Preview: Silkmen vs Magpies

This Sunday sees the Coca-Cola League Two fixture, Macclesfield Town vs Notts County at the Moss Rose Ground, kick-off at 3.00 pm.

It's been six seasons since the two clubs last met when both were in the old Division Two - what is now called League One. Notts County were the winners 1-0 at the Moss Rose that season, although the Silkmen had managed to beat the Magpies the season before 2-0, with John Askey and Steve Woods scoring.

Despite having a 20 League goals man in Paul Heffernan, last season Notts County found themselves struggling at the bottom of Division Two as it was called. Results were up and down and a bad run-in period saw the club relegated. Manager Bill Deardon resigned after one particularly bad defeat in January and Gary Mills took over. This season, the bad run has continued and Mills has just suffered the dreaded vote of confidence. The Magpies have not managed a win at home, their away form is better with wins at Lincoln City, Rochdale and Bradford City in the Carling Cup. With the Magpies 4th from bottom and the Silkmen struggling against teams at the bottom of the Coca-Cola League Two, it may be that this game will test the Moss Rose faithfull.

After a season with Notts County, making 45 appearances and scoring 4 goals, Tony Barras was not offered a new contract and decided to move to the Moss Rose. He should be fit to play on Sunday after taking a bad knock last Saturday and limping off. Here's hoping he adds to his goal tally so far of one goal.

Ones to watch for in the Notts County Team? With Heffernan gone to Bristol City for £125000, top scorer so far this season is Glynn Hurst with six including a hat-trick against Rochdale. He arrived at the start of the season, from Chesterfield. Defender Ian Richardson was the club's player of the year last season and he has managed one goal so far, although alongside him, french defender Julien Baudet has managed three after arriving from Rotherham United also at the start of the season.

With Brian Horton apparently on the prowl for players to strengthen the squad, this may be a last opportunity for some of the first team squad to secure their place.

For all the statistics see the FootyMAD preview in the Match Day section.