Notts County have spent a season fighting for automatic promotion out of League Two, but look set to finish in the play-offs.

That might be seen by some as a disappointment, but after previous seasons troubles it is far from that. They've cultivated a brand of free-flowing football with the option to go long when the chips are down.

Their ever-green strike force of Shola Ameobi, Jon Stead and Alan Smith might not have youth on their side, but along with the loan players and misfits Kevin Nolan has put together, they've been one of the better sides in this seasons competition.

Nolan is proving you can make it as a lower league manager even if you've little experience of the division and he's instilled the fighting spirits that defined hi splaying career into his players.

The crowds are coming back to Meadow Lane and they're hoping next season they can draw one step closer to their bigger city rivals.

Certainly, all Magpies fans would agree with that wish, but here's four more things FLW feel all fans will agree with.

Grant has been exceptional for County after coming back on loan this season. He impressed last time out, but he's improving with every game.

he's on loan from Forest and seemingly surplus to requirements at the City Ground. If he were made available, there would be a massive scramble for his signature, but having already played at Meadow Lane fans would hope he returned on a permanent deal.

Yates had also been brilliant in the first half of the season, but his recall and subsequent loan to Scunthorpe left a lot of fans bemused and upset.

Yates has played 11 times for the Iron in League One, something that will perhaps be of comfort, but after his departure County won just four of 17 matches. That has ultimately cost them a top three finish.

Jon Stead has nine goals making him the second-highest scorer in the league, something that needs addressing in the summer.

Goals have come from all over the park, but the lack of a proper goal scorer up front has cost them significantly. Nolan will have to use his contracts this summer to conjure up the missing piece of the jigsaw.

It's fair to say many in the football world were sceptical when Nolan took over, but he's proven his worth by turning around the club's fortunes. He inherited a side struggling at the wrong end of the table and has moulded them into promotion contenders.

It isn't easy adapting to life in League Two and Nolan deserves praise for the way he has conducted himself this season.

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