Gary Johnson’s men are back in action at Plainmoor tomorrow as we welcome league leaders Notts County to the English Riviera.
Who’s the Boss?
Luke Williams arrived at Meadow Lane following the departure of Ian Burchnall in June 2022. After injury saw his playing career cut short, at the age of 20, Williams moved into coaching. Prior to taking the helm at Notts County, the 42-year-old had most recently been Assistant Head Coach at Swansea City, and has had previous experience during a spell as Head Coach at Swindon Town.
Williams’ first notable role was a three-year stint as Under-21s Manager for Brighton & Hove Albion, before he went on to become Assistant Manager at League One Swindon Town in 2013, where Williams helped guide the side to the 2014/15 play-off final, but slipped to defeat.
Following the resignation of Manager Martin Ling in 2015, Williams took on the Caretaker Manager role and after impressing and keeping Swindon up, was offered a five-year contract. However 13 months in, both parties agreed to mutually terminate his contract.
Williams has also enjoyed spells as Head Coach of Bristol City Under-23s, as well as Assistant Manager at MK Dons, before he went on to join the Swans, prior to joining the Magpies over the summer.
How have they been doing?
The Magpies are having an exceptional season so far and come into this game at the top of the table, though nearest rivals Wrexham do have two games in hand on them. County started the season with a 3-0 home win against Maidenhead, before after a run of three consecutive draws Notts went on to win their next four games. County’s only defeat so far this season in the league came after this four match winning run, when they lost 3-1 at National League new boys Dorking Wanderers, though this was a mere blip as they are now unbeaten in their last 20 league games since. A surprise home defeat to Coalville in the FA Cup and an FA Trophy home defeat on penalties to Maidstone United are so far the only real blot on the Magpies season, and they come to Plainmoor with a record of 1st in the league on 68 points from their 29 league games, having won 20 drawn 8 and lost just the one.
Player to watch
Ruben Rodrigues has so far scored 11 goals in his 28 appearances for the club so far this season, including a penalty against United in their 4-0 defeat back in October.
The Portuguese striker played his first professional games for Dutch side Den Bosch during a two year spell, and in 33 games scored an impressive 21 goals, while he also had a loan spell at De Treffers in 2019, which brought a return of 11 goals in just 17 games. Upon his release from Den Bosch, Rodrigues made the move to England when he joined Notts County, and so far has played over 100 league games for the Magpies, and scored 39 goals making him a firm favourite with the County faithful.
Played for both
Aaron Nemane came through the youth ranks at Manchester City,before spending two years at the Etihad though never got to make a first team appearance. The midfielders first professional games came while on loan at Rangers in 2017, before further loan spells first in 2018 at Go Ahead Eagles and then for the 2018/19 season at Belgian side Tubize.
Upon his release from City, Nemane came to the South West when Gary Johnson signed him for Torquay United, and in a two year spell the 25 year old helped United reach the Play Off Final in 2020/21 but couldn’t get the Gulls over the line after the penalty shoot out defeat to Hartlepool United. The Frenchman then left Plainmoor to join Notts County, where so far he has played 40 league games scoring four goals.
Previous Encounter
Torquay United 5 – 1 Notts County, 9th April 2022, Vanarama National League
You only have to go back to April 2022 for our last home victory against the Magpies, as an Armani Little brace either end of the match was only to be outdone by a Connor Lemonheigh-Evans hat-trick in between, making it a resounding 5-1 victory to United.
The first goal came in the 11th minute, when Little after receiving the ball from Stephen Wearne, curled it into the top left hand corner to put United in front. The second came only three minutes later when a Danny Wright ball across the face of the goal was finished off by Lemonheigh-Evans to double the Gulls lead.
There was to be no more scoring until County pulled a goal back in the 74th minute through Kyle Wootton, but United’s two goal lead was restored three minutes later when Little’s ball to Lemonheigh-Evans, allowed the the Welsh midfielder to jink past his man and curl his effort into the top corner. The game was sealed as a contest with four minutes remaining as Connor got his hat-trick, with Little’s cross going over the head of Wright, but there was the Welshman to chest the ball down and fire past the visitor’s keeper.
The gloss was put on the game deep into added time when Little got his second of the game, when the midfielder flicked the ball over the Notts keeper and saw United record their first home league victory over County since 1966.