Notts County will kick off their 2023-24 EFL Trophy campaign with a contest against Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s on Tuesday night.
The home side will enter the match off the back of a 1-1 draw with MK Dons in League Two on Saturday afternoon, while Wolves Under-21s beat Crystal Palace Under-21s 3-2 in their last game on September 1.
Match preview
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Notts County secured a return to League Two via the National League playoffs last term, and the Magpies have made an excellent start to the 2023-24 campaign, sitting up in second position in the table.
Luke Williams's side have picked up 14 points from their seven matches courtesy of a record of four wins, two draws and one defeat, which has left them just one point behind leaders Gillingham.
Notts County actually recorded three straight wins over Doncaster Rovers, Tranmere Rovers and Accrington Stanley before being held to a 1-1 draw with MK Dons on Saturday afternoon.
Williams's team trailed early in the second period in Buckinghamshire, but Kyle Cameron netted in the 66th minute of the contest to level the scores.
Notts County have never won the EFL Trophy, and this is not a competition that will be high on their list of priorities this season, with success in League Two much more important.
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Derby County and Lincoln City are also present alongside these two teams in Northern Group G, so it should be a very competitive section, with Wolves Under-21s looking to make their mark.
The visitors are four games into their Premier League 2 campaign, and it has been a difficult start, losing their opening three league matches to Fulham Under-21s, Stoke Under-21s and Middlesbrough Under-21s.
James Collins's side will enter this contest off the back of a positive result, though, beating Palace Under-21s 3-2 at the start of September.
Owen Hesketh, Owen Farmer and Nathan Fraser were on the scoresheet in the success, and Wolves Under-21s will now be bidding to make the perfect start to their EFL Trophy campaign ahead of a clash with Norwich City Under-21s in the Premier League Cup on September 19.
Team News
Notts County boss Williams will make alterations to his side following the league contest with MK Dons.
Fatigue is not a major issue at this stage of the season, but the hosts have a huge League Two match away to Salford City on Friday evening, so there will be a lot of players rested here.
The team is likely to be similar to the one that started against Lincoln City in the EFL Cup last month, while there could be a rare start for 19-year-old defender Ollie Tipton.
As for Wolves Under-21s, this competition provides an opportunity for a number of young players to catch the eye of the first-team manager in a senior environment.
Farmer, Fraser and Hesketh are all expected to retain their spots in the final third of the field, while there should also be another start for Harry Britwistle in a wide position.
Head coach Collins is also expected to use teenage attacker Ethan McLeod at some stage of the contest.
Notts County possible starting lineup:
Slocombe; Brindley, Baldwin, Tipton, Chicksen; Adedayo-Rowling, Randall-Hurren, O'Brien, Austin; Scott, Morias
Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s possible starting lineup:
Young; Kaleta, Kandola, Hubner, Keto-Diyawa; Rees, Ashworth; Britwistle, Hesketh, Farmer; Fraser
We say: Notts County 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s
Notts County boss Williams will make a number of changes for this match, but there is a feel-good factor around the club at the moment, and we are expecting the League Two side to start their EFL Trophy campaign with a win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
