Notts County’s automatic promotion hopes took a significant blow as they succumbed to a heavy 4-0 defeat against promotion rivals Cambridge United, a result and performance that left head coach Martin Paterson full of frustration.
While a closely fought and cagey opening would have been reasonable to expect in a game of such magnitude, the match was effectively decided within the first 35 minutes, as a high-octane blitz from the U’s propelled them into a commanding 3-0 lead.
Even the 40th-minute sending off of Cambridge United goalkeeper, Jake Eastwood, failed to inspire any sort of response from the Magpies. Instead, any hopes of a resurgence were quickly extinguished by a fourth goal early in the second half.
The 38-year-old head coach’s despair was evident after the match, lamenting that his experience at the Abbey Stadium marked the worst 90 minutes he has endured throughout his entire career in football.
While the result is not a terminal blow to Notts County’s automatic promotion aspirations, it does leave them trailing Saturday’s conquerors by a point in third place, with Neil Harris’s side also holding a game in hand.
Notts County Appear Unprepared For Crucial Six Pointer
Paterson struggled to pinpoint exactly why his side were caught so cold at the Abbey Stadium, especially given their thorough preparations and anticipation of a blistering start from their hosts.
Having conceded in the second minute to a Dom Ball header, the very least the travelling faithful could have expected was a spirited and immediate response to the early setback. But instead, the team appeared to wilt under the pressure of the occasion.
Failure to defend a long throw resulted in them falling further behind, before James Gibbons’ emphatic strike into the roof of the net applied an unflattering look to the scoreline for Cambridge. Speaking to BBC Nottinghamshire Sport, the former Burton Albion boss didn’t mince his words, accusing his players of displaying an unprofessional attitude and level of performance early in the game.
“Probably one of the worst 90 minutes I’ve been a part of… I didn’t see something that represents what we have been working so hard for.”
“What is clear to me is that the start of that game was unprofessional, and it didn’t come off that really… To deliver that today, it shocked me.”
In front of a bumper crowd of nearly 8,000 at the Abbey Stadium, it was almost guaranteed that Cambridge would attempt to fly out of the traps, but what wasn’t predictable was the charitable mood with which Notts County greeted them.
Notts County Fail To Threaten Without Jatta
While their defensive frailty will likely dominate the headlines, the fact that County didn’t register a single shot on target in Cambridgeshire underscores the costliness of Alassana Jatta’s retrospective three-match ban for violent conduct.
Even with a man advantage for over half of Saturday’s game, they failed to sustain any meaningful attacking threat, affording the Cambridge back five a surprisingly comfortable afternoon, when they likely anticipated being severely tested. Without their 15-goal top scorer, they must have hoped the half-time introduction of Matthew Dennis, with his 14 goals this season, would inject more offensive thrust—a plan that didn’t materialise.
Their 3-1 victory on Easter Monday over Newport County without Jatta had reassured the staff at Meadow Lane that it shouldn’t derail their promotion push too much. The stark contrast between Saturday’s performance and this one has left everyone associated with County bewildered, as their margin for error regarding automatic promotion evaporated in Cambridge.
Cambridge United Plant Flag In Promotion Chase
After a run of three matches without a win, faith in the U’s promotion pedigree had begun to wane as they slipped to fourth place before Saturday’s crucial clash. Frustrated by back-to-back draws over the long Easter weekend, Neil Harris sent his side out with a point to prove against Notts County.
Knowing that losing wasn’t an option on the day, he sent his energetic team out to immediately press high onto their opponents, a move that paid immediate dividends with the early goal.
The three points are seismic in the context of the run-in, with Cambridge now in control of their own destiny, safe in the knowledge that three wins from their remaining four matches will secure their automatic promotion to League One.
While the result saw Cambridge overcome a major hurdle in their pursuit of promotion and placed them in the driving seat, they would be wise to reset ahead of a tricky-looking trip to league leaders Bromley in front of the TV cameras.
From Notts County’s perspective, they must dust themselves down and relish the opportunity to apply pressure on those above them, in an attempt to win the war, having succumbed meekly in their far-reaching battle with the U’s.
