Martin Paterson is not interested in talking up Notts County's unbeaten run. Speaking ahead of the League One fixture against Bradford City, the Notts County head coach was characteristically measured, pushing back on any suggestion that an unbeaten record should become a source of pressure or distraction.

"I'm not really focusing on the word unbeaten," Paterson said, in comments broadcast on BBC Radio Nottingham. The tone was deliberate. Paterson has spoken repeatedly since taking charge at Meadow Lane about the importance of keeping his squad grounded, and this was another example of that approach in practice.

Keeping perspective at Meadow Lane

It is a sentiment worth taking seriously. League One records at this stage of the campaign carry a certain weight in the table, but Paterson's instinct to sidestep the narrative is understandable. County's recent weeks have included a 2-1 win over Burton, a 1-1 draw at Bradford and a draw with Huddersfield, suggesting a side that is competitive but not yet functioning at its ceiling. The squad has been reshaped in the transfer window, with arrivals including Longelo from Salford City and Charlton striker Kanu on loan, and Paterson himself admitted last week that the group needs to gel quickly after the business done in the window.

Rushing to crown an unbeaten start as evidence of title credentials would be exactly the sort of press-release thinking Paterson appears keen to avoid. Third-tier seasons are long, brutal and full of false dawns. Notts County, a club that knows something about that particular cycle, will be well aware.

Bradford again: familiar opposition

The upcoming meeting with Bradford City carries some recent baggage. The two clubs drew 1-1 earlier in this campaign, with Bradford manager McCann describing the result as "probably fair". Bradford, meanwhile, have had their own early-season turbulence: a loss at Plymouth, a defeat to Cambridge described by Anton Sarcevic as "a soft one", and a 1-0 win over Mansfield in which debutant Pratt caught the eye.

Bradford have also been active in the loan market, bringing in Matthews from Portsmouth and Morgan from QPR, as well as securing O'Keeffe from Barnsley on a two-year deal. They are not short of options, and the fixture shapes up as a reasonable indicator of where both clubs actually stand rather than where their respective early results might flatter them to be.

What the run means in context

For County supporters, the unbeaten record is obviously welcome. Meadow Lane has seen enough turbulence over the years to appreciate any sustained period without a defeat. But Paterson's point is well made: it is the quality of performances, not the unbeaten label, that will determine whether this squad can sustain a promotion push through the winter months and into the run-in.

The addition of new faces in the window means chemistry and understanding within the squad are still developing. A match against a Bradford side looking to arrest their own inconsistent form could be the sort of test that reveals more than a softer fixture might. Paterson, for his part, seems to want his players thinking about the next game rather than protecting a statistic.

That is, broadly, how you are supposed to manage a football club. Whether County can back up the rhetoric with another positive result against Bradford will be the real measure. Kick-off details are to be confirmed via the clubs.

Frequently asked

When do Notts County play Bradford City in League One?
Notts County are set to face Bradford City in a League One fixture, with Martin Paterson previewing the match ahead of its scheduled date in September 2026. Check the clubs' official channels for confirmed kick-off times.
Is Notts County unbeaten in League One this season?
Notts County have not lost in their opening League One fixtures this season, though head coach Martin Paterson has said he is deliberately not focusing on the unbeaten record, preferring to concentrate on performance levels instead.
Who is the Notts County head coach?
Martin Paterson is the head coach of Notts County in League One.