- Salford City have won four of their last five League Two matches, including a 2-1 away win over Notts County seven months ago.
- Notts County have won two of their last three away League Two games (L1).
- Both teams scored in their most recent head-to-head meeting between Salford City and Notts County.
A tale of the tape
Notts County have played well on the road this season, taking 10 wins, four draws and six defeats from their 20 League Two away games. They have scored 1.35 goals per match on average away from home in the fourth tier this term while conceding just 1.05 per game. Their visitors, Salford City, have won 12, drawn three and lost five of their 20 home League Two fixtures this season, averaging 1.5 goals per fixture.
Notts County are currently third in the League Two table, three points clear of Salford City in sixth, after 40 games. County are on a mixed run of three wins and two defeats from their last five, while Salford have picked up four wins and one defeat in their last five.
A modern rivalry
Both teams will feel they are in with a good chance of reaching the end-of-season play-offs and with Salford having won the last three meetings between the clubs, the stakes are high in this latest chapter of a modern-day football rivalry. Notts County had a wobble in late March and early April when they lost 3-0 at Oldham Athletic before bouncing back with a 2-0 away win at Harrogate Town, while Salford bounced back with a 1-0 home win over MK Dons on Tuesday.
Karl Robinson took over as Salford’s head coach in January 2024 and has brought a pragmatic yet flexible style to the club that seems to suit his squad. The Ammies have been patient and deep in possession when necessary, but can also keep the ball very well and will allow the opponent pressure to come to them when they wish to. Salford’s back-three system is compact and they will invite pressure onto the wide wing-backs before hitting on the transition with numbers overloading and quick runners.
Martin Paterson took over at Notts County in June 2025 and has added a bit of intensity and directness to their possession-based game. County will build patiently from the back with the wide centre-backs and wing-backs in a three, but they have the ability to hit vertical balls with intensity when they can get the pressing trap to work. Alassana Jatta is County’s dangerman up front with 15 goals in 28 League Two appearances this term, while Fabio Borini has been in form for Salford with three of Salford's six goals in their last five matches coming from the Italian’s foot.
Salford should edge it
I think Salford City can nick a goal fest on Friday, so I’m going with a Salford win, over 2.5 goals and both teams to score in the match. Both clubs like to play with a back three, so I think the battle for the wings and half-spaces will be key to this one, but whichever side wins that contest is likely to profit most in the transitions.
