There's no time to rest after tough start to year for Magpies

GILLINGHAM NEXT VISITORS AFTER FRUSTRATING HOME LOSS AGAINST ACCRINGTON

- By SAM ALLEN

MARTIN Paterson admitted that Notts County are feeling the strain of the busy winter fixture schedule, with some key players still recovering from injury.

A disappointing 1-0 defeat to Accrington Stanley at Meadow Lane on New Year's Day accentuated those issues, with Paterson deciding not to rotate his starting lineup much in these last few outings.

The games keep coming as the Magpies are at home to Gillingham tomorrow (3pm) and the hosts will need to quickly shake off recent frustration as they have picked up only two points from the last 12 available.

On the Accrington defeat, Paterson said: "We probably had the better of the chances. The way they play, though, it's difficult to open them up and get them out because they're so dogged.