Notts County 0-2 Accrington Stanley
Notts County were beaten 2-0 by Accrington Stanley at Meadow Lane.
Goals either side of half-time from John O'Sullivan and Rommy Boco won the game for the visitors.
John Sheridan made two changes to the side that drew with Grimsby last weekend. Thierry Audel and Vadaine Oliver came into the starting 11, with Stanley Aborah and Adam Campbell dropping to the bench.
Notts nearly took the lead on six minutes when Carl Dickinson's excellent diagonal pass left Accrington's defence for dead and set Rodman away to the byline. Jonathan Forte made a clever run to the near post to receive Rodman's cut back, flicking the ball goalwards but being denied by an excellent Zak Vyner block.
The sides then exchanged half-chances as Accrington's Billy Kee fired the ball over before Louis Laing's tame header was easily dealt with by Stanley stopper Aaron Chapman - but it was the visitors who took the lead on 16 minutes.
Accrington worked the ball to O'Sullivan on the edge of the area and his shot looped up off a Notts man, wrong-footing Adam Collin. Laing scampered to the line and managed to hook the ball away but the assistant referee flagged to indicate it had crossed the line.
Forte was the man to lead Notts' hunt for a response, twisting and turning to knock his defender off-balance before seeing his powerful shot saved at the near post.
Accrington could have doubled their lead when Sean McConville picked out Omar Beckles with a cross from the right but he could only head the ball wide.
On 28 minutes Richard Duffy joined Thierry Audel - penalised for an earlier foul - in the book after a crunching 50-50 with Scot Brown.
And Brown had the next chance of the game a minute later, receiving the ball following a poor Alex Rodman clearance but firing it way off-target from 20 yards.
Notts were struggling for clear openings but, thanks to Forte's brilliant footwork down the left, Audel had an opportunity to strike the ball goalwards. His effort was blocked amid claims for hand ball. The ball came to Stead, who drew a foul and a booking from Janoi Donacien. That presented Notts with a free-kick in a dangerous crossing position but Dickinson overhit his delivery, sending the ball over the bar.
Accrington missed a gilt-edged chance to double their lead after Seamus Conneely drifted the ball to the back post. Kee and McConville appeared to get in each other's way, the former heading the ball over when it looked easier to score.
Five minutes of added time passed without incident as the visitors took a 1-0 lead into the break.
Sheridan sent his side back out unchanged and Notts made a lively start to the second half, Forte seeing a shot deflect over the bar after a good flick-on by Oliver.
Conneely was booked for dissent as Accrington began to creek under Notts' pressure and on 59 minutes Aaron Collins, who scored a dramatic equaliser after coming off the bench against Grimsby, replaced Stead.
Notts came close to an equaliser seconds after Collins' introduction when Michael O'Connor's excellent free-kick found Laing eight yards out. The defender tried to guide the ball goalwards but he couldn't get enough on his volley to beat Chapman in the Stanley goal.
But the home side failed to make their pressure count and found themselves 2-0 down on 67 minutes. Substitue Boco, on for O'Sullivan, raced on to a flick-on and finished neatly beyond Collin.
Rodman saw a shot deflect wide shortly after the restart before Sheridan's second change saw Rob Milsom replace Matt Tootle on 74 minutes. Seconds later, McConville struck the ball straight at Collin as Stanley came close to a third.
History repeated itself minutes later when another Notts sub - Adam Campbell for Oliver - preceded a Collin save from a McConville effort. This time the Stanley man capitalised on Audel's error, firing the ball goalwards from the edge of the area but being denied by a strong save from the keeper.
Accrington kept pressing and tested Collin again on 79 minutes, Kee firing the ball low towards goal with a free-kick from the edge of the area. The Magpies keeper got down low to his right to make the save.
Time was running out for Notts to claw their way back into the game and Laing was unable to help their cause, firing the ball over with an effort from range.
And their frustrations were compounded moments later when Collins rolled the ball across goal but Forte, under pressure from the keeper, was neither able to turn the ball home nor set up a team-mate.
Still Notts pressed, Campbell teeing up Audel who had made a strong run forward from right back. The Frenchman struck his effort well but Chapman was equal to it.
Vyner had an opportunity to add gloss to the scoreline for Stanley but could only shoot straight at Collin.
Three minutes were added on at the end of the match but Notts were unable to prevent defeat.