County strikers have big incentive

NOTTS County's poor recent form has seen them drop from the play-off zone to the verge of mid-table in npower League One.

Martin Allen's side lost 2-1 to in-form Sheffield United on Tuesday, making it only one win in the last nine for the Magpies of Meadow Lane.

That run has seen County slump from third to their current station of ninth.

It is a situation they will no doubt be confident off addressing on Saturday at Boundary Park — particularly given Athletic's home woes and the result gained by Hartlepool, a similarly struggling side.

Allen will be without two of his players for the game due to suspensions.

Centre-back Sam Sodje picked up a fifth booking of the season in the Bramall Lane loss and serves a one-match ban, while Ishmel Demontagnac was handed a red card late on for throwing the ball into Blades man Matt Lowton's face and also faces an enforced spell of inaction.

With two players up front who have served time in an Athletic jersey in Ben Burgess and Lee Hughes, Allen will need little of his famous fire in order to motivate his strikers into hitting form.

But it is another Hughes, former Lincoln City and Bristol Rovers man Jeff, who has been the major scoring hero this season.

He has nine to his name in all competitions, while namesake Lee has seven.

Athletic manager Paul Dickov has happy memories of facing County as a manager.

On both occasions last term Athletic won, by an aggregate score of five goals to nil.

The first of that double, at Boundary Park, was the first home victory for Dickov.

Dean Furman's spectacular strike was followed by goals for Oumare Tounkara and Kieran Lee, sending Athletic to the top of the League One table.