Offense

When Loew received Middlesbrough's starting lineup, he frowned in surprise. He hadn't expected McLaren to field most of his key players for a League Cup match, especially with the Premier League's fifth round looming just three days later. Was Middlesbrough not rotating their squad to maintain freshness? Didn't they fear the strain of three games in a week?

But no matter the mindset McLaren had, Notts County wasn't concerned. Their sole goal was clear: defeat Middlesbrough and advance to the third round of the League Cup.

Loew had made adjustments to the starting lineup. He discarded a more traditional 4-4-2 setup with a single defensive midfielder in favor of a formation designed purely for attack.

From the very first whistle, Notts County launched a high press. Their two forwards, along with the two wingers, rushed forward, suffocating Middlesbrough's defenders and forcing them into mistakes.

Middlesbrough's players, perhaps aware of the strength in Notts County's squad, were still dismissive. After all, Notts County had always been a League Two team—where could they possibly go from here?

With this underestimation, Middlesbrough's defense was forced to play long balls from the back. They had no choice, as Notts County's high press made short passes impossible.

Notts County, with control of the ball, accelerated their tempo and increased their passing rate. Though the turnover rate was higher due to a lack of chemistry between some players, the team pressed forward. They knew that to win, they needed to take risks.

Iniesta controlled the ball on the left wing, effortlessly gliding past Middlesbrough's full-back. In peak form, he outmaneuvered his marker and advanced down the flank, creating a perfect opportunity for an attacking pass.

Hubner and Villa, though similar in playing style, complemented each other in their pursuit of goal-scoring chances. They were both adept at finding space in front of goal, and Loew had designed their partnership to maximize their combined threat. If one striker was tightly marked, the other would naturally find space to exploit.

Iniesta's ball into the box, at a perfect 45-degree angle, was difficult for Middlesbrough's defenders to deal with. Hubner leaped to meet it, attracting two defenders as they tangled for the header. But Hubner made a surprising move—he let the ball go, and it sailed past the defenders, spilling to Villa at the back post.

Villa, unmarked, had an easy task of tapping the ball into the empty net, with Middlesbrough's goalkeeper Schwarzer unable to react in time.

Villa erupted in celebration, sprinting to the stands where Notts County's fans were seated. He tossed his shirt into the crowd, and a frenzy ensued as supporters scrambled for the memento. The players on the pitch joined in the celebration, with even the substitutes pouring onto the field. For a moment, the celebration seemed endless until the referee, prompted by Middlesbrough's protests, managed to get things back on track.

As Villa's shirt was passed around in the stands, Lescott, one of his teammates, jokingly teased him, "Maybe I'll leave your number on the forum. I'm sure they'd love to plaster your body all over it."

Of course, Villa's exuberant celebration earned him a yellow card from the referee, who had seen enough.

Middlesbrough's players were shaken. They had conceded within two minutes of the match's start, and worse yet, they hadn't even touched the ball in the build-up to the goal. The situation felt more like a match against giants such as Manchester United or Arsenal than a game against a League Two team.

Once the game resumed, McLaren shouted from the sidelines, urging his players to respond. Middlesbrough began to show signs of life, putting together some threatening attacks with their superior individual abilities. If not for a key miss from Boksic, the game could have been tied, but Notts County's defense held firm.

Despite the pressure, Notts County remained calm. They knew the game wasn't about playing solely on the defensive. The key was outscoring Middlesbrough, and they had no intention of sitting back.

Notts County resumed their attack after kick-off. Iniesta, once again drawing defenders to him on the left, created a gap in the middle. Middlesbrough's defense, focused on him, left a space that was quickly exploited.

Iniesta passed the ball inside to Hubner, who held it up, back to goal. With a clever flick, he sent the ball to Alonso, who surged into the box. With a sharp strike, Alonso's shot rocketed toward the goal.

The crowd collectively gasped as the ball headed for the net, but Schwarzer made a miraculous save. Diving to his right, he palmed the ball away, denying Notts County a second goal.

McLaren breathed a sigh of relief. Had Middlesbrough gone two goals down early, the match could have become an uphill battle.

But before he could fully relax, his eyes widened in disbelief. As Schwarzer remained on the ground, unable to recover in time, Villa, who had been lurking in the area, pounced. He was in the right place at the right time, tapping in the rebound to double Notts County's lead.

The crowd went wild. The Notts County supporters erupted in joy, celebrating as if their team had already won.