With a shock announcement from the National League this weekends game with Eastleigh is not to be affected by the current postponements due to the Corona Virus outbreak so here's the match preview!
Eastleigh were Notts' first opponents in the National League back in August last year. It wasn't a great start for Notts, losing 1-0 and both Doyle and McCrory seeing red.
The Spitfires currently sit 16th in the league on 46 points from 36 games.
Recent form sees them 12th in the last 6 games and although their last 6 games away includes 4 straight defeats they have managed a win and a draw in their last to games on the road.
Eastleigh last six league games: P6 | W2 | D3 | L1 | GF 6 | GA 6 | GD 0 | Pts 9.
Eastleigh last six away games: P6 | W1 | D1 | L4 | GF 4 | GA 11 | GD -7 | Pts 4.
This equates to a PPG average for the last 6 league games of 1.50, a goals scored per game average of 1.0 and a goals conceded average of 1.0.
Last 6 away for Eastleigh deliver much lower stats with a PPG of 0.67, goals scored per game 0.67 and goals conceded 1.83.
By comparison Notts are now 3rd in the league on 60 points thanks to a better goal difference over Yeovil and Boreham Wood.
Looking at recent form Notts are currently in 2nd place behind Harrogate and joint second in the last 6 home games.
Notts have a last six league record of P6 | W4 | D1 | L1 | GF 11 | GA 5 | GD +6 | Pts 13.
Notts last 6 home league games P6 | W4 | D2 | L0 | GF 12 | GA 3 | GD +9 | Pts 14.
This equates to a PPG average for the last 6 league games of 2.17, a goals per game average of 1.83 and a goals conceded average of 0.83.
Last 6 home league games for Notts sees a PPG of 2.33, goals per game of 2.00 and goals conceded of just 0.50.
Notts currently have the second best defence in the league behind Solihull having leaked just 38 goals.
The following chart plots how the two teams compare for league position, form, attack and defence. The wider the 'web' the better so it looks quite nice from a Notts perspective.
How the two teams compare for the season so far (National League):
As before the Aldershot game, on current form and with home advantage Notts should be firm favourites and should be very much up to the task with Neal Ardley looking to further utilise his squad due to the return of players from injury.
Notts have still conceded most goals in the first 15 minutes of a game and nearly 60% of goals scored by Notts have been in the second half which appears to be a growing pattern and suggest squad depth and substitutions continue to make a difference.
Eastleigh appear to be most vulnerable in the first 15 mins of each half. Hopefully this will play to Notts advantage who have been slow to get out of the blocks recently, especially in the game vs Aldershot.
Goals scored and conceded per 15 min segment for both Notts and Eastleigh. Segments 31-45 mins and 76-90 mins include goals scored in added/injury time.
The defeat to Eastleigh at Ten Acres back in August was the first meeting between the two sides so not much to discuss regarding the head to head stats.
A win for Notts will hopefully mean keeping hold of 3rd place depending on the outcome of the games at Boreham Wood and Yeovil where goal difference could play a part. A win will also see Notts close the gap on 2nd place Harrogate who's game against Solihull tonight has been postponed due to the Corona Virus.
Defeat could see a drop back down to 6th.
A win for Eastleigh will mean another step towards league safety and a chance to consolodate a mid table finish.
34 Year old Tyrone Barnett is currently the Spitfires leading goalscorer. The Cheltenham loanee has netted 12 times this season for Eastleigh including both goals in the 2-1 away win at Chorley two games ago.
Danny Hollands is also a danger from centre midfield where he has managed to score 10 goals so far this season.
As expected the bookies have Notts clear favourites with 4/5 currently looking like the best you will get on a Notts win. Eastleigh are currently around 15/4 for the away win and the draw circa 11/4 (oddschecker.com).
Note:
Betting odds are only used as another means to assess current form and sporting industry expectations of possible result. Notts County Stats do not endorse any form of gambling or betting industry associated businesses.