Latest news with #AlassanaJatta
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Notts still believe in play-off chances
Winger Jodi Jones says Notts County are unwavering in their belief they can get past AFC Wimbledon in the League Two play-offs despite losing the first leg of their semi-final as well as their two top marksman Alassana Jatta - who has netted 22 times in all competitions this term - is suspended for the game after being sent off in stoppage-time of their 1-0 defeat at Meadow Lane last McGoldrick, who has contributed 17 goals this term at the age of 37, was injured in that game and has been ruled out for what remains of the play-offs - even if that includes prevailing in Saturday's return tie at Plough Lane to reach the Wembley final on 26 May."We go there knowing we need to win - it's on us," Jones told BBC East Midlands Today."We need to go there and put on a performance. And I believe we can." Malta international Jones says Notts' confidence comes from the costly home tie they lost just six days they ended up a goal down on aggregate and lost two players who have contributed 39 goals between them, the Magpies did have numerous chances in an enthralling hit the post in the second half, while Wimbledon goalkeeper Owen Goodman made a number of excellent saves to deny Conor Grant, who also had a goalbound effort cleared late on by Josh Neufville."We opened them up and their keeper made some fantastic saves," Jones said."It gives us full belief in the next fixture, that if we go and do what we did and have the chances that we did, we will put them away and it will be a different story."Even with Notts' attack losing its two focal points, Jones remains defiant about his side's chances of fighting back in the tie."They will probably be buzzing that he [McGoldrick] is not playing, but we will have something different now and I believe we have enough," Jones said."Of course, people will say where are the goals going to come from? It's a tough one to take, but we have enough quality in the squad."The Magpies also have recent pedigree for pulling off remarkable play-off was part of the Magpies' remarkable National League campaign in 2023 that saw them promoted despite leading for less than 60 seconds across their two play-off games to go scored a last-gasp extra-time winner against Boreham Wood in their knockout semi-final at Meadow Lane as Notts fought back from two goals down, and he then went on to score in their penalty shootout win against Chesterfield at Wembley."We are Notts County and in the last play-offs we did it the hard way," Jones said."That speaks for itself. You can see it all over social media, reminding the guys."
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Notts' McGoldrick out injured for rest of play-offs
David McGoldrick will miss what remains of Notts County's League Two play-off campaign because of 37-year-old former Republic of Ireland striker, who has netted 17 times this season, limped off the pitch in stoppage time of the Magpies' 1-0 semi-final first-leg defeat by AFC Wimbledon on injury means Notts are without both their top two scorers for the second leg after leading marksman Alassana Jatta was shown a straight red card soon after McGoldrick's exit for a two-footed tackle on Alistair length of Jatta's ban is yet to be determined with The Gambia international also charged by the Football Association for violent behaviour after he clashed with rival players following his McGoldrick and Jatta out after scoring a combined 39 goals in all competitions this term, Notts head coach Stuart Maynard said the East Midlands side will "change tactically" for Saturday's second leg at Plough Lane."We don't have that focal point and we will have to look at it in a different way with a different approach," Maynard told BBC East Midlands Today. With McGoldrick's contract up in the summer, the injury could end his time with his boyhood club. He has, however, previously said he was determined to earn a new deal at Meadow former Sheffield United, Ipswich Town, Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Derby County striker has scored 30 goals since returning to the Magpies for a third spell in the summer of McGoldrick as "Superman" in the past and said losing him for what remains of the season is "very disappointing"."He has been excellent for us all season," Maynard continued."He has just got magic. He has more quality than the level, he has top-end quality and we have seen that with his goals all season."If you take Didzy out of any team up and down the country, I think they are going to miss him."It's down to us now, someone else comes in and gets an opportunity and I think we still have magic within our group and the top end of the pitch."And while McGoldrick, whose exact injury has not been specified by the club, will not be able to play any further part in the play-offs, he will be relied on elsewhere."I still think he has a key part to play off the pitch now around the lads," Maynard said. "His presence, being about the place, is excellent."
