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Notts County head coach Martin Paterson praised his players’ reaction after they came from behind to record their first away win of the season at Tranmere Rovers. The Magpies had to respond after falling behind at Prenton Park, but goals from Matthew Dennis and Kellan Gordon secured a 2-1 victory. Paterson kept faith with the same starting eleven that drew 2-2 with Bromley, with striker Alassana Jatta making a return on the bench following injury and suspension. Paterson admitted that the home side began strongly but was pleased with the way his players responded. “I thought they started well in the first period of the game and they're a well-coached, organised team. I played with the manager, I know him ever so well, and they're difficult. So we've worked on a lot of things and the improvements were there in terms of the defensive actions. I was really pleased.” He emphasised the importance of remaining disciplined during the early stages of pressure. “We had to just respect the game, we had to defend, we had to withstand a little bit of pressure here at Tranmere, it's a tough place to come. And then I thought we started to build our way into the game to then, dare I say it, have good control.” Despite conceding late in the first half, Paterson was encouraged by the team’s attitude. He made his expectations clear at the break and was delighted with the reaction. “I chose my words very carefully at halftime, but I also made sure the group were abundantly clear what I expected in the second half. And what I will give them a massive credit for is the performance in the first half, but again, not the result. Very similar to what we've experienced in the first few games, if I'm honest. So I had that feeling, oh, not again, come on. But then what I saw in the second half was a reaction and a response from the words that I said and my mannerisms at halftime. So credit to my players, because we've got a great bunch here.” Dennis levelled soon after the restart before Gordon struck the winner with a composed finish. Paterson highlighted the improved organisation, particularly during the closing stages. “For the last 15 minutes when they gave and they're probably the best set play team in the division at the moment they threw everything at us and we stood our ground and that looked like a Notts County performance today.” He was quick to stress the importance of progress over celebration. “There’ll be no overreaction from me, good or bad. It's on to Lincoln now and we have to continue the progress that we're making. Sometimes you can downplay certain things, but what I can't downplay is the reaction and the performance in the second half to win a game of football. It's absolute key and I'm really, really proud of them, but it means nothing if we don't kick on now for the next two games.” The head coach also praised his back line, which he felt looked “like a proper back line today”, and the work of his staff behind the scenes to improve the team’s fitness. “What I did see, we look fitter. We look fitter. And that was a big thing for me coming in. I think we really needed to be fitter so that we don't droop and don't fall back in those last moments.” Jatta returned for the final stages and combined with Dennis in attack, something Paterson was pleased to see but cautious not to overstate. “Yes, they are forming a partnership. But again, one swallow is not a summer. So we need to get back to base camp. I've told the players, listen, enjoy it tonight, have a nice film with your family. But come Monday morning, we're at work as we always are because we're just trying to get back to level par.” Looking ahead to transfer deadline day, Paterson confirmed he does not expect major changes. “I don't think so. The owners have been really, really clear on the outs. Inns will be more so if it is the correct player that will improve the group, which is the key thing. I don't think we as a club, owners, head of football and myself plonked underneath that, are in a knee-jerk reaction to just get bodies. It needs to improve us.” Notts will now prepare for their next challenge, away at Lincoln City, with Paterson urging his players to keep building on the progress shown at Prenton Park. Moving on to the EFL Trophy game against Lincoln City, the Pride of Nottingham Match Discussion is now live, and we encourage fans to share their pre-match thoughts with us. We're looking to raise some money for more improvements to our site through a donation drive. If you can spare any amount, we’d really appreciate your support!

