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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Oliver King

Connell Rawlinson addresses Sam Slocombe incident during Notts County victory

Notts County defender Connell Rawlinson has expressed his disappointment for goalkeeper Sam Slocombe after he was forced to withdraw with his side's 4-0 win over Scunthorpe early in the first half.

The Magpies had already asserted a two-goal cushion thanks to Adam Chicksen and an own goal from Iron defender Ben Richards-Everton giving the hosts a deserved lead after an electric start.

But just four minutes after the second goal, manager Luke Williams was forced into making an early substitution following a completely avoidable incident involving his returning goalkeeper.

READ MORE: Luke Williams makes 'relaxed' comment after Notts County's big transfer decision

Having missed the last three league games through injury, an overhit ball towards Jacob Butterfield who was in a clear offside position, resulting in a coming together after the assistant on the far side raised his flag just after the challenge was made.

Despite trying to play on, barely a minute later Slocombe was back down on the turf with his head in his hands, resulting in Archie Mair making his first league appearance since joining from Norwich City earlier in the season.

While it is in the laws of the game, it is certainly a rule that needs to be looked at - with it almost happening again when Mair managed to avoid contact from the onrushing Scunthorpe attacker which brought jeers from those in attendance at Meadow Lane.

"I feel a bit for Sam because he has just come back from injury and it does get me a little bit when the ball goes over and people are offside and they let the play go on - that is a prime example of what can happen.

"The second half as well, there was another occasion where they were offside and the play has gone on and Archie has come out and nearly took a whack as well."

The on-loan Canaries youngster impressed during his appearance, looking extremely comfortable with the ball at his feet and rarely tested by the blunt attacking play on show from the visitors.

It is now the third different goalkeeper that Rawlinson has played in front of in the past two games, but the defender was on hand to praise the 22-year-old for his performance this afternoon.

"Any player that plays for this football club is high quality, whether they come off the bench or whether the manager rotates the squad, there is full trust in us as players to do the job.

"We work tremendously in training, we do a lot of 11 v 11, a lot of phases in play, and building from the back so that is for every player when they come into the set-up they know exactly what they are doing, it is not off the cuff and every lad knows what is expected and how we play.

"There were no problems with Archie coming on the pitch to play, we see it day in, day out during training, he is an unbelievable goalkeeper.

"I will let him off for putting his knee right in my backside at the end, but he's done brilliantly and I just said to him it is not easy coming off the bench as a goalkeeper, so hats off to him."

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