Notts County v Woking Match Preview - Will Notts County return to their winning ways?

Ben Foster’s dramatic penalty save at the death in Wales last time out meant Notts County departed the Racehorse Ground empty-handed. Wrexham’s 3-2 win also meant The Red Dragons went three points clear of Notts County in the race for the National League title.

This weekend’s clash versus Woking won’t be any easier for Luke Williams’ Magpies, Woking securing a playoff spot in the National League for the first time in their history recently. The Cardinals are unbeaten in their last four clashes in the league too, notching up back-to-back wins over Maidstone United and Dorking Wanderers on their travels in the process.

Darren Sarll’s men have exceeded even the most optimistic expectations any Woking fans might have had before a ball kicked this campaign. Benjamin Parker, who has been following the Cards all season as a fan, says the non-league side is ‘living the dream’ at this moment in time.

He said: “I’m so so proud, we often use the term ‘little old Woking’ so to be where we are in April is honestly incredible. Understandably with everything going on above us, the attention has been taken away from this achievement but all of us fans know how amazing this season has been. We’re only one point from our highest National League points tally since 1996!

“The work that Darren Sarll has put into this squad with his recruitment and man management has been second to none. We’re super grateful and living the dream!”

Notts County does come into this clash with some positive news regardless of that heavily publicised loss to Wrexham.

Both Luke Williams and Macaulay Langstaff have been recognised with personal accolades, the Magpies boss and player-winning Manager of the Month and Player of the Month respectively for March.

The award-winning boss spoke to Notts County’s website to preview this early evening clash at Meadow Lane on Saturday with Luke Williams anticipating a ‘test of character’ after the Wrexham defeat in what will be a tricky match-up.

He said: “I think if we’d won every single game of the season, Woking is still a test of character because that is actually what they do. They test your character because they are very intense, very tough to play against.

“It was like a volley of energy hit us when we played at their place and we are very fortunate because we have some real quality at the top of the pitch, we had some guys in real good form and they made a lot out of a little. They were absolutely ferocious!”

The reverse fixture at the Kingfield Stadium back in October saw Notts County run out 3-2 victors over Woking, Cedwyn Scott netting twice for Luke Williams’ side.

Woking’s main threat going forward for the Magpies to keep tabs on will be James Daly in attack, the former Bristol Rovers man has been out with an injury recently but is expected to feature in some capacity this weekend.

He has managed to score seven goals this campaign, including a goal in Woking’s emphatic 3-1 away win at Chesterfield back in early February.

In defence, Scott Cuthbert will play the brute, no-nonsense defender role for The Cards. Woking fan Benjamin Parker picked Cuthbert out as a key man for his side who he anticipates will give Notts County star Macaulay Langstaff a run for his money on Saturday.

He said: “At the back we’ve been solid also and Scott Cuthbert has been vital in that. He’s a proper old-fashioned centre-half who heads everything and will bully strikers. It will be great to see him up against Langstaff and how that plays out.”

Notts County might well freshen up their starting eleven for this encounter, the likes of ex-Coventry man Jodi Jones impressing for the Magpies mainly off the bench since joining on loan. Could he feature from the get-go on Saturday?

It should be a pulsating contest at Meadow Lane, the Magpies looking to return to winning ways after a rare defeat and Woking looking to pile even more misery onto Luke Williams’ men to resign the Magpies to a spot in the playoffs alongside them.

The game will be played at Meadow Lane at 5:30 pm this Saturday, the blockbuster match-up even being shown on BT Sport for those who can’t attend in Nottingham.