Notts County fans have certainly got value for money this season – as they’ve scored and conceded the most goals in League Two.
The Magpies are currently floundering around mid-table in the fourth tier with a fairly futile goal difference of one. The main reason for it is that their attack and defence keep cancelling each other out – one is doing their job brilliantly, the other, not so much.
Having played 41 games to this point, the Magpies have scored 80 goals but have conceded 79 – meaning there’s an average of roughly four goals every time they step onto the pitch.
It may be easier to start by looking at their impressive offensive stats to see where it’s going right before attempting to identify where it’s going wrong.
Enter, Macaulay Langstaff. After outrageously scoring 42 goals – with not one coming from the penalty spot – on County’s way to promotion from the National League last season, the 27-year-old has taken to life in the Football League like a duck to water.
He leads the way for goals with 24, to go with his six assists, which see him top the charts for overall goal contributions. Then, on the topic of assists, comes Jodi Jones.
The Maltese winger has a league-leading 23 – over double Alex Gilbey, Daniel Kemp and Stephen Quinn behind him with 10. It’s not just those two doing all the work though, as creative midfielder Daniel Crowley and veteran David McGoldrick have 22 and 16 goal contributions too, respectively, among others who have helped the team going forward.
So, with a front line so potent that only Ipswich Town have scored more in England’s top four divisions with 84, why do they find themselves eight places behind the play-offs?
Because of their disastrous defence, in which only Rotherham’s is worse in the top four divisions, having let in 81 goals themselves. The answer to why that is, is much less clear-cut, considering one of the goalkeepers in their ranks – Luca Ashby-Hammond – is on loan from Premier League outfit Fulham.
Young defender Lewis Macari was at Championship side Stoke City just a few months ago and Jaden Warner, even younger, is still contracted to Norwich City, also in the country’s second tier, which only adds to the mystery of their failing rearguard.
However, perhaps the biggest indicator of why County are experiencing the problems they are, is the loss of manager Luke Williams in January.
Williams, the man responsible for guiding the club back to the Football League last campaign, left for Swansea City halfway through the season, despite making a good start and being fifth in the table.
The 42-year-old broke multiple club records during his time at Meadow Lane, including the most points in a season with a whopping 107, most wins and longest unbeaten run.
Following Williams’ departure, County appointed Stuart Maynard from Wealdstone. Since then, they’ve only managed to win two games out of 14, giving up 27 goals along the way and falling down the table.
But, with the threat of relegation almost impossible and the chances of reaching the play-offs extremely unlikely, County supporters can certainly sit back, relax (sort of) and watch the chaos ensue.
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