League Two promotion hopefuls Notts County will hope to pick up their second win in their second group stage game of the EFL Trophy when they host League One side Northampton Town at Meadow Lane on Tuesday.
The hosts beat Burton Albion 2-1 in their first match of the competition on September 24 and are second with three points in their four-team group, while the away side are yet to play a game in the tournament but are third ahead of Leicester City Academy.
Match preview
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Notts County’s match against Burton Albion was closely fought, with the teams creating three and two big chances respectively, but goals from Kellan Gordon and Sam Austin ultimately gave the Magpies all three points.
In their most recent match, the hosts lost 1-0 against Port Vale in League Two on Saturday, though manager Stuart Maynard aired his frustration about Lorent Tolaj‘s winner and said that replays showed the goal should have been ruled out for offside.
The Magpies’ loss against Port Vale means they are fifth in League Two with 18 points after 10 matchweeks, but they are only one point from first-placed Walsall.
Maynard’s side are currently averaging 1.7 goals scored and 0.9 goals conceded per game in the league, and these records make them the division’s joint third-best offensive and fourth-best defensive team.
The home team’s last five results have been mixed given they have won two, lost two and drawn one, but prior to those fixtures they won the previous four games by a cumulative score of 12-4.
Notts County have lost both of their two most recent home matches 1-0, but they did win the previous three fixtures at Meadow Lane.
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Opponents Northampton come into the clash off the back of a 4-1 loss against Wrexham in their most recent match on Saturday, and they are 20th in League One with eight points from nine games.
The visitors managed to create two big chances with 41% possession, but they proved to be defensively frail and conceded five big chances and faced 11 shots from inside the penalty area.
Boss Jon Brady lamented his side’s defeat and said his team were far too passive when trying to defend against crosses into the box, with the manager accusing his players of being too soft.
Of the 24 clubs in League One, the Cobblers have conceded the joint third most goals and have only created 11 big chances in nine games, the joint third fewest in the division.
Northampton have lost their last three games – conceding 10 goals in that period – and they have lost six, drawn three and won just one of their 10 most recent away competitive fixtures.
Notts County EFL Trophy form:
Notts County form (all competitions):
Northampton Town form (all competitions):
Team News
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Notts County will be without Jodi Jones, who is unavailable after a bone in his leg was broken against Gillingham on September 21.
Maynard brought on Kameron Muir as a late substitute in his side’s win against Burton despite him being just 15 years and 32 days old at the time, and he could make another appearance from the bench on Tuesday.
The Magpies will likely field a similar side to the one that beat Burton, so expect Robbie Cundy, Rod McDonald and Adam Chicksen to start as centre-backs.
Jack Hinchy may anchor the hosts’ midfield, while Conor Grant and Jevani Brown could start as strikers.
As for the visitors, they will be unable to select Callum Morton, who may have suffered a serious injury during his side’s game against Wrexham.
Aaron McGowan was also forced off due to injury against Wrexham, while Luke Mbete is out due to a serious hamstring injury.
Northampton could field Jack Baldwin and Tyler Magloire as centre-backs, with Akinwale Odimayo utilised as a right-back and Liam McCarron deployed as a left-back.
Ben Fox and Cameron McGeehan may start as a double pivot in midfield, while Tom Eaves could be selected to lead the line as his team’s lone striker.
Notts County possible starting lineup:
Slocombe; Cundy, McDonald, Chicksen; Cisse, Austin, Hinchy, Reynolds, Gordon; Brown, Grant
Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Tzanev; Odimayo, Magloire, Baldwin, McCarron; McGeehan, Fox; Pinnock, Fosu-Henry, Wilson; Eaves
Although Northampton are in a higher division, it is difficult to see how they manage to keep a clean sheet against Notts County given their poor defensive record of late.
The visitors have also struggled to create chances this season, and it would not be surprising if they failed to score on Tuesday.
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