Steve Cotterill's dream start to life as Notts County manage continued on Saturday as the Magpies ran out 3-0 winners at Accrington Stanley, exacting revenge for Stanley's win at Meadow Lane - which remains the only loss inflicted on the Magpies on their own turf. The game could've been different if an early goal for Stanley had been awarded, whilst the hosts missed plenty of early chances, but once Ben Davies had headed the Magpies infront there only every looked to be one winner on the beach of a pitch at the Crown Ground. Steve Cotterill was forced into a defensive change from the side which beat Macclesfield Town on Tuesday night, with a training ground injury to Stephen Hunt seeing Mike Edwards return to the side, whilst Lee Hughes partnered Luke Rodgers upfront after his return from suspension.
A minute's applause was imeccably observed by both sets of fans before the game after the tragic death of Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander in the week. The hosts started the brighter of the two sides, with Bobby Grant racing clear of the Notts defence and dragging a shot horribly wide of Kasper Schmeichel's far post, while a well struck shot from Michael Symes flew over the crossbar. Notts came closest in the early exchanges though as Jamie Clapham swung over a corner which Graeme Lee powered towards goal, only for Luke Joyce to head it to safety from the goalline. Lee Hughes also broke clear but was forced wide by Darran Kempson before hitting a shot across the face of goal. The sides were then plunged into mass confusion as Kempson had the ball in the net, only for the referee to seemingly rule it out for a blatant handball by Andy Proctor. However, with both sides lining up for a Notts free kick, he changed his mind and gave the goal, much to the anger of the visiting fans, players and management. All eleven County players demanded that Mr. Hall consult his assistant and, with both sets of players surrounding them, the officials reverted to their original decision and ruled the goal out.
This gave Notts some momentum and they were able to take the lead, Luke Rodgers' through ball putting Lee Hughes through on goal, only for Phil Edwards to bring him down. Hughes stepped up and smashed his penalty down the middle, only for Ian Dunbavin to kick it away, luckily for the Magpies though Ben Davies was on hand to head it back into the net and give Notts an undeserved lead. An exciting, end-to-end first half continued though and Grant's free kick from the edge of the area nearly levelled as it clattered into the angle between Schmeichel's post and bar. The game was over as a contest within eight second half minutes though as Notts seized control. Firstly Hughes latched onto a woeful pass across his own defence by Phil Edwards and scampered clear before firing past Dunbavin to put Notts in control and he almost got his second, curling a beautiful shot narrowly wide from 25 yards. Rodgers did score from range moments later though, with a flowing team move seeing Hughes' clever back heel play in Rodgers, who volleyed home from outside the area. The game fizzled out after that excitement, although Hughes thought he should've had a penalty when Dean Winnard seemed to block his goalbound effort with his hand. Graeme Lee also came close, seeing a shot cleared away from inside the six yard box, whilst Schmeichel had to be alert to tip a late Bobby Grant free kick over the bar. Notts hold onto a third straight clean sheet to make the new manager's record played three, won three, scored nine, conceded none. Not a bad start to life in the Meadow Lane manager's chair, really.