Notts County vs Bristol Rovers; Sky Bet League Two
Notts County vs Bristol Rovers. Sky Bet League Two.
Meadow LaneAttendance16,264.
Notts County 1-1 Bristol Rovers
Saturday 2 May 2026 17:40, UK
Notts County will face Chesterfield in the League Two play-offs after missing out on automatic promotion as they drew 1-1 with in-form Bristol Rovers.
Even a win would not have been enough for Martin Paterson's team to clinch a top-three spot in the end, as Cambridge did enough by drawing 0-0 at Crewe.
Bristol-born wing-back Nick Tsaroulla gave County a 27th-minute lead, slotting in from 10 yards after Alassana Jatta's downward header from Jodi Jones' angled cross had bounced off Rovers defender Clinton Mola.
- When are the League Two play-offs and what is the schedule?
- Got Sky? Watch EFL on the Sky Sports app 📱
- Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract 📺
- Live EFL on Sky Sports+ & how to watch | Get more EFL to your phone with WhatsApp
But Ellis Harrison drove in his 14th goal of the season, through the legs of County keeper James Belshaw, to equalise in the 55th minute following a superb long cross-field pass from substitute Tommy Leigh.
Shaq Forde had three good chances for Rovers, seeing a cross-shot pushed away by Belshaw in the 12th minute, driving against the keeper's legs when clean through later in the half, and then steering wide from a tight angle shortly before Harrison's equaliser.
Rovers substitute Yusuf Akhamrich rolled wide a great chance with 11 minutes left.
County thought they had won it five minutes from the end when Jacob Bedeau touched in from close range after Matthew Dennis' chipped cross-shot had hit a post, but the centre-back was offside.
League Two play-off schedule
Play-off semi-final first legs
Grimsby vs Salford - Sunday May 10, kick-off 3pm
Chesterfield vs Notts County - Sunday May 10, 6pm
Play-off semi-final second legs
Salford vs Grimsby - Friday May 15, kick-off 7.15pm
Notts County vs Chesterfield - Friday May 15, kick-off 8pm
Play-off final
Monday May 25, Wembley Stadium