More Heart-Stopping Drama Ahead For County And Sutton

The Notts County fan - streetwise cop Kate Fleming in the smash hit BBC show - knows all about gripping finales.

But unless the actress’ beloved team can find some real form and fast, they are in danger of missing out on the top seven altogether - who would have predicted that when the first ball was kicked this season?

Sutton United, meanwhile, are back writing a script show producer Jed Mercurio would struggle to piece together.

Now, they are interested in one thing, and one thing only.

The team nobody was backing at the start of the season head to Nottingham bang in form once again.

This National League title race continues to be as heart-stopping as AC-12’s hunt for justice.

But Ian Burchnall knows there will be a Ted Hastings size fan-led investigation if he team fail to earn a play-off place.

A two point return from a possible 18 has County’s fate resting on a very quick improvement.

But he is fully focused on getting in there - and knows the power of three points against the championship challengers on Tuesday, live on BT Sport.

“I'll be honest with you, we all believe that we're going to be in the play-offs," the head coach told the Nottingham Post.

“We all believe that we're going to be in the playoffs, we all believe that we have enough.

“Even though the last few results have been disappointing there are enough aspects of the play that feel like once we get the result that we want, no matter how we get it, that's going to kick us on and we're going to get that momentum.

“And you know what? I don't care whether we're seventh or fifth in the play-offs, I believe that whether we're home or away, we have the capabilities, we just need that momentum.

“And I believe that once we get into that play-off spot, we will be a match for anybody I really do. But we need that result to propel us and that's what we're searching for now."

Sutton manager Matt Gray still struggles to get his head around the fact that his team are imbedded in the title race.

Not because he doubted his players’ ability once they started to making strides towards the top.

But because, he says, the levels are sky high this year - proven by the fact that a club the size of Notts are lagging behind the rest.

But the Gander Green Lane boss is still in no mood to produce soundbites for anyone.

The fact is that if they keep winning, they win it.

But in a helter-skelter tussle at the top he knows there is little point looking past what is ahead next.

This, it’s hard to disguise, is an acid test - even though he is in no mood to inflate the match, kick-off 5pm at Meadow Lane.

“All we can do is keep getting the wins on the board, and keep the good performances coming,” he said after Saturday’s 3-1 win over Aldershot.

“It’s another game ticked off for us, now we need to keep doing that.

“We had what everyone was saying was a blip, but eight out of those ten games were away from home - the actually the two home games we had were Stockport County and Torquay!

“At the start of the season we didn’t expect to be where we are now but all we can do is keep going and see what happens.”

PHOTOS: PAUL LOUGHLIN & NOTTS COUNTY