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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Oliver King

Luke Williams fires Wembley 'distractions' warning ahead of Notts County's play-off final

Notts County boss Luke Williams has insisted that his side must learn lessons from their play-off semi-final against Boreham Wood last weekend if they are to secure a return to the Football League.

The Magpies came from two goals down to book their place at Wembley, after Femi Ilesanmi and Lee Ndlovu stunned Meadow Lane into silence having wasted a number of opportunities to take the lead.

But Aden Baldwin's first goal for Notts two minutes into the second-half breathed new life into the hosts - the defender netting a 97th-minute equaliser to send the game to extra-time in which Jodi Jones scored his only goal since joining from Oxford United at the end of January.

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Speaking after the victory over Luke Garrard's side, Williams explained his concerns surrounding his team's display - insisting learning from that performance will be pivotal in

"We have to use the game as a lesson for us to be completely focused in the game and not be distracted by the atmosphere or what's at stake and not have these thoughts entering your mind because we still have a job to do.

"And that's going to be crucial for the final as well."

Standing in their way are local rivals Chesterfield, having come through another dramatic semi-final after going a goal down to Bromley before conceding a 99th minute equaliser to send the game to extra-time - Liam Mandeville taking his side through to the final.

The Magpies have taken four points off the Spireites this campaign, coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Meadow Lane at the start of the season, before travelling to the Technique Stadium and emerging 2-1 victors as Adam Chicksen's late strike ensured the win.

But Williams' post-match comments explained that it was the 'most dominated' he had felt since taking the reins, despite Paul Cook's side being down to ten-men for almost half-an-hour.

"I was very unhappy with the performance on that day," the Notts head coach explained. Really, if we want to be able to win this game we have to play far better than that.

"I know we are capable of that, but it has to come together on the day and that is the message to the players - we have to play very well and be completely tuned in and switched on for the entire game, and then we are a test for anybody."

For many of the squad, it will be there first time gracing the Wembley turf this weekend - but Williams has had experience of being on the touchline at the home of football.

Unfortunately for the Magpies head coach it ended in defeat, but he intends to use that experience from eight years ago to his advantage in aiding his side cope with the occasion.

"I was the assistant manager for Swindon Town in the League One play-off final - we got destroyed by Preston so it was a steep learning curve for me.

"Hopefully there are one or two things that in hindsight we could have done differently and I will try to implement those things this weekend.

"Whether they help us, I hope they help us, but we will only know how good our preparations was and our attention to detail was when we see the outcome of the weekend."

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