News

03/10/2008 - Magpies' back-to-back wins aim

Ian McParland has today challenged his side to claim back-to-back league wins for the first time in 11 months at Port Vale tomorrow.The Magpies last claimed two successive victories in League Two against Wrexham and Accrington last season.

They beat Wrexham 2-1 in McParland's first game in charge at Meadow Lane on October 27 and then won 2-0 at Accrington on November 3.

After their first win of this campaign, against Aldershot last Saturday, the Notts County boss wants his players to beat the managerless Valiants and extend their unbeaten league run to eight games - and edge closer to the play-off places.

The Magpies are just four points off the top-eight ahead of the trip to Vale Park.

He said: "The first win gives us a massive boost but I am not getting carried away. We just have to roll our sleeves up, keep working hard and hopefully we can get back-to-back wins.

"If you can win back-to-back games, or three games on the bounce, it's amazing where it takes you in the league - but it is tough to do."

McParland is not underestimating his side's troubled opponents, who have lost their last four league games and are under the caretaker charge of Dean Glover and Andy Porter.

"It can work both ways. It could be a good thing or a bad thing," he added. "If we get at them quick and take the game to them their fans might get on their back a bit.

"On the other hand they will probably have their sleeves rolled up and will get at us.

"If we can get that first goal it might get their heads down.

"It is a very tricky game."

Striker Spencer Weir-Daley is the Magpies' only fresh injury concern, with a groin problem.