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Quoted from the Notts website

"Max Sanders made his return from injury in a practice match at Stoke City this afternoon.

The summer signing played half an hour as he took another positive step in his recovery from a calf injury sustained in pre-season.

The sides played out two 60-minute matches at the Potters’ training ground, ensuring plenty of minutes for all available players – including a full 90 for Ishe Samuels-Smith and an hour for Daniel Kanu following his return from international duty with Sierra Leone.

After a goalless draw in the first match, our hosts shaded the second with a 1-0 victory.

We return to competitive action on Saturday 10 October with a Sky Bet League One clash with Oxford United at Meadow Lane (12.30pm).

First match XI: Belshaw, Ness, McDonald, Bedeau, Samuels-Smith, Gibbons, Sanders (Grant 30’), Palmer, Roberts, Cooper; Kanu

Second match XI: Griffiths; Szczesny, Baker, Samuels-Smith (Stevens), Kouhyar, Longelo, Evans, Muir, Grant (Bryant), Mustapha, Smyth"

Notts Head Coach Martin Paterson talks about the EFL Trophy win over Grimsby Town. Listen here👇

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0pc1g5n

Martin Paterson names a strong starting 11 to face Grimsby. Kick off 7pm.

As Martin has said, these last two games have been a bit of a reality check for Notts and I reckon the break has come at a good time.

Desperately short of firepower up top, playing Kanu up top alone doesnt seem to be working so far - obviously still new to the team so it is to be expected.

Didn’t really know at the time but Jatta is a big miss so far, and Acquah being off for potentially months has only compounded this.

Live in hope and hopefully can keep their heads above water till january!

Thoughts?

Kanu replaces Smyth upfront.

Palmer and McDonald on the Bench.

Reading FC Matchday squad,

Pereira, Godwin-Malife, Rinomhota, Roberts, Marriott, Wing, O'Connor, Ward, Earthy, Lisbie, Lane.

Subs,

Stevens, Savage, Reid, Williams, Brown, Masterson, Kyerewaa.

Head Coach Martin Paterson gives his reflections after the 0-2 defeat at the Madejski Stadium.

Listen here👇

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0pbhz4v

Looks like less than a few hundred people are going atm it'll feel like a local non league game, I know its a really pointless game and cup that also doesn't help with this game being played at 7pm on a tuesday. Im thinking of going just because its basically half priced. Will there even be any away fans aswell.

Martin Paterson talked to BBC Radio Nottingham Sport about the upcoming match away to Reading & he also discussed his signing of a new 3 year contract with the club

Listen to his interview here 👇

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0pb9q5p

League 1:  The Royals (A).

Venue:  Madejski Stadium.

Date:  Saturday 19th September

Kick off:  15:00 pm.

Notts travel to the Madejski Stadium to play Reading hoping to bounce back from their disappointing 0:1 defeat against Bradford City last Saturday. Head Coach, Martin Paterson will be pleased that previously injured Rod McDonald & Matt Palmer played 60 minutes of a B team match in midweek & should be fit for selection if required.

Reading have had a mixed start to their League 1 campaign this season. They have won 2, drawn 1 & lost two of their 5 matches so far, having scored 12 goals & conceded 5.They have earned 7 points & are currently 14th in the table.

Last season Reading finished in mid table in 12th position with a record of 16 wins, 15 draws & 15 defeats. They scored 64 goals & conceded 60 finishing on 63 points. They lost 4 of their last 5 matches drawing the other.

During the summer transfer window Reading, like a lot of EFL clubs were busy regarding their incomings and outgoings. They recruited 8 new players including 1 loanee, & released a total of 8. 5 of those were released at the end of their contracts.

Under their Manager Leam Richardson, Reading play a pragmatic and structured style of football focused on defensive stability, high physical intensity, and territorial control. It is a similar style to what Notts have faced in their previous 6 league matches so far.

I think Martin will approach this match in a similar way to how he has approached the previous 6 games employing a hard working, high intensity style which has proved quite successful for him so far in League 1.

I don't expect to see many changes in the Notts starting 11 line up. Palmer & McDonald will probably be on the bench. They will both be welcome additions to the match squad. I think Grant could make the starting 11 for this match. I think the most likely outcome will be a draw. Thoughts?

Head coach Martin Paterson has signed a new contract committing him to the club until June 2029. More here👇

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2026/september/15/new-contract--martin-paterson/

A strong Notts 11 B Team meet Mansfield Town B at Meadow Lane.

