Notts kick off their home campaign of the 2025/26 season at 12.30pm this Saturday where they will host Salford City.
Whilst the Magpies will be looking to improve on an encouraging 1-1 opening day draw at Newport, Salford will want to put a comprehensive 3-1 defeat at home to Crewe well and truly behind them.
The Ammies have added a mixture of experience and youth to their squad during the summer with one notable signing being that of ex Magpie Jorge Grant who spent a season on loan at Meadow Lane from Forest during the 2017/18 campaign.
Since leaving Notts Grant found himself on loan to Luton and then Mansfield before establishing himself as Captain at Lincoln City.
A spell at Peterborough followed before a move north of the border saw him spend 3 seasons with SPFL side Hearts.
Grant in action for Lincoln City | Lincolnshire Live
As well as Grant Salford have seen additional experience come through the doors in the form of ex Wrexham Keeper Mark Howard (38) and 32 year old striker Kadeem Harris who joined from relegated Carlisle and was the scorer of Salford’s goal on opening day.
Off the mark! | Kadeem Harris in action for Carlisle | News & Star
Other signings of note include 22 year old centre back Loick Ayina on a free transfer from Huddersfield, 25 year old centre back Adebola Oluwa on a free from Barnet, 22 year old Wealdstone right back Kallum Cesay and 18 year old Sunderland U21 goal keeper Matthew Young.
All of the aforementioned were in the starting XI for Salford against Crewe.
Head Coach Karl Robinson is normally quite progressive in his approach but he will know that Notts are likely to have the lions share of possession, and having conceded 3 goals against Crewe it will be interesting to see if he will set up to take the game to Notts and press or take a more cautious approach and sit in a mid-low block and look to profit on the break with any turnover of possession.
Karl Robinson | Border Telegraph
With Alassana Jatta sitting out the third of his 6 game ban, and in the absence of any other signings, Notts Head Coach Martin Patterson will be looking again to Matthew Dennis to lead the line.
Behind him will likely be Jodi Jones and it’s currently anyone’s guess who the other CAM will be with Grant, Luker and now Tyreece Hall looking to fill that spot. Equally, Hall could sit in next to Palmer and Iorpenda could be pushed forward.
Filling the Jatta void | Matthew Dennis
Cotter and Gordon are likely to be called upon again to start as the two wing backs and a back 3 of Bedeau, Platt and Aljofree looks a given.
At the time of writing the bookies make Notts favourites with best odds of 10/9 for the outright win meaning a 47% probability of winning.
Salford are currently 5/2 for the away win meaning a 28% probability of winning and with odds of 17/6 there is a 26% probability of a draw.
Against Newport the intensity required from Patterson of his players faded in the second half and worsened further after the substitutions, and it’s the choice of substitutions that Patterson will need to be a bit clearer on if Notts are to maintain the intensity and energy he’s looking for.
That said, in Jones, Iorpenda, Luker and Hall the Notts Head Coach has plenty of creative and energetic firepower at his disposal. Add to that the pace of Bennetts and Gordon the Magpies are well placed to really put Salford to the sword.
Hopefully the impact offered by the live match data team’s iPad will be much improved than that witnessed at Newport!
COYP!
Notts County vs Salford City
League Two – Round 2
Meadow Lane, Nottingham
Saturday 9th August 2025
Kick-off: 12.30pm
Referee: Aaron Bannister