County set striving to gel

THERE is unlikely to be any love lost between the dugouts when away-day specialists Notts County arrive at SportsDirect.com Park on Saturday.

In the build-up to the final game of last season between the sides, home boss Lee Johnson appealed to his own supporters to get behind their side and “go for County’s jugular”.

The message riled some on the Magpies side, since at the time the club was trying to avoid a drop to League Two.

Other results made the 1-1 draw - played out in front of a bumper 7,698 crowd - not as crucial as it might have been.

Athletic’s own form had been impressive enough to warrant Johnson’s place on a manager of the month short list for April.

This weekend, the atmosphere will be less heightened, pitching together two clubs whose form is not in keeping with their play-off aspirations.

While there is little love lost between Johnson and his counterpart Shaun Derry - not one to shy away from the spotlight, and a manager who milked it for all it was worth last May - both bosses will be focusing on pushing their way through mid-table mediocrity.

Athletic have won once since the end of November and Derry’s side have only registered one

three-point haul in their last 10 games.

Despite being beaten only twice away this season, Derry is determined his side hardens up to produce results.

“It will be tough,” he said of the upcoming visit to SportsDirect.com Park. It doesn’t matter whether you are playing Bristol City or Oldham, they are all hard games. But we will be ready.”