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Preview: Notts County (A) – Vanarama National League

The Bees will be hoping to return to winning ways after settling for a draw on Tuesday night when they came up against Sutton United.

Simeon Akinola netted from the spot for the second game running, but Harry Beautyman was on hand to clinch the equaliser for the hosts in the second half.

The Opposition

Notts County are playing in the fifth tier for the first time in their 157-year history following relegation from League Two last season.

At the end of the 2017/18 season, the Magpies missed out on promotion after losing to Coventry City in the play-offs.

However, fast forward one year later and a completely different chapter was written as the EFL’s oldest football club faced the drop after finishing 23rd.

Hoping to regain their Football League status at the end of this season, County began the campaign with a 1-0 defeat away at Eastleigh.

However, points were on the board in their most recent fixture when they drew 1-1 with newly promoted Stockport County as they returned to Meadow Lane.

On the transfer front, it’s been a busy two weeks for County after their embargo was lifted at the end of last month.

The Magpies have welcomed nine new arrivals through the door including Connell Rawlinson and Sam Graham who joined the club this week.

The Bees will travel to a ground that was opened in 1910 and has an all-seater capacity of 18,816.

Manager: Neal Ardley

This season marks Neal Ardley’s first full campaign in charge of Notts County after he took the reins in November 2018.

After relegation last season, the 46-year-old will be hoping to take the club back to the Football League at the first time of asking.

Before arriving at Meadow Lane, Ardley was in charge of League One side AFC Wimbledon.

He took over at the club back in 2012 after a spell as manager of Cardiff City’s academy side and narrowly avoided relegation from League Two in his first two seasons in charge.

After a 15th place finish at the end of the 2014/15 season, the next campaign would look much brighter for Ardley and his side. Clinching seventh spot, Wimbledon tasted promotion after a 2-0 play-off final victory over Plymouth Argyle.

Ardley left after two years in League One and is embarking on management in the National League for the first time in his career.

His playing career also started at Wimbledon where he would go on to make around 300 appearances in nine years.

Watford was to be his next destination before he moved to Cardiff City in 2005 in a spell which proved to be a short one. After signing for Millwall in 2006, Ardley called time on his career whilst at the Lions a year later.

Last Time Out:

It was a day to remember for the Bees in our last meeting with Notts County.

With both sides coming up against each other in February 2018 during the 2017/18 League Two season, it was the Bees who came out on top, winning 1-0.

With Barnet sitting bottom of the league and County chasing promotion, it was always going to have to take something special to beat the Magpies and that’s exactly what happened.

Deep into stoppage time, Craig Ross lumped a ball forward to Alex Nicholls who took a touch before blasting the ball home.

Connections:

Scott Loach spent two years at Notts County after signing in 2015 from Rotherham United. During that time, the goalkeeper made 23 appearances for the Magpies and was sent out on loan to York City.

Andre Boucaud is also a former Magpie. After initially joining on loan, the midfielder penned a permanent deal with the club in 2013 but was released over a year later.

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