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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Oliver King

Luke Williams highlights 'huge' Notts County moment ahead of York City visit

Luke Williams has explained the importance of Notts County's win over York City earlier in the season as they welcome Michael Morton's side to Meadow Lane for the return fixture this weekend.

The Magpies came away comfortable 3-1 winners from the LNER Community Stadium back in September as Quevin Castro's stunning free-kick and a Macaulay Langstaff brace saw Notts bounce back from their first defeat of the campaign with Williams at the helm.

But little did anyone know that the win would be the start of something special - Notts embarking on a 25-game unbeaten run in the league and breaking a 93-year club record in the process.

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Having been in charge for just over three months, Williams explained he learned a lot about his players from their reaction to the defeat against Dorking Wanderers before facing York a week later, labelling the win a huge moment in his short tenure at Meadow Lane.

"I think it was a big moment for me because we hadn't suffered a defeat since I had arrived at the club, so it was a big moment for me because I am looking very closely at the players and their body language and behaviours, listening to how they are communicating and see whether fear is starting to creep in or whether they believe in the message I am asking.

"This game was huge and the answers to all those questions were answered in a spectacular way because I thought it was a brilliant performance against a good team, off the back of the first defeat - that told me a lot about the group."

The improved mentality amongst the group of players has been visible since Williams took charge of the club in June, picking up points in games they perhaps wouldn't have in years gone by - evident in their upturn in form away from home this season.

Notts' penultimate fixture of the campaign saw them travel to Maidstone last weekend, looking to take their points tally away from Meadow Lane to 51 compared to just 32 last season.

But after looking comfortable throughout and going three goals ahead thanks to Cedwyn Scott and Jim O'Brien's brace, three second-half minutes saw George Elokobi's side score twice - going inches away from levelling as Sam Bone's effort hit the crossbar.

Speaking after the defeat to Wrexham earlier this month, Williams commended his side's anxiety control during their National League title decider with the north Wales outfit but insisted last weekend was the toughest test of that attribute this season - also detailing his reasoning behind making three changes at the same time that afternoon.

"Yeah I think it was, I thought particularly the first 45 minutes was exceptional from the guys - they really controlled the game on a difficult surface.

"As we've said before, you're playing against a team with no fear and they can surprise you and they changed a lot, their formation potentially when there is still so much at stake, it is more difficult for managers to change as freely.

"The only issue in the game that I said before was my choice in substitutions and changing of the formation, making all these changes with personnel and formation all at the same time, I try not to do anything randomly.

"I believe there could have been a scenario where we needed to outscore Wrexham if the points remained the same - if Wrexham really wanted to ramp up they could go into overdrive and score a lot of goals against their remaining opponents, so I felt like it was a good time in the game to do so.

"We had a comfortable cushion, but we looked to add more energy, to add a striker that has scored 41 goals already, to add a striker that is so hungry to impress and get off the mark, and to add a winger that has been incredible all season with his pace and being able to create a goal and score a goal.

"I rolled the dice and I think that caused a lot of problems for the team in actual fact, and they were able to stabilise and get to grips with the changes and they showed brilliant anxiety control again because at that point, we were the early game and everything was still to play for.

"You have to understand how brilliant Ruben's free-kick and Jim O'Brien's penalty and how brilliant they were in those moments."

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