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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Oliver King

Six things we learned from Notts County's 6-1 win against Wealdstone

Six goals, six consecutive league wins, and three points clear at the top of the National League table.

The Magpies continue to lead the way at the summit of the league table and swept aside a potential banana skin as they thrashed Wealdstone 6-1 at Grosvenor Vale on Tuesday evening.

Goals from Macaulay Langstaff, Matty Palmer, Geraldo Bajrami, Aaron Nemane and a brace from Adam Chicksen saw Luke Williams' side score six away from home for the first time since 1924 in what was a brilliant evening for the travelling was 513 Notts fans.

READ MORE: Adam Chicksen reveals secret behind Notts County goalscoring form this season

The performance was slightly tainted when Micah Obiero fired beyond Sam Slocombe to stop a seventh clean sheet of the season, and Richard Brindley saw red in the 66th minute after a second bookable offence.

But following the performance, here are six things we learned from an away day to remember for the Magpies.

Adam Chicksen importance

The Zimbabwean Roberto Carlos. What a performance from Adam Chicksen last night, he looks a completely different player under Luke Williams, providing that goal-scoring threat from the wide positions.

And whilst his two goals will be the main focus from his performance at Grosvenor Vale, the 31-year-old ensured he did not neglect his defensive responsibilities, producing an all-round excellent performance on what could have been a testing evening for the Magpies.

With those goals Chicksen moves on to five National League goals this season, the most he has ever scored in a campaign during his professional career and bettering his overall goals at Notts since arriving at the club back in 2020.

Williams identified the importance the left-wing back during his pre-match assessment of the victory at Wealdstone, and under his management the 31-year-old has flourished in that more advanced position, becoming one of the most important players in the Magpies' system this season.

He has a great understanding with Kyle Cameron down the left, with the pair open to interchange when attacking, with Chicksen often showing his experience of dropping in when the Notts captain looks to break forward and providing that extra defensive cover.

Following Joel Taylor's start to the season, Chicksen was seen as part of the back three moving forward, but his meteoric rise from left-wing back has Notts legend Mark Stallard comparing him to Brazilian great, Roberto Carlos.

Ruben Rodrigues role

Despite not getting himself on the scoresheet, Ruben Rodrigues was at his influential best once again on Tuesday evening.

Speaking before the pre-match interview with Williams, the Notts boss explained to me that himself and assistant Ryan Harley had been working on that drilled pass in between the two central defenders to find Macaulay Langstaff.

When that pass came off during the opening three minutes of the game, the Portuguese immediately pointed towards the Notts County bench in appreciation to the coaching staff.

And like we saw against Wrexham, another clever free-kick routine spearheaded by Rodrigues saw his reversed pass set up Adam Chicksen to fire the ball beyond Samuel Howes to put Notts two goals up.

His work off the ball has been an area of his game highlighted this season, and that was on show once again at Wealdstone. When the ball was turned over in Wealdstone's favour, he was determined and quick to initiate the press, which his team-mates successfully followed.

One-man team?

With all the talk surrounding Macaulay Langstaff's goal-scoring exploits during the season, three Notts players managed to get themselves on the scoresheet for the first time this season.

Whilst the 17-goal striker started the scoring with a brilliant, curled effort, Matty Palmer opened his account for the season midway through the first half, with Aaron Nemane and Geraldo Bajrami also getting in on the action, both finding the back of the net within ten minutes of the restart.

The threat that the Magpies carry all over the pitch is frightening, with Nemane a continuous threat all night whilst Williams highlighted after the game, he spoke to Palmer in preparation for the game to try and pick up a more advanced position to threat the Wealdstone goal.

Despite Langstaff leading the way for goals, Notts have had ten different scorers in the National League so far this season, further cementing the threat they carry when attacking.

Richard Brindley sending off

The only real negative surrounding the win is the sending off of Richard Brindley.

One of Notts' most consistent performers under Williams this season, the 29-year-old had a night to forget at Grosvenor Vale, seeing red after receiving a second bookable offence for tugging back Olufela Olomola.

But that action was not the first time Brindley had been caught out on Tuesday evening. On a number of occasions, the defender was sloppy in possession and hesitant with the ball, something we have yet to see from him so far this season.

Whilst his presence will be a huge loss in the Notts back three, the return of Aden Baldwin is timely and will likely see him straight into the starting line-up against Torquay on Saturday.

Another option that could be considered may be Toby Adebayo-Rowling operating at centre-back, with his power and strength a real asset should Williams look to ease Baldwin back into the side after his injury.

Jim O'Brien encouragement

One great sight to see was midfielder Jim O'Brien back running on the pitch ahead of kick-off at Grosvenor Vale.

The 35-year-old is not expected to feature for the Magpies for another three weeks following his injury against Wrexham at the start of October, but was seen doing laps of the pitch and going through some intense training drills prior to the 6-1 victory.

His influence on the team was highlighted by Williams in the pre-match build up to the game despite not being involved in the squad, and he was key once again at half-time, heading down the tunnel early from the stands to my right to greet the players in the dressing room following their impressive first half performance.

Despite not being involved, he could be heard shouting instructions from the stands and motivating his side to attack, something you love to see from a player not involved on a matchday.

Six consecutive league wins

When one unbeaten run ends, another one starts, and the Magpies are close to equalling their nine-game unbeaten run at the start of the season that was ended at the hands of Dorking Wanderers.

Six consecutive league wins have seen Williams' side beat Wrexham, Woking, and Wealdstone in that time, scoring 19 goals in the process.

It was also the first time since February 9, 1924, that Notts have managed to score six goals away from home when they beat Chelsea 6-0, further highlighting the Magpies' credentials of finally escaping the National League at the fourth time of asking.

And they will be looking to continue that unbeaten run when they host Torquay at Meadow Lane this Saturday, with no love lost between the two sides over the years.

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