Preview: Notts County vs. Leicester City Under-21s – prediction, team news, lineups

Needing points to aid their hopes of reaching the EFL Trophy‘s knockout phase, Notts County will meet Leicester City Under-21s on Tuesday.

While the Magpies trail second-placed Burton Albion on goal difference, with one game to play in southern section Group F, Leicester’s young guns are yet to pick up a point.

Match preview

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Notts County started their latest EFL Trophy campaign by beating Burton 2-1 in August, before losing 2-0 to current group leaders Northampton Town last month, leaving them third in the table and with their destiny out of their own hands.

The Nottingham club come into Tuesday night’s group-stage finale flying high in League Two, where they also occupy third place and only trail pace-setters Port Vale by three points.

However, they let two slip at the weekend, against likely promotion rivals Doncaster Rovers, after Alassana Jatta‘s first-half header had seemed set to give County a fourth away win of the season.

Despite ultimately settling for a 1-1 draw, they have still not lost on the road this term, and Stuart Maynard has apparently transformed them into automatic promotion contenders.

Just two defeats in 15 League Two fixtures suggests that County are a tough nut to crack – particularly having conceded under one goal per game – but they are almost in must-win territory when it comes to Tuesday’s EFL Trophy contest.

As Leicester City Under-21s have lost both Group F games so far – beaten 3-1 by Burton and then 3-0 by Northampton – a home victory will be expected.

In order to qualify for the knockout stages, Leicester’s development squad must win handsomely at Meadow Lane and hope that Burton are well beaten, so they appear to be heading out.

Nonetheless, head coach Leon McSweeney has outlined plenty of positives to be taken thus far, and his team also occupy a mid-table place in Premier League 2, having recently defeated Aston Villa.

On Friday, Josh King‘s injury-time equaliser salvaged a point as the Foxes came from behind twice during a 2-2 draw with Coventry City in Group B of the Premier League Cup. Now, they must face another tough test against senior professionals.

Notts County EFL Trophy form:

Notts County form (all competitions):

Leicester City Under-21s EFL Trophy form:

Leicester City Under-21s form (all competitions):

Team News

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Amid a busy League Two schedule, Notts County boss Stuart Maynard is set to make a number of changes to his starting lineup on Tuesday.

Set for a rest, star striker Alassana Jatta scored twice in a recent 5-1 FA Cup win against non-league side Alfreton and has since taken his goal tally into double figures across in all competitions this season.

Having joined Scott Robertson on the sidelines in Doncaster, David McGoldrick may not be fit in time to replace the soon-to-be Gambia international – who has just received his first call-up – so Jevani Brown could fill in up front.

Teenage talent Kameron Muir became the youngest player ever to make an appearance for the Magpies during September’s EFL Trophy win over Burton – breaking a record previously held by ex-Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant – and the 15-year-old may be involved once again.

Meanwhile, Leicester City Under-21s could name Pennant’s nephew Terell Pennant in their attack at Meadow Lane, after the young striker started last time out.

The visitors are expected to field their strongest XI, also featuring midfielder Henry Cartwright, who has contributed three goals and two assists in Premier League 2 this season.

Notts County possible starting lineup:
Slocombe; Ness, Cundy, McDonald; Tsaroulla, Abbott, Finchy, Martin; Gill, Reynolds; Brown

Leicester City Under-21s possible starting lineup:
Bausor; Joseph, Godsmark-Ford, Wilson-Brown, Aluko; Page, Cartwright; Monga, Alves, Evans; Pennant

We say: Notts County 4-1 Leicester City Under-21s

Due to the physical disparity between Leicester’s youth side and Notts County’s full-time pros, the League Two team should pull away from their visitors and stroll to a straightforward victory – whether that is enough to go through will depend on events in Northampton.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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