Lacklustre Notts succumb to razor-sharp Blades

Another away day, another defeat, this one more embarrassing than most as Notts fell to a humbling 5-1 defeat at Sheffield United, with the only sliver of positivity coming from the fact that, rather than being in the league, it was in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Jose Baxter opened the scoring at Bramall Lane from the spot in the 20th minute after Jamal Campbell-Ryce was brought down by Thierry Audel in the box, prompting the referee to award the home side a penalty.

Liam Noble went close to equalising not long after when his chip beat Blades goalkeeper George Long, but the ball cannoned off the bar and out.

Just three minutes after their first goal, United doubled their lead when Matt Done beat the offside trap to find himself one-on-one with Scott Loach, and with the stopper rushing out, a simple lob was all it took to get the ball into the back of the net.

And by the break the hosts had notched up a third goal when Baxter scored his second penalty after Haydn Hollis fouled Che Adams, leaving the Magpies with an Everest-sized mountain to climb.

Ricardo Moniz’s side set about trying to get back into the game and looked like they were on the right track when substitute Jon Stead bundled the ball in from close range after connecting with a low cross from Elliott Hewitt.

Stefan Scougall, however, restored United's three-goal advantage in the 67th minute with a neat finish from inside the area.

And on 74 minutes things truly turned farcical when Notts gifted their opponents a third penalty, with Hollis receiving his marching orders for his foul on Adams in the box, and the man brought down opted to do the honours himself, putting his side 5-1 up – and so the game would finish.