Match Report: Notts County mathematically safe despite defeat to Portsmouth

Notts County's League Two status has been mathematically assured despite falling to a 3-1 defeat against Portsmouth in Monday's fixture at Meadow Lane.

The visitors took the lead in the 14th minute when Kal Naismith was brought down by Richard Duffy in the box and Gareth Evans stepped up to send Adam Collin the wrong way.

Kevin Nolan's charges, eager to force the visitors to put their promotion champagne on ice, stepped up a gear and Adam Campbell's cross in the Pompey box was threatening, but Jon Stead's connection was tame and David Forde caught with ease.

There was more trouble for the Magpies on the stroke of half time when Michael O'Connor had to be carried off on a stretcher having been clattered when he turned the ball back into the box.

However, the Magpies continued to look lively after the break and Matt Tootle found Campbell unmarked in the box, only for the forward to volley over the bar.

Indeed, Notts drew level in the 51st minute when Elliott Hewitt sent a lofted pass into the area and Jorge Grant met it to send a fine curling finish past Forde’s grasp and into the net.

However, the visitors were intent on getting the job done and, 12 minutes from time, Jamal Lowe picked the ball up outside the area, cut onto his right foot and drilled home past the diving Collin.

Notts fans thought they should have had a penalty soon after when Mark Yeates’s cross appeared to strike the hand of Christian Burgess, but it wasn't given.

Eventually the game was put beyond the hosts' reach when Lowe chipped Collin in the final minutes of the game to seal victory and, due to Luton Town's draw with Mansfield Town, confirmed their ascent to League One.

Despite the defeat and Nolan's first home defeat as Notts boss, however, second-from-bottom Newport County's revival was stunted with a 6-1 defeat at Plymouth Argyle which means that the Magpies would finish the day 11 points clear of them with just nine left to play for.

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