Notts County earned their first away win of the season with a 2-1 win at Tranmere Rovers. The hosts went ahead before the break, but County responded well. Matthew Dennis equalised early in the second half, and Kellan Gordon struck the winner with a composed finish. The Magpies stayed organised and saw out the match with little fuss. Martin Paterson kept faith with the same starting eleven that drew 2-2 with Bromley, though there was a welcome return to the bench for Alassana Jatta following suspension and injury. Dennis again led the line alongside Jodi Jones, supported by Tom Iorpenda and Ollie Norburn in attacking midfield. Notts had more of the ball in the first half, enjoying 54 percent possession, but they struggled to create clear chances. Their best moment came on 36 minutes when Jones sent a dangerous cross across the six-yard box, narrowly missing Barry Cotter’s outstretched boot. Tranmere were equally limited in attack until the closing stages of the half. On 45 minutes, a lapse in midfield possession gave Charlie Whitaker the space to break forward, and his pass released Omari Patrick, who calmly finished past Kelle Roos to put the home side ahead. Paterson made a change at the break, introducing Gordon for Cotter, and the response was immediate. Within minutes of the restart, a clever passing move involving Jones, Nick Tsaroulla, and Iorpenda created space for the midfielder to cross low into the box. Dennis arrived at the back post to steer the ball home for his latest poacher’s finish, bringing Notts level. The Magpies grew into the half and soon completed the turnaround. On 62 minutes, Jatta, recently introduced from the bench, showed good awareness with a neat flick that set Dennis through. His effort was saved by Luke McGee, but Gordon followed up with composure to put County in front. Tranmere pressed for an equaliser, forcing blocks from Jacob Bedeau and a sharp stop from Roos. Josh Davison and Patrick Brough both went close, while substitute Jayden Joseph struck over late on. Notts, however, stood firm under pressure. With six minutes of added time, the defence had to dig deep, but the back three and goalkeeper did enough to protect the lead. The contest was competitive throughout, reflected in the statistics. Both sides won four corners apiece. Notts committed 10 fouls and collected three yellow cards, while Tranmere were penalised 16 times and also saw three players booked, including goalkeeper McGee in stoppage time. The Magpies were the more clinical side, recording eight shots on target compared to Tranmere’s two. The final whistle confirmed a valuable win for Notts County, who showed resilience to recover from a goal down and see the game out in testing circumstances. The travelling supporters left Prenton Park satisfied after a strong second-half performance. Help the Pride of Nottingham name their Man of the Match from yesterday's performance against Tranmere Rovers. Simply click this link and cast your vote in the poll! Don’t hesitate to drop a comment if you want! Share your post-match thoughts after yesterday's 2-1 win at Prenton Park against Tranmere Rovers. Let us know your thoughts on the game, key moments, and how you felt after the final whistle.

Notts County midfielder Ollie Norburn says he has “settled in really well” at Meadow Lane and believes the Magpies have the quality to challenge at the top end of League Two, but has urged calm and focus ahead of Saturday’s trip to Prenton Park. The 32-year-old, who signed a one-year deal in the summer after leaving Blackpool, admitted he is still building full match sharpness after a long injury lay-off, but feels stronger with every appearance. “Yes, settled in really well,” he said. “Very good club, good set of lads, good staff. I'm looking forward to the season ahead. I'm very optimistic, even though we would say we should have picked up more points so far, but we're remaining positive and looking forward to the weekend.” Norburn missed a significant portion of pre-season and concedes it has taken time to catch up to speed. “It's not ideal really in terms of not having a proper pre-season with the group. I caught the last half an hour of the game at Cardiff and then in terms of match minutes, you're trying to play catch-up, which is always hard when the competitive football starts. I always knew it was probably going to take me a good few weeks to get up to speed and get in the match feel again after being out for 14, 15 weeks. I'm probably still finding my feet with that, to be honest. But with each game and each minute, I'm starting to feel better physically. Hopefully, this time in a few weeks, next month, I'll be fully up to speed and ready to attack what's ahead.” Competition for places in the Notts midfield is fierce, with Matt Palmer, Tom Iopenda and Scott Robertson all pushing for selection. For Norburn, that challenge is something he relishes. “It's good. Obviously, you've got to compete for a place and try and keep your shirt. Ultimately, then the decision lies with the manager. I guess that's his job to pick who plays, but all good players. I think anyone that would be chosen to play is a reliable, good player, especially at this level. So, no, it's all healthy and all good.” Norburn has spent much of his career at a higher level, including the Championship with Peterborough United, but says Notts’ ambition was a key factor in his decision to move to Meadow Lane. “The ambition of the club and where they want to get to, how they do things and the way that the football tries to be played here. It was an attractive one for me. Hopefully we'll be pushing at the right end of the table, which I'm sure over the course of the season we'll be there or thereabouts with the quality that's in the squad. I'm fully optimistic and looking forward to what's ahead.” Reflecting on his own journey, which included a spell in non-league before working his way back up to the Championship, Norburn highlighted the importance of resilience. “I think first and foremost there was probably a reason why I dropped into non-league at 22, 23 years