Stuart Maynard And The Notts Fans Would Have Feared The Worst But…

Notts County’s defensive solidity since goalkeeper, Alex Bass, picked up his recent injury has helped to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Stuart Maynard and the Notts fans would have feared the worst when Bass was forced off after just 10 minutes during the win at Grimsby last month, but Sam Slocombe has deputised reliably.

The Magpies went on to win that game at Blundell Park 2-0, before tasting defeat at home to Chesterfield the following weekend. However, in their last four games, they have allowed just one shot on target, thanks to some impressive defensive displays.

Notts had gone over 300 minutes of football without conceding a goal before Tyreece Simpson netted the only goal of the game in Saturday’s defeat at Colchester, and that run has helped them claim vital points to keep their dream of automatic promotion alive.

Bass is a huge miss for Notts, but Slocombe has filled in well

For all Notts’ upgrades this season, Bass is arguably one of the biggest.

The excellent performances of centre-half duo Matty Platt and Jacob Bedeau have been well-publicised, but Bass has played an equally vital role in turning the league’s worst defence from last season into one of its tightest this term.

Signed for an undisclosed fee from Sunderland in the summer, Bass was handed a three-year deal after impressing on loan at Wimbledon in 2023/24. The 26-year-old is evidently being lined up to be the Magpies’ long-term number one and that is already looking like a fantastic decision.

The former Portsmouth academy graduate has brought a calmness to the backline, and commands his area arguably as well as any Notts ‘keeper from the last few years.

Only two ‘keepers have prevented more goals than Bass’ 3.5 so far this term, while his save percentage stands as the best in the division.

With that in mind, it was understandably a huge concern when he picked up his injury against Grimsby.

Slocombe has performed admirably in Bass’ absence, having kept clean sheets in four of his six appearances (including the 80 minutes he played in that Grimsby victory).

The veteran has proved his dependability once again and, while his skillset differs from that of a modern ‘keeper, he has provided hugely valuable experience for the Magpies lately.

The defence have also rallied around him, and failed to allow a single shot on target for three whole games, until they conceded to Danny Cowley’s Colchester at the weekend.

Despite that defeat to the U’s, their recent run of form has helped Notts to revitalise their bid to secure automatic promotion.

Over the last few games, Maynard’s side have become a little more resemblant of the free-flowing, well-oiled unit that they have become known as.

Seven points out of a possible nine from clashes with Crewe, Newport and MK Dons this month have helped provide a boost to Notts’ hopes of finishing in the top three and returning to League One for the first time since 2015.

Saturday’s defeat undoubtedly came as a blow, but it was always likely to be tricky test against a resolute opposition and on a challenging pitch.

What that loss now means, is that the Magpies have very little room for error between now and the end of the season if they want to lay claim to one of the automatic spots.

The gap between them and the top three now sits at four points and, with just five games of the season remaining, time is running out.

If they are to break into the top three in the final few weeks of the season, they will likely have to get over a key hurdle that has affected them all season long.

Notts have taken just 13 points from a possible 30 in their games against the current top seven so far this season, but it looks likely that will have to change between now and the end of the campaign.

Wins over Salford, Cheltenham and Harrogate seem imperative, but a victory over at least one of either Bradford or Doncaster could also be needed.

While recent results have largely been promising for Maynard’s men, they will surely have to overcome one of their major achilles heels if they are to catapult themselves into an automatic promotion spot.