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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Chris Watson

Ian Burchnall outlines 'biggest challenge' for Notts County in promotion push

Ian Burchnall has warned his Notts County players against any complacency as the team bid to cement a place in the National League play-offs.

The Magpies are seventh in the table - in the final play-off spot - with six games of the regular campaign remaining. All of those fixtures are against sides in the bottom half. Indeed, the next four games are against teams in the bottom four of the division - Weymouth, Dover Athletic (twice) and Aldershot Town.

While the play-off race is tight, Notts could benefit from what looks to be a favourable run of fixtures. They beat third-from-bottom King's Lynn Town 4-1 at Meadow Lane last time out to bounce back from the 5-1 drubbing at Torquay United.

Read more: 'Odd' - Burchnall delivers verdict on thumping King's Lynn win

Read more: Warnock recalls when Notts were Wembley kings

But head coach Burchnall has urged his players to keep their eye on the ball as they bid to clinch a return to the EFL. "That will be our biggest challenge - to remain focused and not complacent, and understand the value of every game," he said.

"Dover beat Boreham away (on Monday). I know Boreham have dropped off but they've still got quality in there. And it just shows you nobody is giving up, nobody is rolling over, nobody is going to make it easy.

"Some players are playing for next year, so we have to understand that and we have to be ready for that. So just because the fixtures say that, we've still got to turn up and do our job."

Rock bottom Dover are already relegated, so have nothing to lose. Asked if they looked a better team since their fate was sealed, Burchnall replied: "Sometimes that happens. You see it. Obviously they are waiting for that moment and when it has happened, then they can play with a bit more freedom. That probably happens.

"I'm sure when they come here, they'll roll up their sleeves. They've got nothing to lose, so they'll try to put a performance in.

"We just have to be ready every game. I thought we were ready (against King's Lynn). We obviously went 1-0 down but the response was great, the character was great, and we're going to need to show that."

Notts went behind to King's Lynn but hit back in style with four unanswered goals. "I wasn't so happy about it (conceding first) but I knew there was a lot of time left, and I trust the players," said Burchnall.

"I thought they put a great display in. I thought everybody was on it, even in the second half at 2-1, when it could go either way.

"They (King's Lynn) came out with a little bit of energy but I just thought we managed the game really well. We took our attacks and then when we didn't attack, we just controlled the game."

Did they have a couple more gears to go up into if required? "Yeah, at times, but I thought we stretched the game much better - Wootts's (Kyle Wootton's) movement in behind, I thought we had runners that went beyond, and that opened a lot more space for us to play. Yes, we could have gone maybe another gear but I thought we were really controlled."

Stockport County are seven points clear at the top of the table in the solitary automatic promotion spot. Wrexham and Halifax are second and third respectively. The teams finishing in those positions are guaranteed a home semi-final in the play-offs.

Meanwhile, sides finishing between fourth and seventh will have to battle it out in "eliminator" ties for the chance of an away semi-final. As it stands, Notts are 10 points behind third-placed Halifax, with a game in hand.

How high can Notts County finish this season? Let us know what you think in the comments section below...

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