Sheridan: Magpies must fly at home

JOHN SHERIDAN has challenged his Notts County team to shine at home after watching them win a thriller at Cheltenham Town.

County are yet to win in front of their own supporters this term, but two goals from the excellent Jon Stead along with one from Jonathan Forte at Whaddon Road secured their third away success of the season.

Sheridan said: “I knew this would be a tough game because Cheltenham are decent at what they do.

“They are a big side and we knew we’d have to defend and we had to do that, putting our bodies on the line.

“To score three goals away from home is a plus and it was nice to take the lead for a change, so I am chuffed to bits for the lads and now I’d love for us to pick up that first win at home.”

Cheltenham boss Gary Johnson admitted the difference between the two teams was the quality of the front men, with Stead and Forte showing the sort of technique that has seen both play at a higher level.

“I didn’t think there was much between the two sides, other than the potency of their two strikers on the day,” Johnson said.

“We didn’t have that extra bit of quality needed to win football matches at this level. I am also disappointed we have conceded so soon after scoring, having done that twice at Newport too last week.

“The lads are trying, but they are all short of quality and I’ll just have to keep working even harder to improve them.

“They still have an opportunity to grow into this level, but some of them have to step up to the plate, qualitywise.”

Forte opened the scoring in the fourth minute, holding off a challenge from Dan Parslow and firing past goalkeeper Russell Griffiths.

Harry Pell put in a fine cross which was nodded in by Danny Wright to make it 1-1 in the 24th minute.

Stead showed his superior class four minutes before half-time, racing onto Forte’s flick and cutting inside two defenders before applying a cool finish into the far corner.

Pell levelled for Cheltenham ten minutes into the second half after Downes nodded down James Rowe’s free-kick and the tall midfielder fired in on the turn.

But less than a minute later County were ahead again after Stead netted his second following another defensive lapse from Cheltenham.