Stuart Maynard must fix alarming Notts County issue - It could de-rail their promotion push | OneFootball

The Magpies have lost some of their defensive solidity of late.

Notts County have seen their bid for automatic promotion in League Two falter a little in recent weeks.

After a run of eight wins from 10 league games across December, January and February fired them firmly into contention for a top three finish, but they have since won just two of their last eight, a run of form which has put their fate in doubt once again.

This month, the Magpies have lost three of their five league games, prompting criticism from fans over the lack of fluidity in their attacking play.

However, despite their drop-off in the attacking half of the pitch, they have also experienced uncharacteristic issues at the other end of the field.

Stuart Maynard’s side have shipped eight goals in their last five outings, a far cry from the steeliness we have come to expect from them this season. If Notts are to re-discover their form and claim an automatic promotion spot, it’s vital Maynard addresses these new-found defensive issues.

Notts’ defensive standards have slipped in recent weeks

Over the course of last season, the Magpies’ defensive struggles were abundantly clear. Notts conceded 86 goals in 23/24, the highest of any team in League Two.

That total was lower than just two teams in the entire 92 – Rotherham United and Sheffield United. The fact that both fell significantly short of safety in their respective divisions, highlights just how severe Notts’ issues were.

However, over the summer, Maynard and the recruitment team placed a huge emphasis on rectifying those issues and, throughout the first half of the season at least, they became a much more solid unit.

The signings of centre back duo Matty Platt and Jacob Bedeau, plus the addition of ex-AFC Wimbledon ‘keeper Alex Bass (pictured), have all been inspired moves. The trio have enjoyed excellent seasons, and played a huge part in the Magpies bettering last term’s final tally of eight clean sheets as early as 4th January.

In recent weeks however, the first cracks in those defensive improvements have started to show. They look susceptible to balls coming into their box at times, while individual errors have begun to creep in.

The entire team appears to be badly short of confidence, and even the standards of the usually reliable members of the rear-guard have started to slip. Platt and Bedeau have both struggled at times of late, while Lewis Macari, who has recently returned from an injury lay-off, currently looks a shadow of the promising young defender we saw last season.

Maynard’s men have now shipped eight goals in just five games this month, with their sole clean sheet coming in last week’s win at Grimsby. Across those remaining four games, Notts have conceded at a rate of two goals per game - a far cry from the other 33 games, in which they have conceded just 31 times.

Fortunately for Notts, the inconsistency of several sides at the top end of the table has let them off the hook a little with their recent run of form. However, Maynard must ensure their issues don’t continue for much longer, or it could de-rail their promotion push for good.

Maynard must rectify these issues if Notts are to get promoted

Given how tight League Two has been once again this season, if the Magpies fail to iron out these issues it could put a stop to their push to get into League One for another season.

Maynard’s men are still sat just two points away from Wimbledon in third, but with just six points separating third and eighth at present, it looks as though the fate of several clubs at the top end will be decided by extremely fine margins.

Despite their recent struggles, Notts’ goal difference still stands at a relatively healthy +17, which can only currently be bettered by Wimbledon and table-toppers, Walsall.

With the race for both automatic promotion and the play-off positions currently threatening to go down to the last day, it is a genuine possibility that goal difference could come into play if things continue as they are.

With that in mind, it’s imperative Notts can return to their stingy best between now and the end of the season. They must get back to picking up clean sheets on a regular basis, as this will give them a platform to start winning games once more, even if they lack creativity at times.

If they fail to do that, there will be plenty of other sides waiting to take advantage, and the Magpies could even find themselves nervously looking over their shoulder towards the teams sat just outside the play-offs.