old and the reason being I hadn't played enough games and all types of different things. You've got to try and earn your stripes back if you like and I think the lower down you go sometimes it's tougher, you've got to be mentally strong and resilient especially to fight your way back up and that's what I've done. The message would be to young players is you've got to be resilient, mentally strong. Sometimes in football, things can change very quick. Leave no stone unturned in terms of how you train, how you prepare. Basically, give it what you've got.” Leadership has been a common theme throughout his career, with Norburn captaining several of his former clubs. While he acknowledges Matt Palmer’s role as Notts’ skipper, he sees himself as a vocal presence in the dressing room. “At most clubs I have been captain to be fair. Probably something that comes quite natural. Obviously, we've got the skipper here, Matt Palmer, who's a good skipper and probably leads in a different way, but I'd like to say I'm probably a little bit more vocal in terms of how I lead, in terms of speaking and that type of thing. But there's certainly different ways of how you can lead and lead by example.” Saturday brings a return to one of Norburn’s old clubs, Tranmere Rovers, where he won promotion during his time at Prenton Park. He knows the challenge that awaits. “We know, as you guys will know, it's a tough place to go, so we've got to go there ready, prepared. If we can play our football and play that for a longer period through games, because we look back at games, we review, we assess, I think if we can really get a 90-minute performance together, I think there's not many teams that could live with us. It's all about us, concentrate on us, concentrate on what we do well. If we do and start putting together 90-minute performances, I'm sure we'll be fine.” With Tranmere undefeated so far, Norburn believes composure will be crucial as Notts aim to get their season fully on track. “Yes, but we've got to remain calm with that because there is a lot of expectation here at the club, which is good and rightly so. There's good players, it's a good club, good fan base, but at the same time we've got to remain calm. We've got to concentrate on what we do and execute what we do. I'm sure if we start doing that over longer periods in games, the results will follow.” What are your pre-match thoughts ahead of Notts County's trip to Prenton Park, as the Magpies take on Tranmere Rovers? Join the conversation in Pride of Nottingham's Match Discussion and share your insights! Young 'Ash' has shared his thoughts on the Alassana Jatta situation, urging openness as the club is amidst discussions regarding the Gambian's future. Join in the conversation and share your opinion.

Notts County were held to a 2–2 draw by Bromley at Meadow Lane, despite a brace from Matthew Dennis. Head coach Martin Paterson named an unchanged line-up from the midweek win over Shrewsbury Town. With Alassana Jatta ruled out through a back spasm, Jodi Jones again started up front alongside Dennis, who came into the game looking to score for the third consecutive match. The Magpies began strongly and almost took an early lead when Dennis headed wide from Nick Tsaroulla’s cross. Minutes later, he made no mistake. Goalkeeper Kelle Roos picked him out with a long pass into the left channel. Dennis cut inside on his right foot and drove a precise finish inside the near post to give Notts the perfect start. Bromley hit back on 18 minutes after Notts failed to clear their lines inside the area. Ben Thompson was quickest to react and fired past Roos to level the score. The visitors’ physical approach led to several fouls, and there was controversy shortly before the half-hour mark when Omar Sowunmi’s late challenge on Jones earned only a yellow card. From the resulting free-kick, Matt Palmer’s delivery was met by Dennis, who glanced home his second of the afternoon with a tidy header. Notts carried the 2–1 lead into half-time, but Bromley made three substitutions during the break which helped them grow into the game. Both sides began to trade possession, and although Notts enjoyed 53.3 per cent of the ball, clear chances were limited. Paterson turned to his bench to inject fresh energy. Conor Grant and Tyrese Hall replaced Oliver Norburn and Jones, while Keanan Bennetts and Kellan Gordon later came on for Tsaroulla and Barry Cotter. Notts came close to extending their advantage on 77 minutes when Hall found himself in a good position inside the box, but his attempted cut-back towards Dennis was cut out. The missed opportunity proved costly. Bromley were awarded a soft-looking free-kick in the 83rd minute. The initial shot was blocked, but Mitch Pinnock’s follow-up effort struck Idris Odutayo, wrong-footing Roos and nestling in the net for a fortuitous equaliser. Bromley threatened again shortly afterwards, with Marcus Dinanga heading wide from close range, while at the other end Palmer forced a save from Grant Smith with a well-struck free-kick. In the closing stages, both sides pushed for a winner, with Bromley earning a succession of corners and Notts defending resolutely. Ultimately, neither team could find the decisive goal and the points were shared. The Magpies finished with three shots on target to Bromley’s three, while both sides were combative throughout, with Notts committing 12 fouls to Bromley’s 14. County picked up one booking, compared to four for the visitors. Bromley also edged the corner count, winning five to Notts’ three. The draw will feel frustrating after holding the lead for much of the contest, but Dennis’ fine finishing and another energetic display from the side provided positives for Paterson to build on. Take a moment to vote for Pride of Nottingham's Man of the Match if you haven't already, for the performances seen against Bromley. Help us name the Notts player who deserves the fans' vote. McPie has asked within the Pride of Nottingham community if Notts has a "lack of shape" in the team. What are your thoughts? Join in the discussion and have your say.

