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Friendlies ClubsSeason 2026

Notts County vs Nottingham Forest

18 July 2026 at 15:00
AI

Nottingham Forest beat Notts County 2-0 in Oliver Glasner's first match in charge, with Igor Jesus and Arnaud Kalimuendo scoring the goals at Meadow Lane.

Match Videos

Match Analysis

AI Summary

How it unfolded

Forest made the brighter start, controlling possession in the opening exchanges. Igor Jesus had two sights of goal inside the first 20 minutes — first forcing a save from James Belshaw after being teed up by Omari Hutchinson, then heading narrowly wide from the resulting corner.

The breakthrough arrived in the 26th minute. Morgan Gibbs-White, overlooked for England's World Cup squad by Thomas Tuchel, produced a sublime through ball that split the Notts County defence. Jesus collected the pass and calmly rolled his finish past Belshaw to put the visitors ahead.

Omari Hutchinson and Neco Williams both attempted to extend the lead before half-time — Hutchinson saw an effort charged down, while Williams headed off target. Notts County offered sporadic threats but Matz Sels enjoyed a quiet first half in the Forest goal.

Glasner changed the entire XI at the interval, and the second-half side maintained the momentum. The lead doubled when Eric da Silva Moreira swung in a pinpoint cross from the right and Kalimuendo powered a header home to make it 2-0.

Taiwo Awoniyi came closest to adding a third, bursting through on goal only to be denied by a strong save. Notts County pushed for a consolation in the closing stages but Forest's second-string defence held firm.

The turning point

Glasner's decision to field a completely different XI for the second half — rather than making gradual substitutions — could have disrupted rhythm. Instead, the reshaped side scored within 15 minutes of the restart. Moreira's cross and Kalimuendo's header within 11 minutes of the second-half kick-off effectively killed the contest and demonstrated the squad depth Glasner will rely on this season.

Key performers

Morgan Gibbs-White (8/10) — The playmaker's assist for Jesus's opener was the standout moment of the match. His vision and weight of pass were a reminder of his quality, and his omission from England's World Cup squad continues to baffle Forest supporters. Gibbs-White received a warm reception from the away end and looked sharp in a deeper midfield role alongside Ryan Yates.

Igor Jesus (8/10) — The Brazilian striker took his goal well and showed intelligent movement throughout the first half. Two earlier chances suggested he is building sharpness at the right time ahead of the Premier League opener against Leeds United on 22 August.

Omari Hutchinson (8/10) — The wide man was Forest's most dangerous attacker in the first half, providing a constant outlet on the right flank. His bright start to pre-season will encourage Glasner, who values width in his preferred 3-4-3 system.

Player of the match: Morgan Gibbs-White

By the numbers

This was a controlled pre-season exercise rather than a competitive contest, and the stats reflect that. Forest's two goals came from just four or five clear-cut chances, with Awoniyi's second-half opportunity the nearest they came to a third. Glasner's decision to use 22 different players across 90 minutes means individual data carries limited weight, but the pattern of play was clear: Forest dominated territory and created chances from wide areas, with both goals originating from crosses or through balls into the channels.

What it means

For Forest, this was a tick in the box for the first week of Glasner's tenure. The Austrian, appointed after leaving Crystal Palace, has five weeks to prepare his side for the Premier League opener against Leeds United at the City Ground on 22 August. The squad will now travel to Portugal for a 12-day training camp, with further friendlies expected.

Chris Wood, Ibrahim Sangare and Dan Ndoye were absent after recent international duty, while Murillo, Savona and Hudson-Odoi missed out through injury. Their returns will give Glasner a fuller picture of his squad.

For Notts County, this was a useful workout against higher-level opposition as they continue their own pre-season programme.

Verdict

A routine, professional start for Glasner. The result was never in doubt after Gibbs-White unlocked the Notts County defence, and the seamless transition between two entirely different XIs was an encouraging sign of the squad harmony Glasner hopes to build. Pre-season caveats apply, but Forest could not have asked for much more from their first runout.

Match Events

Key match events between Notts County and Nottingham Forest — 2 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.

Rivalry since 2022

Notts County vs Nottingham Forest Head to Head Results· 3

Notts County and Nottingham Forest have met 3 times — Notts County won 0, Nottingham Forest won 1, with 2 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2022. Nottingham Forest leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 3 meetings. A combined 9 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.00 per match (4 for the home side, 5 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 2 matches (67%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 2 games (67%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Nottingham Forest are currently unbeaten in the last 3 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 2–2 in 2022.

Total goals
9 · 3.0/match
Both scored
2/3 · 67%
Over 2.5
2/3 · 67%

Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

API data: 19 Jul 2026