Derry previews Swindon fixture

Derry speaks to the press. [Credit: Notts County Press Office]

With two games to go of the Football League season, the Magpies come up against a Swindon side which is still vying for a play-off spot. Notts go into the match, one point from safety after taking three points against Crawley on Easter Monday, but suffering a cruel 2-1 defeat at Ashton Gate at the hands of Bristol City, on Good Friday. Looking ahead of the tough fixture, Derry commented that:

This game brings up a different type of opposition…Swindon have to come here to win. They will have pressure on them, like us…John Gregory will have wanted to win on Monday, but Crawley didn’t need to win.

Looking back since he took over, the fans played a big part, which he has commented on in this weekend’s ‘The Mag’:

We have had some dark days away from home and here at Meadow lane, but they [the fans] have been right behind us. They will be a driving force for us…we’re the form team; you don’t get given that title, you earn it.

Though the Magpies are sitting one point from safety, they do have a superior goal difference to Carlisle, Tranmere, Colchester and Crewe, who are also battling to avoid the drop into League 2. All four have tough fixtures ahead, so Derry will hope to motivate his players to take at least four points from the next two games and ensure safety, results depending.

18	Colchester United	44	11	14	19	48	60	-12	47
19	Tranmere Rovers	44	12	11	21	51	75	-24	47
20	Crewe Alexandra	44	12	11	21	52	79	-27	47
21	Notts County	44	14	4	26	61	76	-15	46
22	Carlisle United	43	11	11	21	43	72	-29	44
23	Shrewsbury Town	44	9	14	21	41	60	-19	41
24	Stevenage	44	10	9	25	43	68	-25	39

Remaining fixtures

26/04/14

Bristol City v Crewe

Carlisle v Oldham

Colchester v Brentford

Leyton Orient

Notts County v Swindon

29/04/14

Crawley v Carlisle

03/05/14

Crewe v Bristol City

Oldham v Notts County

Tranmere v Bradford

Walsall v Colchester

Wolves v Carlisle

 

Looking forward to next season, the County manager speculated on the state of the pitch, given that Nottingham Rugby, and both the men’s and ladies’ team use the pitch every week, leading to a difficult situation for the ground staff:

‘It’s a Championship facility…I don’t know the contract [with Nottingham Rugby] and I understand that they have a business that they need to take care of too, I understand that…I just need to see what will help us get better and a better pitch will help that.’

Derry acknowledged the revenue that Nottingham Rugby does bring in however, and seeks talks over what can be done in order to help the facility progress.