Paterson sick of saying it ... but another tough game on the cards

NOTTS County will want to put some distance between themselves and a potential promotion rival as they travel to face Chesterfield today (3pm).

- By SAM ALLEN

There is more to their games with the Spirerites due to the locality and the recent history of having battled it out for promotion from the National League for a few years, with the Magpies defeating them in the 2023 playoff final at Wembley.

Chesterfield returned to League Two the following season and the Magpies are looking for their first win against them in the EFL since August 2017.

And they are well-positioned to do so under head coach Martin Paterson.

Top spot in League Two is up for grabs again for the Magpies if they are victorious and the three teams currently above them fail to win.

But Chesterfield are not much further behind in seventh and will go level with the Magpies on points if they get the win.

Notts have won three of their last four and Chesterfield are looking for three wins on the bounce, so it is set up for a mouthwatering tie to follow the leftover Christmas turkey.