The Guardian
10-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
The Gambia, Estonia … League One? Alassana Jatta on a mission at Notts County
Football appears to be a small world but moving from the Gambia to Estonia still seems a little unconventional. It was a route the Notts County striker Alassana Jatta took when he left his homeland as a 20-year-old, desperate to make it in Europe as a professional. The journey from Sukuta to the banks of the Trent has been convoluted, complicated by absconding triallists, contract withdrawals and the weather. Jatta's CV is eclectic, featuring spells with Real de Banjul, Paide Linnameeskond and Viborg. Currently he is second in the League Two scoring charts with 17 goals, spearheading the Magpies' promotion push. They sit sixth, four points off automatic promotion, and face a trip on Friday to Salford. 'It was the first time I'd experienced snow in my entire life,' says Jatta of Estonia. 'It was a little bit challenging in the beginning because my feet and everything was frozen. I struggled to untie my laces whenever we were done with practice. When I was in Estonia, I started using long pants, tights underneath, jacket, hat, snoods, gloves, everything. It was a little bit weird for me in the beginning.' Paide has a population of less than 8,000 and the club's ground holds 500. For Jatta none of this mattered; it was more about finding the first stepping stone in his career after starting with the Gambian side Real de Banjul. Jatta started taking football seriously only in his mid-teens and had offers to trial abroad early on but his father insisted he finish his education before considering Europe. Before arriving in Estonia he had trialled in Italy, only for Genoa to backtrack on signing him when another triallist ran away without informing the club. There was also a time in France at Bordeaux where a contract was verbally offered but never backed up with anything on paper. Thirteen goals in 17 games in Estonia earned a move to Viborg in Denmark to keep Jatta's trajectory heading in the right direction. They turned a skinny young man into an imposing 6ft 4in striker, ensuring he built his muscles so he could do battle with the roughest and toughest centre-backs. Jatta, who grew up as a Chelsea supporter idolising Didier Drogba and José Mourinho, is extremely affable company and lives a very quiet life in Nottingham. His only real gripe is his teammates' desire for him to join them for a round of golf. 'I'm not a fan,' Jatta says with a smile. 'They tried to convince me, but still it's not working because I don't like golf.' Jatta spends his free time walking around Nottingham or visiting local parks, happy in the knowledge the weather is overall better than in eastern Europe and Scandinavia. Notts and Viborg have the same owners but when the opportunity arose for Jatta to fulfil his dream of moving to England, it was not a foregone conclusion for him or the head coach, Stuart Maynard. 'Before moving to any team, I like to see the philosophy of the coach, how he thinks football should be run,' says Jatta. 'His own perspective, that's what I was really interested about. I wouldn't do much research about the club … After speaking with him, I was really convinced that this is the right club.' Jatta moved to the East Midlands in February 2024, quickly attracted interest from higher up and was the subject of bids from the Championship side Plymouth this January. He earned a first international call-up last year, making his debut against Kenya in March. The Gambia are under the stewardship of the Northern Irish head coach Johnny McKinstry and are an exciting crop of players, including Brighton's Yankuba Minteh. The call-up reunited Jatta with friends he had not seen for several years. 'Sharing the dressing room and the pitch with them is quite an exciting moment,' he says. 'And of course, playing with Minteh and all the other players around the world, it's a nice feeling and it's a good experience that we have to cherish because you never know what might happen later.' Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Jatta's reputation is growing in England and the Gambia, where an increasing number of Notts shirts can be found and family and friends watch League Two football via any means possible. 'Most of my friends have this jersey back home,' he says. 'If you go to Gambia, you will see different clubs and players wearing jerseys everywhere. Gambians are so passionate about football and everyone loves English football.' Gambians will be desperately hoping to witness Jatta take Notts into League One next month. 'It will be a fantastic thing to achieve for this club,' says Jatta. 'It will be something really, really exciting because that's why I'm here, to help them get promoted. It would be a dream come true.' And if they do go up, Jatta has promised to join his teammates for a round of golf – not that they need any more incentive.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I'm not really okay with the numbers'
'I'm not really okay with the numbers' - Jatta Alassana Jatta is tied at the top of the League Two goal charts with AFC Wimbledon's Matty Stevens and Michael Cheek of Bromley [Getty Images] League Two's joint-leading scorer Alassana Jatta says he is frustrated not to have scored more goals for promotion-chasing Notts County. The Gambia international has 17 league goals this term, and 20 in all competitions, but is more concerned with propelling the Magpies into League One. Notts are currently sixth in League Two and just two points outside the automatic promotion spots. "It's a little bit frustrating and of course it gives you a trigger to work harder," he told BBC Radio Nottingham. Advertisement "You have to push yourself sometimes out of your comfort zone and go for the extra mile to help the team because I'm not really okay with the numbers now. "I just want it to be higher because the more goals that I get, the better it will be for the team." Jatta, 26, has found the net 25 times in 45 appearances since joining from Danish Superliga side Viborg in February last year, form which has attracted interest from other clubs. He has been linked with Championship side Coventry City, while an offer from an unnamed club was rejected by Notts during the January transfer window. Advertisement "I heard rumours about it, but I was actually focusing on Notts because I didn't want to be distracted," he added. "That's how football is whenever the window is open. There are always rumours here and there. "The worst thing you can do is have an ear on them because you're going to be distracted so I just shut my ears and focus on helping where I can. "I am under contract with Notts and have to show them maximum respect and do my job, whatever happens later. "We'll see what the next step will be, but for now the most important thing is to focus on Notts County and help the team meet its objectives."
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I'm not really okay with the numbers'
League Two's joint-leading scorer Alassana Jatta says he is frustrated not to have scored more goals for promotion-chasing Notts Gambia international has 17 league goals this term, and 20 in all competitions, but is more concerned with propelling the Magpies into League are currently sixth in League Two and just two points outside the automatic promotion spots."It's a little bit frustrating and of course it gives you a trigger to work harder," he told BBC Radio Nottingham."You have to push yourself sometimes out of your comfort zone and go for the extra mile to help the team because I'm not really okay with the numbers now. "I just want it to be higher because the more goals that I get, the better it will be for the team." Jatta, 26, has found the net 25 times in 45 appearances since joining from Danish Superliga side Viborg in February last year, form which has attracted interest from other has been linked with Championship side Coventry City, while an offer from an unnamed club was rejected by Notts during the January transfer window."I heard rumours about it, but I was actually focusing on Notts because I didn't want to be distracted," he added."That's how football is whenever the window is open. There are always rumours here and there. "The worst thing you can do is have an ear on them because you're going to be distracted so I just shut my ears and focus on helping where I can."I am under contract with Notts and have to show them maximum respect and do my job, whatever happens later."We'll see what the next step will be, but for now the most important thing is to focus on Notts County and help the team meet its objectives."
