EFL Trophy - The Tykes (H)
Team - Barnsley
Date - 30/09/2025 18:00
Where - Meadow Lane

What would your starting line-up be? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

I would imagine some fringe players will get a run out for this match, I wonder if Didzy will feature for Barnsley?

I hope Harry Griffiths is better protected than the team we last put out in this competition. That group lacked match fitness and the changes in defence left him exposed. It's fair to give returning players a chance to get back to league standard, but it shouldn't mean the keeper ends up taking the blame because the players in front of him are either unfamiliar with each other or tiring too soon.

I won't be at the game, but i am hoping we play a strong rotationed squad which gives some of the players who require minutes a start. I would like to see Barry Cotter start, as we need to be getting inside his head and trying to get that spark we have seen. Like the friendly against Cardiff and the opening match against Newport County.

He's a good player, that if pushed and his confidence lift could be a game changer and I think it's games like this where it helps provided he's eligible to play.

Also, the return of David McGoldrick. I sincerely hope he's booed but at the same time, I hope we don't give him any form of welcoming.

We last played Barnsley in 2018. They beat us 4-0 in the FA Cup. Barnsley might feel they could do well in this trophy so they could field a strong lineup. We have zero chance so plenty of changes are fine.

23 minutes ago, Chris said:

Also, the return of David McGoldrick. I sincerely hope he's booed

@Chris did you mean NOT booed?

I certainly wouldn’t boo him, he treated us to some great goals during his time at Notts.

Not that I would, but I’ll think we’d have to boo the thought of David McGoldrick, cos I don’t think he’ll be in their squad. It would just completely unnecessary minutes for him, he played 90 minutes against Port Vale at the weekend, surely they’ll just be saving him for their next league match.

I’d make as many changes as possible, it’s good for giving those who haven’t featured a chance to get minutes and hopefully give Martin Paterson some more selection headaches. I’ve no real interest in the competition, I’m more interested in the match against Oldham this weekend. Avoiding injuries is all I ask from this match.

I know many fans won't be much bothered about the match tomorrow evening, but if Notts play a weakened side and lose heavily it will put more pressure on Martin.

That's why I think he should field a strong side against Barnsley. Give Jatta a rest & play Dennis up front & bring in Luker to partner Hall just behind Dennis. I'd also put Griffiths in goal & why not try Jarvis on the left wing.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Didzy on their subs bench. I have a feeling he might want to play a few minutes against us & maybe prove a point too. I do hope he gets a good reception from the Notts faithful. He deserves it.

Notts could do with a good performance and result against a League one side to just get the place buzzing again. Its a while since Notts caused an upset. It would be very welcome to see it Tuesday evening.

i just hope that martin paterson does see it as a chance for some of the players to remain in form, whilst giving others a chance. the last time we played in the efl trophy the squad was very unbalanced. barnsley will rip us a part if we repeat that. we dont need to give fans a reminder as to how much we are missing david mcgoldrick.

It's Matchday

CMON U PIES!!

The Notts team to face Barnsley.

Match is indeea

The match is underway

GOOOOAAAAL LUKER

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HALF TIME

Leading at the break

Notts 1 Barnsley 0

Back to it.

Notts 1 Barnsley 0

Robertson replaces Luker

Update

Update

Barnsley have player sent off

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Substitutions for Notts

64 Tsaroulla and Jarvis replace Kouhyar and Iorpenda

Notts 1 Barnsley 1

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GOOOOOAAAAAL HALL.

A WIN FOR NOTTS.

Winning is a good habit regardless of the competition! Let's hope a few players can take this confidence boost into the weekend.

A welcome win for Notts against League one opposition. There were some good performances for Notts tonight.

Luker and Hall seem to combine well together. And Will Jarvis did very well when he came on in the 2nd half with an assist for the winning goal & giving the Barnsley defence a going over when he came on.

For me, Luker & Hall should start on Saturday & Jarvis should be on the substitutes bench at least. I'm pleased Will was given the opportunity to show what he can do

Report on the game from the Notts website.

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2025/september/30/report--notts-v-barnsley/

"Jayden Luker and Tyrese Hall were on the scoresheet as we beat Barnsley in our second Vertu Trophy group game.

The visitors’ had cancelled out Luker’s first-half finish shortly after the interval, before being reduced to 10 men shortly afterwards.

And we made our incessant pressure pay late on through Hall to put three points on the board ahead of our final group-stage match against Manchester United Under 21s.

Martin Paterson made six changes to the side that suffered a sickening defeat at Crewe three days earlier.

Jacob Bedeau, Lewis Macari, Tom Iorpenda, Hall and Alassana Jatta were the only players to keep their place in the starting XI, with Harry Griffiths, Lucas Ness, Ollie Norburn, Keanan Bennetts, Maz Kouhyar and Luker stepping in.

Youngsters Milai Perott and Harrison Iwunze were named on the bench alongside Sonny Aljofree, Jack Hinchy, Scott Robertson, Nick Tsaroulla and Will Jarvis.

Bennetts set the tone for a strong start to the game, bursting infield from the left before being fouled on the edge of the ‘D’. He took responsibility for the subsequent free-kick, which forced a good save from Kieren Flavell.

And our early endeavours were rewarded when, on nine minutes, Kouhyar did well to supply Luker in the area and watched on as the Luton loanee produced a calm finish off the inside of the post.

Luker was denied his second four minutes later when Flavell dived to his right to make an excellent save after Hall had done well to square the ball following Bedeau’s pass into the left-hand channel.

Barnsley’s hunt for a response was led by Caylan Vickers, who flashed a low shot wide of the far post shortly after Macari had headed away a goal bound effort.

We were doing a good job of keeping the League One side at arm’s length – but they should have equalised on 41 minutes when the dangerous Reyes Clearly picked out Davis Keillor-Dunn unmarked at the back post, only for the former Mansfield man to send his shot across goal and wide.

And, after Jatta had seen an effort blocked in the area, the referee called time on the half.

Robertson replaced Luker at the interval – but the Scotsman was helpless to prevent another surging Clearly run down the left which resulted in his cross being met with an excellent first-time finish into the top corner by Keillor-Dunn.

Just as it looked like the visitors would take a stranglehold on the game, however, they were reduced to 10 men with Jonathan Bland was shown as second yellow card for protesting against the referee’s decision to give a throw-in against his team.

Paterson added fresh attacking impetus shortly after the hour, with Tsaroulla and Jarvis replacing Kouhyar and Iorpenda.

And, shortly after Jarvis had seen a header saved from his fellow sub’s cross, he cut on to his left inside the area and had a fierce, left-footed shot kicked away by Flavell in the Tykes’ net.

Bennetts had fired a well-struck effort across goal and wide moments earlier – and our dominance continued with Tsaroulla seeing a dangerous cross clip the outside of the post on its way behind.

Young forward Iwunze replaced Jatta on 77 minutes and we continued to press forward, Hall sending an effort over before seeing a shot saved shortly afterwards.

The impressive Bennetts showed good skill before firing a right-footed shot wide as it began to look like the match would go to penalties, with one side earning a bonus point.

We thought we’d taken the lead on 87 minutes when Iwunze bundled Jarvis’ low cross over the line, only for him to be denied his first senior goal by the referee who adjudged him to have handled the ball on its way in.

But two minutes later the victory was ours when Tsaroulla threaded a superb pass for Jarvis to play the ball across the face of goal once again, this time Hall making no mistake with the close-range finish.

There was a nervy moment at the end of five added minutes, as Josh Earl sent the ball narrowly wide with a header from a corner.

But there was to be no comeback from the Tykes on an enjoyable evening at the Lane".