MAYNARD RUES DEFENSIVE LAPSE AS ’MAGICIAN’ N’MAI POUNCES

By Andrew Johnson

NO TTS COUNTY 1

McGoldrick 67

SALFORD CITY 3

Platt 45+1 og, N’Mai 53, Garbutt 77

NOTTS COUNTY: Slocombe 7, Bedeau 6, Platt 6, Macari 6, Jarvis SALFORD: Young 6, Garbutt 8, Tilt 8, Shephard 8, Adelakun 8 7 (Grant 81, 6), Hinchy 6 (Abbott 45, 6) Palmer 6, Tsaroulla 6 (Lund 90+4), Fornah 7, Ashley 7 (Austerfield 90), Mnoga 7, (McDonald 45, 7), McGoldrick 7, Whitaker 6 (Jones 45, 6) Jatta 6 Woodburn 7 (Warrington 90), N’Mai 9, Stockton 6 (Longelo 90). (Traore 78, 6). Subs not used: Edwards, Miller. Subs not used: Edwards, Jones, Taylor.

Att: 9,643 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Alex Chilowicz 7/10

NOTTS County manager Stuart Maynard insisted his side’s defensive performance was unlike them after their automatic promotion hopes took a huge dent with defeat to Salford City on Friday.

The Magpies missed the opportunity to move a point behind the automatic promotion spots.

Maynard said: “It’s frustrating in the way we conceded the goals. It’s very unlike us, I think we’ve only conceded

three shots on target in our last four games, so to concede three goals is very frustrating.

“I thought they were the better team in the first half especially and when they scored the first goal before coming in at half-time, it’s a real kick in the teeth. Then they come out and score again just, I think, six minutes into the second half.”

A smart move in added time of the first half found its way to Kelly N’Mai who used his pace well before finding Cole Stockton in the area.

Stockton’s strike then took a nasty deflection off Matthew Platt on its way in.

N’Mai turned from provider to scorer in the 53rd minute as Hakeem Adelakun’s strike was parried by Sam Slocombe to the feet of the attacker to turn home.

David McGoldrick pulled one back for his side in the 63rd minute, sliding in to turn Lewis Macari’s header back across goal home.

However, Luke Garbutt killed off any Notts renaissance in the 76th minute as his first-time strike from just inside the area keep Karl Robinson’s men in reach of the play-offs.

Salford were unchanged for the first time since September and manager Karl Robinson believes there are not many sides better than his when they are at full strength.

He said: “I don’t think we are that far off it when our best players are fit. We’ve lost three players for the season, but you can’t rely on luck, you’ve got to rely on quality.

“Our players showed a wonderful performance and a calmness in what we do. I don’t think it gets much better.”

Robinson also hailed star man N’Mai, who he believes added to his price tag with his performance.

He said: “We’ve got probably one of the best players in the league.

“I said a million quid last week. He’s just put half a million on his price tag.

“I don’t think there are many better players than him. He’s a magician.”