Off The Mark – Notts County 0-2 Imps

Mark Kennedy’s Imps secured a place in the second round of the EFL Cup last night with an exceptional victory at Meadow Lane on Tuesday night.

Three changes were made to the side that started at Bolton on Saturday. Adam Jackson dropped out the squad, which was a pre-planned change, although Mark confirmed that he has a small niggle too. That change meant Sean Roughan went into the back-three alongside Paudie O’Connor and TJ Eyoma, while Jaden Brown made his debut for the Imps at left wing-back with Lasse Sorensen on the opposite flank. Reeco Hackett came in for his full debut and paired with Danny Mandroiu on the wings, with Tyler Walker starting up front for the second consecutive game.

Lukas Jensen started in goal, which was an interesting selection. I expected Jordan Wright to be in goal as he’s our second choice and he’s actually too good for that role if I’m honest, but that’s the problem you have with two top quality goalkeepers. I understand why Lukas started, it’s important that he gets more minutes with the defenders to build a relationship and you can certainly see that building already.

Before I discuss the match, I want to say how good it is to see Notts County back in the football league. Meadow Lane is a ground I’ve visited multiple times and I always enjoy my time there, they are a proper club that deserve to be in the football league, unlike Forest Green etc. Also I have to say how good our support was last night, we were extremely loud throughout the 90 and it was really great to be part of and also see County fans praising our support.

A big part of our impressive play from the first half was influenced by the Magpies’ struggles to play out from the back, they looked awful doing it, I can only liken it to Jason Shackell and Cian Bolger trying to play out in the Michael Appleton system, they were two good centre-halves but they certainly weren’t suited to that system. Ex-Imp Sam Slocombe made a few saves but he definitely didn’t look like a goalkeeper that wanted the ball at his feet in his own 6 yard box.

County had possession of the ball, and we seemed content to allow them to pass it within their own half and we picked our moments to press and steal the ball back. Walker looked sharp and showed flashes of his former self, reminiscent of the player who we had in 2019. Reeco was a constant threat for us too, he looks to be a real direct player and I like that, he wants to score and impact, that certainly shows in his game.

We wasted a few good opportunities from the press, but we did get our goal just after the 20 minute mark. Saturday was all about set-pieces and how they cost us, but last night we managed to score one of our own. A ball whipped in was flicked on by Paudie and Sean tapped it in at the far post to give City the lead. It was really well worked goal, and it was one that sent 1700 Imps into celebration. From that moment on, I knew we were going to win. I wasn’t worried about County, they had nothing to hurt us. When they did attack, they looked reluctant to get the ball in early and once they did it was cleared easily (normally by Paudie!).

We got to half-time with a goals lead but it really should have been more at that point.

The first half was good, but we went up a gear in the second. Mandroiu, who was impressing for City, looked like a constant threat to County’s defence and their inability to close him down cost them just a few minutes after half-time. The Irishman drove forward towards the edge of the area before having an effort on goal, his effort was blocked but it dropped to Lasse, who kept it low and fired home from just inside the area to give City a two goal lead. We nearly got a third just minutes after too with Mandroiu at the centre of the play yet again. The 24-year-old got forward up the left and hit his effort against the post with Slocombe using all his luck as the ball bounced back straight into his arms.

The chances of County making a comeback in the game were dead within ten minutes of the second half, with Baldwin committing another foul against Walker, this time a shirt pull, resulting in his unnecessary and purely erratic second yellow card. Along with his dismissal went any faint hope Luke Williams had of advancing to the next round. With 11 players they may have made it nervy for us, but with 10 they had no chance of even putting any pressure on us at all.

The game wasn’t a contest really for the final half an hour, with County happy to lose by just two goals and both sides making plenty of substitutions. We subbed on Ben House, Ethan Hamilton and Dylan Duffy with the latter looking really bright in his brief cameo as well as Oisin Gallagher and Jay Benn, who I’m hoping we see more of. Jay has only played the singular game for us, so it would be really good to see him get a few more games this season so we can see what he can do.

Last night won’t tell us much, we played a weakened League Two opposition and they offered us next to no threat but a win is a win and we can only beat what’s put in front of us. It’s exactly what we needed, some much need confidence for both the players and the fans going into the game against Wycombe, but Mark will be hoping for much bigger things over the next few months!