Exclusive: Don Goodman dismisses Notts County, Stuart Maynard theory amid play-off pressure | OneFootball

Notts currently trail AFC Wimbledon in the play-off semi-finals

Don Goodman believes it would be "harsh" if pressure mounted on Notts County boss Stuart Maynard should the club fail to reach the play-off final.

The Magpies currently trail 1-0 against AFC Wimbledon heading into Saturday's second leg at Plough Lane, as Riley Harbottle's 59th-minute header proved decisive for Johnnie Jackson's side as they took the early advantage.

Maynard has endured a spell of mixed fortunes at Meadow Lane ever since being poached from National League outfit, Wealdstone, in January 2024 following Luke Williams' departure to Swansea City, signing a three-and-a-half year deal upon his move to NG2.

Despite restoring their EFL status after a four-year spell in non-league for the first time in the club's history back in 2023, Notts are among one of the biggest clubs in League Two when taking support-base, stadium and history into account, and such pressure has certainly been on this season to try and gain promotion to the third-tier for the first time since being relegated back in 2014/15.

This season, the club haven't been any lower than 16th, which is where they found themselves after the second game of the season, consistently flirting with the play-off and automatic promotion pictures in what has been a highly competitive, compelling and congestive race for League One football next term.

However, Goodman believes that any pressure that could come the 44-year-old's way should County suffer defeat over two legs to the Wombles wouldn't be merited, despite the East Midlands side's desire for success at this level.

As play-off encounters so often are, it was a game of fine margins at Meadow Lane last weekend, although County found themselves on the wrong side as Harbottle met Jake Reeves' neat cross to head past Alex Bass before top scorer, Alassana Jatta, was shown a straight red card in the dying seconds for a two-footed on Alastair Smith.

After the club consolidated with a 14th-placed finish last season, Goodman isn't exactly sure what Christoffer Reedtz's expectations for the current campaign where, despite the fact Maynard was backed heavily in both transfer windows, as well as having star quality in forward areas courtesy of Jatta and David McGoldrick.

"I'm not really sure what the remit for Notts County and Stuart Maynard would've been before a ball was kicked, having finished 14th last season," he exclusively told Football League World.

"Was it that they made the play-offs? well they've done that," he added.

"Obviously, I think the disappointment will come from their ending to the season, like most of the teams chasing automatic promotion with the exceptions of Doncaster Rovers and Port Vale, that there was a drop-off in results.

"The fact they only missed out on automatic promotion by six points after winning just one of their final six games will be disappointing," Goodman stated.

"But, it's a massive step forward from last season, and if Stuart Maynard were under pressure, then I think that might be a tad on the harsh side," the Sky Sports pundit concluded.

Notts County have it all to do at Plough Lane - but it shouldn't define Stuart Maynard's stint

Maynard will be under no illusions that the already hard task of claiming a positive result at Plough Lane will have now been made even tougher as it looks likely that Jatta will be suspended for the second leg, although the County boss did admit that an appeal against the decision could be a possibility upon review.

In the regular season, Wimbledon possessed the second-strongest home form with a tally of 44 points from 23 games, whilst the Magpies' return of 37 points was also the second-best on the road, meaning the tie is finely poised heading into Saturday's meeting, although the hosts will remain confident in their ability to hang onto their pre-established advantage.

There has been little talk of what a defeat could do to Maynard's prospects of being in the dugout come August, and many will believe the man who has only been in the professional game for 18 months would deserve another crack at the whip should his team fall short in what has been a largely successful and progressive campaign.