First team manager Chris Kiwomya has praised his team for the way that they stood up to Sheffield United with just 10 men.
Last term’s ever present defender Gary Liddle was sent off in the 13th minute for a high lunge on Kevin McDonald and the Magpies went on to lose 2-1 at Bramall Lane.
McDonald opened the scoring for United with a neat finish but Enoch Showunmi came off the bench to make it 1-1 with an outstanding strike after the break.
Imposing defender Harry Maguire gave the hosts all three points with a 67th minute header from a set-piece.
Kiwomya was disappointed with the winning goal but could not fault the Magpies’ commitment.
“The team spirit was brilliant, they’ve dug in when they could have crumbled,” he told Magpie Player.
“I’ve seen teams go down to 10 men on the first game of the season and it showed the lads’ fitness levels.
“[Sheffield United] are a good passing team but they had one extra for 75 minutes so they’re going to look a good passing team.
“I think if we’d had 11 men out there it would have been a different game, we rode our luck at times but we pushed them with 10 men.
“We had a couple of chances early on and if those go in it changes the game, you need those but it wasn’t to be.”
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Notts are back in action on Wednesday night at Meadow Lane for the Capital One Cup clash with Fleetwood Town.
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