Notts County vs Morecambe preview
Friday 15 March 2019 10:31, UK
Notts County could be without Jim O'Brien for their home game against Morecambe.
The midfielder was on the receiving end of what Magpies manager Neal Ardley called a "disgraceful" tackle from Carlisle's Jamie Devitt during the 3-1 win at Brunton Park on Tuesday night.
O'Brien is being assessed but he is likely to join striker Jon Stead on the list of injury absentees. Craig Mackail-Smith did not travel to Carlisle due to a bout of sickness but the forward has been training again and should be available.
Improving Morecambe will have Jordan Cranston back in their ranks at Meadow Lane. The defender has completed a two-match ban but he may have to wait to get back into the team after the Shrimps won both games in his absence.
Forward A-Jay Leitch-Smith remains on the sidelines with a hamstring injury which is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season. Four victories in the last six matches have seen Morecambe open up a nine-point gap over County, who currently occupy the final relegation place in League Two.
Opta stats
Notts County have only lost once in six home meetings with Morecambe in the Football League (W3 D2), a 1-2 defeat in October 2016.
Morecambe are winless in three league matches versus Notts County (D1 L2), last beating them in January 2017 (4-1).
Notts County have only won twice in their last 12 home league games (D5 L5), winning only one of the most recent seven contests (D3 L3).
Morecambe have won back-to-back league games on four occasions this season, but they haven't won three in a row since August 2016 (four successive victories).
No side have lost more points from winning positions (24) or won fewer points from losing positions (2) than Notts County.
