It’s all square at Meadow Lane as Magpies hit back
NOTTS County and Nottingham Forest shared the Derek Pavis Trophy after drawing 2-2 in last night’s pre-season friendly at Meadow Lane.
Reds striker Sam Surridge returned from injury and opened the scoring in the 43rd minute with a cool finish into the far corner.
Magpies’ summer signing Macaulay Langstaff levelled four minutes after the break but Forest were back in front in the 53rd minute when Cafu scored with a stunning long-range free kick.
But fives minutes later, the home side were level again after Sam Austin created space to smash home.
Forest have little more than a week to go before their opening Premier League clash. Preparations have been stepping up ahead of the trip to Newcastle United on August 6.
Steve Cooper’s men were beaten 1-0 by Union Berlin in Germany at the weekend. Prior to that, they had already taken on Coventry City, Burton Albion, Barnsley and Hertha Berlin.
They took a young squad to Meadow Lane last night, with the majority of first-team players not involved. However, midfielder Ryan Yates and Surridge were included in the first 11, as they make their comebacks from injury.
The latter has not featured this summer, having undergone a groin operation following the play-off final at Wembley.
Yates, meanwhile, has not featured since the game against the Sky Blues, due to a knee injury he suffered during the training camp in Spain.
Jordan Smith started in goal for
the Reds.
The Magpies were without injured Connell Rawlinson and Matty Palmer.
In front of a 14,041 crowd, including 5,929 Forest fans, the Magpies had good chances to find a winner, with Ruben Rodrigues and Austin going close.