Notts make it count in the world's spotlight

FOUR goals and a convincing victory couldn’t life the sub-dues mood at Meadow Lane yesterday.

- John Brindley

The eyes of the football world focused on the city of Nottingham for all the wrong reasons as Notts County’s National League game became the biggest in the country – and possibly even Europe – to be allowed to take place.

Although home fans celebrated another excellent performance from Neal Ardley’s men against lowly Eastleigh, the sense of unease and uncertainty hanging over sport – and the world in general – due to the coronavirus outbreak dominated the thoughts of both managers.

Eastleigh boss Ben Strevens made it clear that the heavy beating his relegation battlers took, courtesy of two goals from Kyle Wootton and one apiece from strike partner Kristian Dennis and the inspirational Callum Roberts was unrelated to his outspoken views.

“Greed on behalf of the National League can be the only reason the game went ahead,” Strevens said. “But the fact we lost the game here today was nothing to do with the coronavirus.

“I told our local media yesterday I didn’t think it should be played.

“The National League has not followed the protocol of the Premier League and the EFL.