Notts County’s unbeaten start to the new season continued on Saturday afternoon courtesy of their first victory in the third tier of English football for some 4,144 days, coming from behind against visiting, ten-man Burton Albion.

It took being a goal down midway through the first half, via Finn Delap’s headed effort, and a late brace from Luka Smyth, to do so, but the victory now sees Martin Paterson’s unbeaten in their first three games this season.

The two sides paid tribute to Quevin Castro in the tenth minute, who had loan spells at both clubs during the 2022/23 campaign, and who passed away in pre-season at the age of 25 years, after collapsing during a friendly between Real Sport Clube, who he played for, and Estrela da Amadora, in his native Portugal.

On the field, and Burton would be seen to take the lead midway through the first half after Jack Armer crossed the ball for Delap to head the opener past James Belshaw between the home sticks.

It stayed that way going into the break, Albion leading by that lone, headed goal, and, despite efforts to get back into the game upon the restart, it seemed like County’s luck was against them.

Stockport County loanee, Corey Addai, was doing plenty to keep the County threat at bay, saving well from efforts by Callum Roberts and Hindolo Mustapha, among others; County even had a penalty appeal waved away on the hour when Curtis Tilt looked like he was holding Luka Smyth, but nothing given.

Shy of twenty minutes later however, County were level, Smyth grabbing his first for the club with a lovely, glancing header, following a Nick Tsaroulla cross, then, five minutes later, Tilt’s luck runs out and this time a penalty is awarded.

Smyth is brought down by the visiting captain, and he receives a second yellow for his efforts, with County’s 19 stepping up to fire home what proved the winner, beating Addai, who’d dived the right way.

It’s a win that sees the unbeaten Magpies in seventh place in the early, EFL League One standings, and a couple of points off top spot.

NOTTS COUNTY – James Belshaw, James Gibbons, Lucas Ness, Jacob Bedeau (capt), Nick Tsaroulla (Ishe Samuels-Smith, 90), Rory Finneran, Jack Evans (Luka Smyth, 46), Darius Lipsiuc (Maziar Kouhyar, 66), Hindolo Mustapha, Callum Roberts, Ollie Cooper (Conor Grant, 66)

Next up for Paterson’s unbeaten Magpies, a trip to lowly Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday (1 September) night, KO 19:45, followed by visiting Huddersfield Town on Saturday (5 September) afternoon.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC Rory Finneran in action for Notts County.