Two sides battling for promotion from League Two will come together on Saturday afternoon as Notts County host Crewe Alexandra at the Meadow Lane Stadium.
The hosts are fifth in the league table with 61 points from 37 games, while the visitors are eighth in the standings with 57 points from 37 league fixtures.
Match preview
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Notts County suffered relegation from the Football League for the first time in their history in 2018-19, but just four years later the Magpies had secured their return to the top four divisions, by winning the National League playoffs in 2022-23.
A sensational start to the season saw Notts County appear to be fighting for back-to-back promotions, sitting third in the table on matchday 16 and seventh on matchday 28.
However, a disappointing end to the season, that coincided with the departure of Luke Williams and appointment of Stuart Maynard, saw the Magpies fall to an eventual 14th-placed finish.
Despite the lacklustre second half of the campaign, that has served as a solid foundation for their second season in League Two, with Maynard's men currently mounting another promotion charge.
Notts County are fifth in the table with 61 points from 37 games, after 17 wins, 10 draws and 10 defeats, leaving them only two points outside the automatic promotion places and four above eighth-placed Crewe Alexandra.
They have endured a worrying dip in form in recent weeks, though, with three defeats in their last four matches, and with several sides below them right on their tail, Maynard will be desperate for a form-establishing victory on Saturday.
The visitors are in a similar position to Notts County, aiming to halt a disappointing run of results that has led to them falling out of the playoff places with only nine games of the season remaining.
Crewe have triumphed in only two of their last 11 League Two fixtures, alongside four defeats and five draws, an underwhelming streak compared to the 12 wins, 10 draws and four defeats in the prior 26 matches.
Lee Bell, who has been in charge since November 2022, will be looking for his side to end that run and put together a winning end to the season, aiming to restore their place in the playoffs and push for promotion to League One.
A victory could see Crewe move above seventh-placed Colchester United, while they would move to within one point of Notts County, and four victories in the last four clashes with Saturday's opponents will provide them with plenty of confidence.
Team News
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David McGoldrick has made his return from injury over the past two matches and is expected to resume his productive partnership with Alassana Jatta in attack, with the duo combining for an impressive 31 league goals this season.
Will Jarvis came from the bench to score Notts County's only goal in the 2-1 defeat to Chesterfield last time out, and the midfielder may start ahead of Nick Tsaroulla on Saturday.
Elsewhere, a similar back three of Lewis Macari, Matthew Platt and Jacob Bedeau is anticipated to start, ahead of goalkeeper Sam Slocombe due to the absence of Alex Bass.
As for Crewe Alexandra, Connor O'Riordan is unlikely to feature after coming off in the 69th minute of their recent draw with Doncaster Rovers, meaning the back three could be made up of Zac Williams, Jamie Knight-Lebel and Ryan Cooney.
Elsewhere, a similar team that has featured in each of their last two outings - consecutive 1-1 draws - may start in this one.
Notts County possible starting lineup:
Slocombe; Macari, Platt, Bedeau; Gordon, Abbot, Palmer, Grant, Jarvis; Jatta, McGoldrick
Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:
Marschall; Cooney, Knight-Lebel, Williams; Billington, Lowery, Powell, Conway; Holicek; Bogle, Thibaut
We say: Notts County 1-2 Crewe Alexandra
Neither side are in fantastic form coming into the match, but with Notts County often struggling at home this season, while Crewe are the sixth-best performing side in the league on the road, we expect an away victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
