NOTTS COUNTY (A) PREVIEW by Steve Harris

TT PREVIEW

Steve Harris – @steveharris84

Steve Harris previews the game at Notts County

NOTTS COUNTY VS TORQUAY UNITED – NATIONAL LEAGUE

Venue: Meadow Lane, Nottingham

Date: 29th October 2022

Kick-off: 3pm

CURRENT FORM

Torquay: L, L, D, W, D, L

Notts County: W, W, W, L, W, W

TOP SCORERS

Torquay: Will Goodwin (3)

Eastleigh: Macaulay Langstaff (17)

HEAD TO HEAD

Torquay: 9

Draw: 20

Notts County: 20

NOTTS COUNTY FACTFILE

Year founded: 1862

Nickname: The Magpies

Last season’s league finish: 5^th National League

Notable honours:

FA Cup:

Winners: 1894

Anglo Italian Cup:

Winners: 1995

Second Division/First Division/Championship:

Winners: 1896-97, 1913-14, 1922-23

Play-off winners: 1990-91

MANAGER: LUKE WILLIAMS

Luke Williams was appointed head coach in June 2022 following the departure of Ian Burchnall.

Prior to accepting the role, he had most recently been assistant head coach to Russell Martin at Swansea City, while he also had experience as a head coach from his time at Swindon Town.

After a promising youth career was curtailed by injury at 20, Williams turned his hand to coaching.

His first major role came in the form of a three-year spell as Brighton and Hove Albion Under 21s manager, which led to his appointment as assistant to Mark Cooper at Swindon Town in 2013. The pair led the Robins to the play-off final in 2014-15, losing out to Preston North End, and Williams continued in his role under former Gulls’ boss Martin Ling following Cooper’s departure.

When Ling resigned in 2015, Williams took over as caretaker manager’s role and following an excellent run of results, he was appointed as the club’s head coach. However, Swindon found themselves in a relegation battle which resulted in the club dropping into League Two and Williams’ contract was terminated.

Williams then made an immediate return to work by becoming head coach of Bristol City’s Under 23s. Two years later, Williams teamed up with Martin as his assistant at MK Dons before following him to the Championship when became manager of Swansea City.

PLAYER TO WATCH: MACAULAY LANGSTAFF

After joining the Magpies for an undisclosed fee from Gateshead in the close season, Macaulay Langstaff is currently the National League’s leading scorer with 17 goals.

Langstaff bagged 32 goals and claimed 14 assists as he helped to fire Gateshead to the National League North title last season and was the leagues top scorer and player of the season.

Hailing from Stockton-on-Tees, Langstaff progressed through the north east non-league scene with Billingham Synthonia and Blyth Spartans before moving into National League North with York City and Gateshead. His form this season has earned comparisons with both Erling Haaland and Jamie Vardy.

LANGSTAFF STATS:

Position: Striker

Date of Birth: 3rd February 1997 – 25 Years Old

Birthplace: Stockton-on-Tees

Height: 1.78m

Former Clubs: Billingham, Gateshead, Blyth Spartans, York City

NLS Stats 22-23: Played 15, Goals Scored 17, Yellow/Red 1/0

OLD BOYS

Torquay: None

Notts County: Kyle Cameron, Aaron Nemane, Frank Vincent (on loan at Aldershot)

PREVIOUS HEAD TO HEAD

TORQUAY UNITED 5-1 NOTTS COUNTY

09/04/2022

Connor Lemonheigh-Evans bagged his first career hat trick as Torquay United moved closer to the play-off zone with a five-star display against Notts County.

In addition to this, skipper Armani Little also chipped in with a brace to help seal the Gulls’ first league win over the Magpies since 1966.

The Gulls, chasing a third straight victory, struck twice in the space of five minutes early in the first half through midfielder Armani Little and Welshman Lemonheigh-Evans.

County captain Kyle Wootton eventually pulled a goal back with 16 minutes left.

Lemonheigh-Evans, though, made sure of the points in the 77th minute when he slotted in again from close range and then completed his treble with five minutes to go before Little added a fifth in stoppage time.