Balance is key to making Magpies a real force
NEAL Ardley believes Notts County can be a “force to be reckoned with” once they find the right balance between defence and attack.
The Magpies currently have the second-best defensive record in the National League, having conceded only 13 goals in 15 games this season.
Only Boreham Wood boast a better record than Notts in the division, but Ardley is now looking to improve the output at the other end of the pitch.
Ahead of their clash against Solihull Moors tonight at Meadow Lane, the Notts manager believes the challenge now is marrying solidity with ruthlessness.
“It’s not just a set back four that seem to know the roles,” he said.
“When Ben Turner was part of that platform, he was excellent when he was playing.
“Alex Lacey has come in and done it. Whether Dion Kelly-evans is leftback or it’s Calvin Miller, it doesn’t really seem to matter.
“As I’ve always said, we do sort of defend from the front. But I think the work that the wide men and midfielders do in front of them helps.
“We were free-flowing earlier in the season but conceding probably more goals than we wanted.
“Now we’re not scoring quite as many as we want and we’re looking really good at the back. So if we can just get the balance right of both ends, I think we could be a force to be reckoned with.”
Solihull are just above Notts in the table and have played one game less than the Magpies in a season which has been badly impacted by Covid postponements.
Notts are waiting for Richard Brindley to prove his fitness after he took a blow to the nose in the goalless draw against Torquay United at the weekend.
But the right-back, who has been a consistent performer this season, will be given every chance to make himself available.
Notts will definitely be without defender Damien Mccrory, who is recovering from knee surgery, while Callum Roberts is still no closer to a return having had an operation to strengthen his stomach lining.
Defender Turner is suspended, sitting out his last game of a threematch ban.
Victory for Notts would take them back into the top seven, having fallen behind in their schedule to numerous postponements due to Covid.
But Ardley is expecting a tough test against Jimmy Shan’s side, who have transformed their style to a more patient approach compared to the direct football employed by previous boss Tim Flowers.
“It will be a real challenge,” he said.
“Obviously, they’ve gone above us in the league now.
“They’re right in the mix. They play a good brand of football and I think from the stats and the data I’ve got they’re only second to us on the highest amount possession in the league.
“They’ve been playing three for three, which is a brave formation and causes you problems tactically if you get it wrong without the ball.
“I’ve been impressed with them. They’re a total change from last season, they’re a footballing team.
“It’s going to be a challenge and certainly a system that we’ve got to make sure that we get it right against them.”