Real kick in teeth as Notts stumble again in bid for place in top three

NOTTS County head coach Stuart Maynard was frustrated with his side’s defensive performance after their League Two automatic promotion hopes took a huge dent in a 3-1 defeat to Salford City at Meadow Lane.

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The Magpies missed the opportunity to move only one point behind the automatic promotion spots as they suffered a second successive defeat.

Salford opened the scoring before the break when Cole Stockton’s strike took a big deflection off Matthew Platt and Kelly N’Mai doubled the lead in the 53rd minute.

David McGoldrick pulled one back but as the Magpies hunted for an equaliser, Luke Garbutt sealed all three points for the visitors.

“It’s frustrating in the way we conceded the goals,” said Maynard.

“It’s very unlike us. I think we've only conceded three shots on target in our last four games, so to concede three goals is very frustrating.