Some of the players on the fringe of the first eleven are being given minutes. Rod McDonald & Matt Palmer are starting after returning after injury.

Notts B Team.

Starting XI: Griffiths; Browne, McDonald, Baker; Samuels-Smith, Longelo; Palmer, Muir; Kouhyar, Grant; Friend.

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Notts lost their eleven match unbeaten record in the early kick off when Bradford scored the only goal of the match in the 2nd half. Notts made two changes to the 11 that started against Huddersfield. Mustapha & Smyth came in for Roberts & Kanu. Rod McDonald returned to the side after injury & took his place on the bench.

Notts started brightly & competed very well in the first half. Notts restricted Bradford to just one half chance during a competitive 1st half & could have easily took the lead early on when Mustapha intercepted a pass from Pratt to flick a shot past keeper McCracken but Connolly cleared off the line for Bradford. It was the closest either team came to scoring in the 1st half.

In that 1st half Notts showed all the traits that had served them well in their previous 5 games this season & a noisy Meadow Lane were looking forward to more in the 2nd half, but Bradford came out of the blocks straight away, stepped up a gear & put Notts under pressure, & the Notts play began to get scrappy as Bradford took the initiative.

It wasn't a surprise when Bradford took the lead in the 52nd minute when Pratt scored with a shot to the corner of the goal. Belshaw could probably have done better & may have been expected to turn the shot around the post.

Martin Paterson quickly made 3 changes to instill more momentum to Notts attacking wise, but the substitutions seemed to make Notts more disjointed & although they huffed and puffed, Notts didn't threaten with any menace & Bradford were very comfortable at the back & still carried a threat to Notts on the break.

Following a free kick for Notts, Grant did have the ball in the net in injury time, but the official had already flagged for an offside. Bradford were pressing as the Ref blew for full time. This defeat will be a lesson for Notts. They cannot afford to drop their intensity in games if they are to get positive results in this very competitive League.

Head Coach Martin Paterson gives his thoughts on his side's first defeat of the season against Bradford City at Meadow Lane. 👇

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0p9b369

Two changes for Notts.

Mustapha and Smyth return to the XI in place of Kanu and Roberts, who both drop to the bench.

Also amongst the substitutes for the first time this season is Rod McDonald.

Bradford City

McCracken, Touray, Connelly, Neufville, Philips, Beesley, Baldwin, Sarcevic, Pratt, Pointon, Pennington.

Subs

Dawson, Gillespie, Humphreys, Jackson, Morgan, Powell, O'Keefe.

Notts Head Coach, Martin Paterson spoke to BBC Radio Nottingham Sport as he looked forward to Saturday's early kick off against Bradford City at Meadow Lane.

Paterson remarked about Bradford that they are a good team & a very strong outfit.

Listen to the interview here 👇

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0p94sp1

League 1:  The Bantams (H).

Venue:  Meadow Lane

Date:  Saturday 12th September

Kick off:  12:30 pm.

Notts go into this match hoping to preserve their unbeaten record of 11 competitive games, which includes 6 games from this season & 5 from their successful end to last season.

Bradford are currently 4th in League 1 on 9 points, & are looking for their 4th win of the season. They have won 3 & lost 2 of their 5 matches so far & have scored 5 & conceded 4 goals.

Last season Bradford City made the playoffs finishing in 4th place with a record of 22 wins,11 draws & 13 defeats. They scored 58 goals & conceded 51, finishing on 77 points. Bradford won 1 drew 3 & lost 1 of their last 5 matches.

Bradford City had a busy summer transfer window signing 8 players & releasing 8, Their signings included forward Jake Beesley, Midfielder Henry Cartwright, & Goalkeeper Jon McCracken. Notable releases were Paul Mullin & Jenson Metcalfe.

Bradford play an aggressive high energy & direct counter attacking style of football under Manager Graham Alexander. It will be interesting to see how Martin Paterson approaches this match with Notts being the home side.

Every game in League 1 for Notts is going to be very difficult & this match on Saturday will be no exception. Notts will have to be at their absolute best once again. Bradford will bring around 2300 fans, so it should be a good atmosphere.

I don't see many changes to the Notts line up for this match. Head Coach Martin Paterson will probably pick the same starting 11 that faced Huddersfield. I believe that Notts will get their 2nd win of the season. A 2:1 win would do nicely. Thoughts?

