Clapham hopes for another big night

JAMIE Clapham enjoyed one of the best nights of his career almost exactly eight years ago tonight.

The left back, now 33, was in the Ipswich Town team that famously beat Italian giants Inter Milan 1-0 at Portman Road in the Uefa Cup on November 22, 2001.

Clapham was instrumental in Alun Armstrong's 81st-minute winner, measuring a cross into the penalty area with his trusty left foot for the striker to head past Francesco Toldo.

It would be silly to compare the magnitude of a victory against Rochdale in League Two tonight with the night Clapham and his former team-mates stunned Europe.

But it is nevertheless an important night for Notts County.

Their promotion credentials will be well and truly under the spotlight at Spotland, against the division's second-placed team. It is the biggest game so far of Hans Backe's managerial reign at Meadow Lane.

And how the Magpies need a win, after six draws in their last seven league games.

Backe, who is a huge admirer of the ability and experience Clapham possesses and has started him in three of his first four games in charge at Meadow Lane, is still waiting for his first league win, after draws against Shrewsbury Town, Bury and Aldershot.

The 0-0 draw against Aldershot was easily the most frustrating of them all.

Clapham said: "We controlled the game. They had a couple of half-chances but they didn't create anything.

"They came for one reason and they did it very well.

"They got everybody behind the ball and got blocks in and it was very difficult.

"It was impossible to break them down. You can only go so far before you run into nine players.

"It's something we know we will have to work on because it's going to happen a lot this season.

"We still created chances and had a lot of possession. If we hadn't done that it would be something to look at.

"But as long as those chances are being created, we'll come out on top in most games.

"We should have won at Bury but some sloppy defending cost us and we didn't take our chances.

"It's just the way it's going at the moment. When a new manager takes over you want everything to go well.

"The signs are good. We're playing very well and we're creating chances."

Clapham, last season's Players' Player of the Year at Meadow Lane, is glad to be back in the side under Backe, having fallen down the pecking order under former manager Ian McParland.

He will make his 50th league appearance for the club at Spotland.

Typically, he is not getting carried away by the praise he is being given by the Swede.

He played in central midfield in the Magpies' 3-3 draw at Bury and at left back against Bradford City in the FA Cup and Aldershot.

"You have got to keep believing in yourself and your own ability when you're not playing... and I did," he added. "At the moment I'm getting an opportunity to play and I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

"The midfield role is not alien to me. I like playing in there and getting on the ball and passing it. Hopefully I'll be able to play in there a few more times.

"I think he (Backe) is looking at players differently to the previous manager, and seeing how they react to playing in certain situations.

"It's good for everybody in the squad, everybody has got an opportunity and when you get it you have to take it."

Clapham believes the close friendship Backe has with the club's director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson will be key to helping Notts achieve the unrivalled success demanded by the club's new owners Munto Finance, who want the Magpies in the Premier League in a few years' time.

He said: "You look at Sven in the directors' box and he has a wealth of knowledge which is going to be shared with Hans.

"They have both been successful in their own right and working together.

"Sven was regarded as one of the most successful club managers in modern times before he came to England.

"I played under George Burley at Ipswich, who learned under Bobby Robson.

"If Hans has learned from him (Eriksson) it's only going to be good for us, we will all benefit.

"I'm really enjoying working under Hans.

"He's only going to be good for the club and I hope everyone appreciates that."

Clapham has managerial ambitions of his own one day but is not planning to hang up his boots for another couple of years.

"It's always been an ambition of mine. I'm doing a bit of coaching now but my priority is still to play," he said.

"I know I can still play for another couple of years. I might not be the quickest player in the squad but I'm the fittest."

He certainly fits into Backe's plans. And if he keeps performing like he is, he might just earn a new contract at Meadow Lane when his current deal runs out at the end of the season.