The Football League Paper

New boy Amevor on mind for Moniz

- By Leigh Curtis

NOTTS County went some way to exorcising the demons of last season’s relegation with victory at Stevenage, according to manager Ricardo Moniz.

The Magpies ruined Teddy Sheringham’s debut as a Football League manager with a clinical display at the Lamex.

Curtis Thompson had given them the lead ten minutes before half-time and it was doubled late on by Mawouna Amevor.

Both sides were reduced to ten men in the dying stages when Amevor and Tom Hitchcock were dismissed for a minor tussle, but it could not dampen Moniz’s mood.

“It was a great win because it helped get relegation at Gillingham out of the system,” said Moniz.

“The first goal was fantastica­lly worked but the red card was a minus and it was not the game for that.

“The way we countered was terrific, we moved the ball up quickly in eight seconds and it included four or five people.

“It came at a good time because Stevenage were carrying plenty of threat at the time, which was a result of our defence being in our own box. But the second goal was taken very well by Amevor.

“He played on the left for the team, and Amevor was very proactive. It was a terrific day.”

Prior to Notts taking the lead, Stevenage had wasted a gilt-edged chance when Brett Williams shot straight at Roy Carroll.

From the next phase of play, Notts then moved in front as they swept upfield in a terrific move involving Liam Noble, Jon Stead before it was finished off by Thompson.

Only the heroics of Chris Day stopped Stevenage from falling further behind as he made terrific stops to deny Julian Jenner and Stead.

But the second goal came two minutes from time when Stead forced another fine stop from Day, only for Amevor to ram in the rebound.

His afternoon then took a turn for the worse when he got involved in a tussle with Hitchcock which led to Graham Salisbury issuing two red cards. And, despite Stevenage pushing for a way back into the game, they never really tested Carroll.

Sheringham, who was appointed Stevenage manager in the summer, said:“They are a very good side.

“We worked hard and showed good commitment. We didn’t quite get the breaks. Chances were created by both teams.

“It was very even although they did show a lot of cleverness at times.

“They are very profession­al and when you get 1-0 in front you can do what they did.We were fighting to get back into it, but I’ve no complaints.”

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