Match Report: Notts County see off Brentford to reach FA Cup fourth round

Kevin Nolan has succeeded in his mission to have the nation talking about Notts County after guiding his side to a giant-killing 1-0 win at Brentford in the third round of the FA Cup.

Jon Stead, part of the Bradford City team that shocked Chelsea in the fourth round two years ago, struck a fantastic winner midway through the second half to get the Magpies into the hat at the expense of their Championship opponents.

Nolan made just one change to the side which beat Port Vale earlier this week, with Terry Hawkridge - himself an FA Cup run veteran thanks to his exploits with Lincoln City last season - replacing Jonathan Forte in the XI.

Bees boss Dean Smith, meanwhile, made eight changes following their Championship defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday.

Notts began brightly at Griffin Park, with Elliott Hewitt crossing into the path of Stead, who fired on the turn but saw his effort go wide.

Stead continued to cause the opposition defence problems and he missed another opportunity moments later when he flicked a Jorge Grant free kick over with his right foot.

On 13 minutes, Brentford went on the attack, but Chris Mepham's header from Josh McEachran's free-kick was easily saved by Fitzsimons.

The Magpies, however, continued to have the better of their opponents, who did not properly threaten until 25 minutes when Florian Jozefzoon forced a good save from Fitzsimons, while Neal Maupay tested the Notts keeper soon after.

Neither side could force the issue by half time, but Brentford came within a whisker of grabbing the opener shortly after the hour when substitute Ollie Watkins almost scored with his first touch, but his shot hit the post, bounced back against the keeper and rolled along the line.

The Bees' missed opportunity proved their demise as Notts went up the other end, with Stead cutting inside from the right-hand channel before curling a superb effort beyond Daniels and into the far corner.

Maupay, Jozefzoon and Yoann Barbet all went close as the hosts desperately sought to find an equaliser, while Emiliano Marcondes struck the far post with a header in stoppage time, but the day belonged to the Magpies.

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