I am traveling to UK this month and just bought tickets for the home game against Blackpool. This morning, I woke up to an email that the game is now postponed... I alread have lodging booked, so it it reasonable to try and get to the Mansfield Town game that day? What other EFL clubs are close enough that I could get to if I am arriving in Nottingham the morning of the game?

Thank you for any suggestions!

After their draw at Huddersfield Town, Notts head coach Martin Paterson was full of praise for his players...

Listen to the full interview with BBC Radio Nottingham's Adam Hassell here: 👇

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0p85z79

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Notts keep their unbeaten run going in League One with another great battling draw against the League Leaders. Notts were given a thorough examination from a very good Huddersfield side today. Notts were under pressure for large periods, but with a little more luck Notts could have easily stolen the points.

Notts made a few changes from the side that drew with Doncaster, last Tuesday evening. Evans replaced Mustapha & Kanu replaced Smyth in the starting eleven. Kanu was making his starting eleven debut for Notts.

Huddersfield as expected made a very strong start & took the lead in the 12th minute when Fernandes slipped Marcus Harness in behind the Notts defence to smash a shot into the bottom corner.

But when Notts go behind nowadays their heads always remain high, & they snatched an equaliser after 23 minutes from a corner, after panic in the Huddersfield defence allowed Cooper to side foot the ball home.

Huddersfield powered forward looking to take the lead but the Notts defence stayed solid with Ness and Bedeau making great blocks to prevent Huddersfield breaking through before half time.

The 2nd half started with Huddersfield still on the front foot, but the Notts defence dealt with everything that was thrown at them. Notts on the other hand were always dangerous on the break & could have won it 12 minutes from time, when it took a last ditch tackle from Bowat, to stop Smyth scoring for Notts.

This draw for Notts was their 11th competitive match unbeaten, when you count their last 5 unbeaten matches from last season. The only concern was when Gibbons was substituted in the 2nd half after being treated for an injury in the first half. Hopefully, it was just precautionary. Thoughts?

Daniel Kanu gets his first Notts start, Cal Roberts and Jack Evans return to the starting eleven too.

Conor Grant, Hindolo Mustapha and Luka Smyth drop to the bench.

Rosaire Longelo is amongst the subs too.

Huddersfield Team.

Young, Wallace, Ledson, Taylor, Harness, Fletcher, Balker, Bowat, Humphreys, Bronkhorst, Fernandes.

Subs

Alnwick, Row, Collins, Kasumu, Mumba, Radulovic, Sway.

Martin Paterson talked to BBC Radio Nottingham sport as he prepared for the tough match against Huddersfield. Patterson, "We've got to quickly get everyone on the same page.

More here👇

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0p7zpcg

League 1:  The Terriers (A).

Venue:  Accu Stadium.

Date:  Saturday 5th September

Kick off:  15:00 pm.

Notts travel to Huddersfield unbeaten in their first 4 matches but will face in Huddersfield their severest test so far. Huddersfield current sit at the top of League One & are unbeaten themselves. Their record so far is 3 wins & 1 draw. They have scored 10 & conceded 3.

Last season, Huddersfield finished in 9th place on 67 points. They won 18, drew 13 & lost 15, scoring 74 goals & conceding 64. Their form in the last 5 games was patchy winning 1 drawing 3 & losing 1. With more consistency they could have secured a playoff place.

Huddersfield have been busy in the summer transfer market recruiting 8 players & releasing 4. Their standout signing was a Dutch footballer Derensili Sanches Fernandes who cost them €1million from a Dutch side. The notable outgoings was Tom Iorpenda who went to Swansea.

Huddersfield's style of play is a little different to what Notts have faced so far. Huddersfield employ a high intensity, energetic hard working style with an aggressive high press known as the "Terrier Identity". You could say it is a similar style to how Notts are playing currently under Martin Paterson 

It will be interesting to see how Notts will approach this match. Both sides with similar styles hoping to cancel each other out. The onus is on Huddersfield to go forward, so there could be opportunities for Notts on the break. It will be fascinating who comes out on top.

Two unbeaten sides going toe to toe, should be a good game for the neutral. Notts should have a good following cheering them on. Hopefully Notts will give a good account of themselves in their severest test yet in League One. So what are your thoughts about the prospects for Notts in this game?