GET READY FOR A MAC ATTACK!
MACAULAY Langstaff knows why Notts County are on fire: title rivals Wrexham!
The Magpies made it 25 games unbeaten, and seven National League wins on the spin, with a 4-0 demolition of Southend on Tuesday night.
Hotshot striker Langstaff, a summer signing from Gateshead, took his season tally to 32 with two brilliant finishes.
Victory meant, with 12 games left, Luke Williams’ side had amassed 83 points, lost just once and scored 88 goals.
But Wrexham are on their heels with two games in hand in a who blinks first title race.
And Langstaff believes the two heavyweights are helping each other.
“That’s the biggest thing – mentality,” Langstaff told The NLP. “We’re 25 unbeaten. That’s ridiculous. And that’s because of Wrexham. We can’t afford to even draw a game, never mind lose a game.
“If we came in after a draw, we’d be disappointed, it’s almost like a defeat because we know that Wrexham will probably win. We’re both machines. I can’t speak highly enough of them as well because they’re pushing us on.
“A few people have said, ‘Ah, wouldn’t you like no Wrexham in the league and be 15/18 points ahead?’
“I don’t think we would be because we’re pushing each other on with the points totals. I don’t think Wrexham would have this points total without each other.
“We’re improving every single day because of each other – as a group and individually. That’s leading to where we are and the standard.
Belief
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re thankful for Wrexham for making us improve. Obviously we’d like to come out on top. But whatever happens, it’s been an unbelievable season and we’d love to top it off with promotion.”
The 26-year-old is in the form of his life, the benefit of hard work through lockdown with Gateshead before ripping up the National League North last season as the Heed won the title. He’s taken the step up to Notts in his stride and, when a chance comes along, there is almost a sense of inevitability the ball will ripple the net.
His Tuesday night double followed up a hat-trick at Yeovil last Saturday and made it nine goals in the last five games. Does he expect to score every time he’s on the pitch?
“It’s more I walk on the pitch knowing I am going to get a chance because of the players I’ve got around me,” Langstaff said. “It’s not as if I am going to turn up and score. I just know I am going to get a chance.
“When that chance comes I’ve got to take it and I’ve got that belief, if I do get a chance, I will score. So it’s more that belief and I’m getting two or three chances a game which is leading to the goals.”
Promotion is the ultimate aim and Langstaff insists he wasn’t too fussed to be subbed off despite being on a hat-trick. Instead, he was buzzing with their performance.
“I struggle to think of a more complete performance, to be honest,” Langstaff said. “Four goals, clean sheet, dominated in the game in terms of possession, chance on goal – everything clicked.
“We probably haven’t been at our best the last two weeks. We’ve shown we’ve got another side to our game where we can’t not be at our best and still grind out the three points. We were due a good performance and that came tonight.”