Notts County host Nottingham Forest Under-21s in the EFL Trophy group stage on Tuesday night, aiming to halt a difficult run of form. The match at Meadow Lane kicks off at 7pm and offers a chance for the League One side to reset after a string of defeats.
They head into this cup fixture on the back of a 2-1 home loss to Oxford United last Saturday, their fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions. Rory Finneran scored a late consolation in that game, with Callum Roberts and Oliver Cooper netting in their last win against Grimsby.
Team news and lineups
While the exact starting eleven for the Trophy tie is not confirmed, Notts County's last League One outing saw James Belshaw in goal behind a back three of Lucas Ness, Rod McDonald and Jacob Bedeau. Matt Palmer and Oliver Cooper anchored the midfield, with Callum Roberts and Conor Grant supporting striker Daniel Kanu. Forest's Under-21s, who lost their last outing to Scunthorpe, recently fielded a side including Keehan Willows in goal and forward F. Smith.
This competition provides a different challenge as County prepare for a return to league action. Their next League One fixture is a trip to face 15th-placed Wycombe Wanderers this Saturday. Supporters can check the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page and view the senior squad list here.
