Oliver Cooper's stoppage-time strike gave Notts County a dramatic 2-1 victory over Grimsby in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night. The win at Meadow Lane provides a welcome boost for a side sitting 20th in League One with just seven points from seven games.
Callum Roberts had put the hosts ahead in the 32nd minute, finishing from a Matt Palmer assist. Grimsby substitute Jayden Sweeney levelled the contest with 11 minutes of normal time remaining, setting up a tense finale. Cooper, who had been introduced as a substitute himself, then found the net in the seventh minute of added time to snatch all three points for Notts County.
How the game unfolded
Manager M. Paterson set his team up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Roberts and Maziar Kouhyar supporting lone striker Luka Smyth. The first half was a cagey affair, punctuated by an early yellow card for Rod McDonald. Roberts' goal just after the half-hour mark gave County a lead they held until late on.
Grimsby grew into the game after the break and their pressure told when Sweeney equalised. Both managers made a flurry of changes in the second half, with Paterson sending on Cooper and Jack Evans in the 68th minute. The match seemed destined for a penalty shootout until Cooper's late intervention, which sparked celebrations among the home supporters.
Match statistics and context
Notts County edged the contest for possession and chances, recording 13 shots to Grimsby's nine. The victory marks their first in the EFL Trophy this season and offers a positive note after a difficult league start that has seen them win just once in their last five outings. The result lifts Notts County to second place in the early Group North - 6 standings, behind leaders Doncaster Rovers.
Grimsby manager David Artell made six changes to his starting lineup from their weekend league defeat. His counterpart, Paterson, made five alterations. The match officials added seven minutes of stoppage time, during which Cooper struck the decisive blow.
The result keeps Notts County's hopes alive in EFL Trophy Group North - 6. Attention now turns swiftly back to League One, where Paterson's side host 15th-placed Blackpool at Meadow Lane on Saturday. Securing a similar result there would provide a significant lift as they look to climb away from the lower reaches of the table. The full squad available for that match is listed on our squad page.
