Swindon Town return to action after an additional weekend's break after their away trip to Walsall was postponed due to international call-ups in the Saddlers' side.
Town now looks to face a Notts County side who have been going through changes of their own this season, with a new manager at the helm of the Magpies in Stuart Maynard, following Luke Williams' departure to Swansea earlier this campaign.
Both teams will be looking to respond to frustrating recent results, with Swindon hoping to react to their Doncaster defeat last time out, and Notts will be looking for a reaction following their home defeat to Salford last Saturday.
A lowdown on the visitors
Notts County Football Club boasts a rich and storied history that spans more than 150 years, making it one of the oldest football clubs in the world. Founded in 1862, Notts County is situated in Nottingham, England, and holds the distinction of being the first professional football club. The Magpies, as they are affectionately known, has experienced its fair share of highs and lows throughout its long history.
The club has a strong tradition of competing in the Football League, and it was a founding member of the Football League in 1888. Notably, Notts County clinched the league title in the 1893-94 season, showcasing its prowess on the pitch during a period when the football landscape was still taking shape.
Nowadays, Notts County finds themselves in the fourth tier of English football’s pyramid for the first time since their first-ever relegation to non-league in 2019.
Last campaign, the Magpies went toe-to-toe with Wrexham, ultimately losing out on automatic promotion by four points, though their celebrations wouldn’t be delayed for much longer. A day out at Wembley ended in promotion after an eventful encounter against Chesterfield. The game ended 2-2 after extra time before former Town boss Luke Williams’ side triumphed 4-3 on penalties.
Head-to-head
14/15: Swindon Town 3-0 Notts County
17/18: Notts County 1-0 Swindon Town
17/18: Swindon Town 1-0 Notts County
18/19: Notts County 1-2 Swindon Town
18/19: Swindon Town 3-1 Notts County
23/24: Notts County 3-1 Swindon Town
The manager: Stuart Maynard
Stuart Maynard arrived as Notts’ new head coach in January 2024 following the departure of former Town boss Luke Williams, signing a three-and-a-half-year deal.
Along with his assistant Matt Saunders and first-team coach Craig Saunders, Maynard joined from Wealdstone where he established himself as one of the most exciting managers outside the EFL.
Having helped the Stones win the 2019-20 National League South title as assistant to Dean Brennan, Maynard took the hotseat in March 2021 and guided the team adeptly despite the immense challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following season, Maynard led Wealdstone to their highest league position in 35 years before helping them continue to exceed expectations with an improved 13th-place finish in 2022-23.
One to watch: Macaulay Langstaff
The current league and EFL top scorer this season, Macaulay Langstaff is someone that Town will need to keep an eye on to ensure he’s not able to further his lead at the top of the goalscoring charts.
25 goals this season shows the kind of firepower the former Gateshead and York City forward poses, with the now-Notts County man scoring 66 times in 89 appearances including a record-breaking 41 times in the National League which fired the Magpies back to the EFL via the play-offs last season.