Notts County recorded their first win of the 2025–26 League Two season with a convincing 4–1 victory over Shrewsbury Town at Meadow Lane. Martin Paterson’s side set the tempo from the first whistle, taking control through early goals before sealing the points with composed finishes in the second half. The Magpies made three changes from the draw at Barrow, with Ollie Norburn restored to midfield, while Nick Tsaroulla and Barry Cotter started out wide. Tom Iorpenda partnered Norburn in advanced areas, supporting a front line of Jodi Jones and Matthew Dennis. At the back, Jacob Bedeau, Rod McDonald and Sonny Aljofree formed a three-man defence in front of goalkeeper Kelle Roos. County’s bright start was rewarded in the eighth minute. Jones drove into space on the left and delivered a low cross which Shrewsbury keeper Elyh Harrison failed to hold, leaving Dennis on hand to convert from close range. Moments later Iorpenda tested Harrison with a curling strike, forcing a corner. From the set-piece, Shrewsbury struggled to clear and Aljofree pounced to fire home, doubling the lead after 20 minutes. The visitors responded shortly after the half-hour mark. Former Magpie Sam Stubbs provided the cross and John Marquis rose highest to head beyond Roos, reducing the deficit. Shrewsbury pressed for an equaliser, but Roos produced an excellent stop to his right from Tom Anderson’s header to preserve the advantage at half-time. Two minutes into the second half, Notts restored their cushion. Jones again made inroads down the left, slipping the ball to Tsaroulla, who shifted onto his right foot and finished superbly into the far corner to make it 3–1. Paterson turned to his bench as the game wore on, introducing Kellan Gordon and Conor Grant for Cotter and Jones. Tyrese Hall and Keanan Bennetts later entered the action, providing further energy in the wide areas. County’s fourth came with eight minutes left and was a fine example of link-up play. Hall combined neatly with Gordon, whose cross picked out Grant. The substitute made no mistake, guiding his finish high into the net to cap an assured performance. Maz Kouhyar replaced Dennis late on and there was still time for Iorpenda to draw another save from Harrison deep into stoppage time. Shrewsbury’s frustration was clear as they collected three yellow cards in the closing stages, while Notts managed the game well to see out a comfortable win. The statistics underlined County’s control. They enjoyed 54 per cent possession, registered eight shots on target compared to the visitors’ two, and matched Shrewsbury’s four corners. While both sides received three bookings, the Shrews committed more fouls, 16 to Notts’ 10. This result lifts Notts County and provides a solid platform as they look to build momentum in the early weeks of the season. Meadow Lane witnessed a confident display, with Paterson’s men showing both quality and composure to secure three deserved points. What are your thoughts on Notts County's first win of the 2025-26 League Two season? Did you feel blown away by the performance, or were you more reserved? Let us know by sharing your thoughts in the Pride of Nottingham's Match Discussion. Take a moment to vote for the Pride of Nottingham's Man of the Match from yesterday's 4-1 win over Shrewsbury Town; voting ends on the 22nd at 9pm.

The latest Faces of PON gallery from Notts County’s home fixture against Salford City is now live. Supporters can browse the full set of photos, which captures fans in and around Meadow Lane on matchday. The gallery is part of an ongoing project to document the people who follow Notts County, both regulars and new faces. You can view the latest collection on our Facebook page or in the Pride of Nottingham gallery. Facebook: Faces of PON – Salford City (H) Pride of Nottingham: Faces of PON – Salford City (H) We welcome all supporters to take a look and see if they or someone they know features in the collection. Take a moment to read the Pride of Nottingham's match report from yesterday's 2-1 defeat to Salford City at Meadow Lane. Jump into the latest community chats and let us know what you think about the things that matter to you. Share what you love with PON!