3rd tier* League fixture
*Then known as Division Three

Notts County 1     Blackpool 1
Lund 55                                                  Morgan 15
 

Attendance :- 4,748
Referee :- Paul Vanes (Warley)
Corners:- Notts 7 Blackpool 3
Shots on target:- Notts 9 Blackpool 5
Shots off target:- Notts 12 Blackpool 5
Bookings:- Fairclough (Notts), Elliot (Blackpool)
 

Notts County
Colours:- Black & white striped shirts, Black shorts, Black socks
League Position:- before match 20th/24, after match 21st/24
Manager:- Neil Warnock

1.   Mick Lenoard
2.   Willie McStay
3.   Chris Withe
4.   Don O’Riordan
5.   Dean Yates
6.   Nicky Law
7.   Gary Mills
8.   Ian McParland
9.   Gary Lund
10. Geoff Pike*
11. Wayne Fairclough

Sub: Adrian Thorpe *80
Other sub not used
 

Blackpool
Colours:- All tangerine with white side panelling
League Position:- before match 18th/24, after match 17th/24
Manager:- Sam Ellis

1.   Barry Siddall
2.   Dave Burgess
3.   Steve Morgan
4.   Ian Gore
5.   Colin Methven
6.   Shaun Elliot
7.   Mike Davies
8.   Tony Cunningham
9.   Andy Garner
10. Russell Coughlin
11. Keith Walwyn

Subs not used

Up the Maggies note:
This was Neil Warnock's first game in charge - although he had been at the previous match away v Swansea watching from the stands (Notts lost that match 2-0 and it was the last time Garry Birtles was picked for the starting 11). County actually slipped into the relegation zone for the first time all season after the draw with Blackpool but we went on to finish the season only 6 points short of a play off place.

Video of the match:- The match was videotaped by the club and later included on a VHS end-of-season compilation video, but I am not certain if a goals report was shown on Central News East.

Neil Warnock's Team Talk
From the matchday programme

NOTTS COUNTY are renowned throughout football as the oldest League club and when the chairman offered me the manager's position, I regarded it as an honour to be joining a club with such great tradition. Inevitably, I suppose, I am still in the process of finding my way around and trying to put names to faces but I realise only too well that the settling in period must be brief.
It goes without saying that the No.1 priority is to ensure that Notts County avoid the drop to Division Four and we need to get on with the job of pulling clear of the relegation zone as quickly as possible. In many ways, Meadow Lane is a totally new scene for me and I must confess that it's not easy to recall happy memories of my previous visits. During my playing days with a variety of clubs, I hated coming here because I knew in advance that all I would get from the likes of Brian Stubbs and David Needham was plenty of bumps and bruises. The sooner we can get back to the situation where visiting teams are made to realise they are not welcome (for 90 minutes at any rate), the better it will be - and that's a situation I'm keen to recreate.
No doubt some of you will never have heard of me and maybe you were disappointed that a big-name manager failed to land the job. But I can only ask at this time for help and understanding. I'm not kidding myself. I know that the task I've taken on will not be easy but I assure you that I will be doing everything in my power to earn your respect by giving you something to cheer.
The result at Swansea last week was disappointing but it was a useful exercise from my point of view. I learned a lot from it - and saw much that encouraged me during the course of the afternoon. I was also made aware of certain problem areas and once I've had chance to assess things more closely during the next few weeks, it could well be that I will be thinking in terms of bringing in a new face or two. Having said that, I'm very fortunate to have inherited the current staff and I'm hoping I can give them the little bit of fresh impetus they need at the moment.
In my opinion, the difference between the top and bottom clubs is minimal - maybe even a matter of confidence - and although that's a commodity we were lacking at Swansea, I'm hoping the players will show more belief in their ability this afternoon. Nothing would please me more than to get away to a winning start against Blackpool but I know enough about them to realise that we face a tough assignment. Sam Ellis is an old friend and I wish him well. But he will understand when I say that I want our lads to go out this afternoon and really play to their true capabilities.
 

Nottingham Evening Post Report

GOALS SHOULD COME
By David Stapleton

NEIL WARNOCK won no fewer than 71 games out of 145 during his two-and-a-half years at Scarborough. By that yardstick Notts County's new manager might have been expected to achieve his first victory over Blackpool at Meadow Lane on Saturday. Certainly, Brentford ought to be more than a little concerned about the outcome of tomorrow's Sherpa Van Trophy match at Griffin Park. If football isn't quite like that, Warnock's arrival has coincided with enough goal attempts and goal chances in 180 minutes to give Notts room for optimism in the second half of the season. The side reached the mid-way stage fourth from bottom, last of the relegation positions. They had 24 points from 23 matches, and this time last year another 29 points would have been needed to keep them in Division Three. Warnock has soon decided that the situation can best be remedied by more accepted means. The accusation that Notts play too much football for their status is likely to be buried in the past. The Warnock style allows for some individual subtlety, but in the opponent's half of the field. John Newman, when caretaker manager, felt that the circumstances demanded a more direct approach.

VOLLEY
Now it seems Notts will be even less intricate and more aggressive, and if the Swansea and Blackpool matches are anything to go by the goals tally should be given a vital boost. That Warnock didn't give supporters a first time home win was due in no small measure to 34-year-old Barry Siddall. The goalkeeper, who made his name with Bolton and Sunderland, had an inspired match. Best of several fine saves was from a screaming volley through a crowd of players by Geoff Pike with the score 1-1 15 minutes from the end. In fact, the goalkeeping on either side was a high spot of a match that was poor in the first half but lively entertainment after the interval. Mick Leonard made an outstanding save from Tony Cunningham's header in the 27th minute, dropping quickly at the near post to claw the ban out for a corner.

RUNNING
Had that counted, Blackpool, one point better off than Notts, might well have gained their first win for two months and increased County's discomfort. Soon after Gary Lund had scored the 55th minute equaliser, Cunningham shrugged off Dean Yates with rather more ease than is customary to leave himself with an open goal, but Leonard parried the low shot superbly.
Warnock, given a warm reception by the crowd as Newman thoughtfully accompanied him on his first long walk to the dug-out, was given an early boost by transfer-listed Ian McParland. The Scot was full of running and inches out with a rising drive on the turn. In the course of the game, McParland had a lot of shots and on another day would have scored a hat trick.
Blackpool struck first in 15 minutes when Leonard, under severe pressure from the pugnacious Cunningham, fisted out Mike Davies' high centre to midfielder Steve Morgan, who hit an Instant left rooter from the edge of the box into the net. Wayne Fairclough soon made an aggressive impact in midfield and good work by the youngster left Lund clear to the right of goal on the half hour. Siddall blocked the shot in fine style. But Notts, though as committed as a team needs to be against Blackpool, gave the ball away too often in a first half that was all thud and vigour and could have done with a firmer hand by the referee.

HEADED
In the second half, County gained increasing hold or the midfield and induced excitement by the number or times they got into the Blackpool penalty area. They equalised in 55 minutes when Nicky Law, who had another fine match against his old club, won Don O'Riordan's free kick in the air and Lund headed his second consecutive home goal and his third of the season. Notts just deserved to build on the overdue Meadow Lane victory over Bolton. But they didn't have the best of luck near goal and always there was Siddall behind a strong defence.
 

Notts County Season 1988/89
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