cup first-round clash at Glanford Park. The Magpies took the lead in the match but went on to fall behind twice, only to peg their opponents back both times for a final score of 3-3 and taking them all the way to penalties. Only one spot kick was missed - unfortunately it was one from Matt Tootle, which at sudden death, gave the Iron passage to the next round of the compet
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Kevin Nolan has provided an injury update on several players ahead of Notts County's home game against Port Vale on New Year's Day. Jonathan Forte, Shola Ameobi and Richard Duffy will face late fitness tests, while Rob Milsom will have to see a specialist. The four players did not take part in Saturday's 1-0 loss at Swindon Town and, while Milsom is definitely out, it will be a case of taking it "day by day" with the other three. Nolan also provided updates on goalkeeper Adam Coll
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Kevin Nolan has provided an update on Jonathan Forte, who limped off in Notts County's playoff draw at Coventry City. The striker opened the scoring at the Ricoh Arena, only for the Magpies to be pegged back through a ludicrous penalty. “Forte is okay, he was just tired and had given a lot on a heavy pitch as all the players did,” Nolan told the Nottingham Post. “They were weary. They had a day off on Sunday and I told them to relax and recuperate. “Then it was back to work o
