KEV HAILS ‘FANTASTIC’ AMEOBI...
AJORGE Grant screamer and Shola Ameobi’s first Notts County goal helped an ecstatic Kevin Nolan keep his unbeaten home record intact.
The Magpies held on to beat fellow strugglers Hartlepool at Meadow Lane, and Nolan heaped praise on Ameobi despite an earlier penalty miss from the veteran forward.
“The lads showed great character, great spirit, great togetherness,” he said. “Everything you want when you’re fighting down there at the bottom.
“I thought we dominated throughout, although as soon as we missed the penalty we got a little bit jittery. We calmed them down at half-time and I thought we got better as the game went on.
“Despite missing the penalty I thought Shola was fantastic. He’s played at the top level and is mentally tough, he was solid in both boxes, it just shows what he brings to the team.
“With regards to Jorge Grant, we’re delighted with him. It was an absolutely first-class strike.
“He’s one of those that should be playing week-in, week-out because that’s what happens when he does.”
County were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead on 28 minutes after Lewis Hawkins clumsily handled the ball in the box, but Ameobi’s weak effort from the spot was pushed on to the post by Joe Fryer.
But the striker made up for his earlier penalty miss minutes after the restart when Grant played a fine ball through, and Ameobi made no mistake in firing home low to put his side ahead.
The hosts doubled their lead in emphatic fashion thanks to a 20yard screamer from Nottingham Forest loanee Grant, who has now scored four goals in his last six games for the Magpies.
The visitors pulled one back eight minutes later after Haydn Hollis put the ball in his own net, although it proved not enough as the Magpies held on to take all three points.
And furious Hartlepool manager Dave Jones slammed his team for switching off during vital periods of the game.
He said: “I’m so angry with them, the whole game was more than comfortable and we still lost. “It’s that belief that’s driving me around the bend, we have to shake this away form. The game was there for us to get something, but we didn’t. There were too many individual mistakes, we switched off at vital times. “To be in control of the game for so long and to lose is just annoying. The players have to be better than they have been here. “It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since we last won away from home, it’s the mentality that needs to change. That’s why the chairman brought me in, to change that.” NOTTS COUNTY: (4-4-2): Colin 6, Hewitt 6, Duffy 6, Hollis 6, Bola 7, Yeates 6 (Smith 86 N/A), Tootle 6, Milsom 6, Grant 8 (Campbell A 90 N/A), Ameobi 6, Forte 6 (Campbell T 71 6). Subs not used: Loach, Dickinson, Clackstone, Campbell, Howes HARTLEPOOL UNITED: (3-5-2): Fryer 7, Richardson 6, Harrison 5, Donnelly 5, Featherstone 6, Hawkins 4 (Deverdics 59 6), Woods 5, Thomas 5, Alessandra 6, Oates 5, Amond 5. Subs not used: Bartlett, Martin, Hawkes, Orrell, Rooney