Paterson’s Magpies look to rediscover their cutting edge as in-form Oxford visit Meadow Lane
Wednesday 7 October 2026 · By Scott Milner
Notts County are back in League One for the first time in 11 years, and so far they have shown they belong. Martin Paterson’s side are competitive in almost every game. The problem lately has been turning chances into goals, and they will need to fix that quickly with Oxford United visiting on Saturday lunchtime.
The Magpies started the season unbeaten in five games. They beat Burton 2–1, drew 1–1 at Doncaster, with Cal Roberts setting up the equaliser, and drew 1–1 at Huddersfield, where Ollie Cooper scored. But the last two league games have ended in defeat without a goal. Bradford won 1–0 at Meadow Lane on 12 September, and Notts lost 2–0 at Reading on 19 September despite having 12 shots, only two of which were on target.
Paterson has been honest about the step up. “The last two games have taught us valuable lessons at this level,” he told BBC Radio Nottingham. He has also said that “we have to look at every single facet” of the team’s performances.
Notts are 20th with seven points from seven games. They have one win, four draws and two defeats, with seven goals scored and nine conceded. Their recent form reads D W D D L L. Two postponements, at home to Blackpool on 26 September and away at Peterborough on 3 October, mean they have not played a league game since 19 September.
The club showed its faith in Paterson in September. On 18 September, BBC Sport reported that he had signed a new contract until the summer of 2029. Paterson called the job “the honour of my professional life”. At that point, his record stood at 28 wins and 18 defeats in 61 games. He led Notts to promotion with victory over Salford in the League Two play-off final on 25 May.
Paterson brings plenty of coaching experience. He was previously Michael Duff’s assistant at Barnsley, Swansea and Huddersfield, and Duff has just been appointed at Bradford. Paterson also had a spell as Burton head coach in the second half of the 2023–24 season. Captain Matt Palmer is a key figure in the side.
Saturday 10 October sees Oxford come to Meadow Lane for a 12:30 kick-off. Aaron Ramsey’s side are tenth, have games in hand and arrive full of confidence. It will be a real test.
After that, Notts host Nottingham Forest Under-21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday 13 October. They then travel to Wycombe on 17 October, before home games against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday 20 October and Stockport on 24 October. The month ends with the Nottinghamshire derby at Mansfield on 31 October.
Three home league games in 15 days give Notts a great chance to climb. They are creating opportunities, so if the finishing improves, the points will follow. A good result against Oxford would be the perfect way to start.
Meadow Lane has been home to Notts County since 1910. It sits just south of Nottingham city centre, on the same side of the River Trent as the railway station and a short walk from Forest’s City Ground. Capacity is about 19,841. For visiting supporters the important facts are simple: you sit in the Jimmy Sirrel Stand, you enter from County Road, and the two goals are in front of the Kop (north) and the Haydn Green Family Stand (south).
Away fans are housed along the east side of the pitch in the Jimmy Sirrel Stand, usually towards the Kop end rather than behind a goal. A typical allocation is around 1,400, with more for bigger ties. The view is side-on and generally clear; the stand is single-tier with a distinctive triangular gable. Turnstiles are on County Road — not Meadow Lane itself. Check the number printed on your ticket and have the barcode ready. Stewards will point you to the correct block if you are unsure.
Nottingham station is the easiest arrival point: 10–15 minutes on foot. Leave via the Carrington Street / London Road side and the ground comes into view quickly. Coaches and cars should aim for County Road and the Cattle Market area next to the away stand. Club parking is limited and usually needs booking well in advance; private and cattle-market spaces nearby are first come, first served. After the match that area can be slow to clear, so allow extra time if you have a train.
The Broken Wheelbarrow behind the Family Stand is for home supporters only. Away-friendly options include the Trent Navigation Inn on Meadow Lane, the Vat & Fiddle (Castle Rock) on Queensbridge Road, The Industry near the station, and The Boot Room across the river on Pavilion Road (smaller, so it fills early). Hooters on London Road is popular but often booking-only. Inside the Jimmy Sirrel Stand there are refreshment points with the usual pies, burgers, soft drinks and alcohol. The ground is typically cashless, so take a card.
On the pitch, County attack the Family Stand end in one half and the Kop in the other. The Kop is the noisy home end behind the northern goal; safe standing has been added at the rear. Opposite, the smaller Haydn Green Family Stand sits behind the southern goal and has a prominent central pillar — worth knowing if you ever buy a home ticket there. The large Derek Pavis Stand on the west side is the main stand, with dugouts, hospitality and media. Your seats look across at that stand.
Facilities in the away section are straightforward rather than lavish, but sightlines are good and the stand can generate a decent racket when a following fills it. Sit in the seat on your ticket. Flags are usually allowed on the front row if stewards agree. Wheelchair and ambulant disabled spaces for away fans are at the bottom of the Sirrel Stand; book those through the ticket office well ahead. Bags are searched; travel light.
Meadow Lane is a compact, traditional four-stand ground rather than a bowl. You are close to the pitch, the stands do not quite join at the corners, and the gable on the Sirrel Stand is a nice old-school touch. Treat it as a proper football afternoon: arrive via County Road, find the away block towards the Kop, and you will be looking along the touchline with a goal to your left or right depending on the half. Official visiting information and maps live on the Notts County site if anything changes on the day.