A disappointing afternoon for Wycombe saw them fall to their first defeat of the season at Notts County as youngster Anthony Grant received the first red card of his career in the first half.

The Chelsea loanee was dismissed by whistle happy referee Mr Deadman on 39 minutes following two bookable offences. From there on in it was an uphill struggle for Paul Lambert's side as they had earlier gone behind to a Junior Mendes strike for the Magpies.

But with an attacking squad named by the manager, Wanderers gave as good as they got in the second half following a disappointing start to the game. Chances fell to Mike Williamson, Tommy Mooney and substitute Jonny Dixon, all of which failed to trouble 'keeper Kevin Pilkinton.

Paul Lambert said. "It was a tremendous second half performance from us and we were unlucky not to get something from the game. I was very impressed with the effort and commitment shown by the boys, it was just unfortunate that we couldn't capitalise on it.

"But the sending off to Anthony Grant was harsh and I couldn't understand how the two challenges he made both warranted yellow cards."

Wanderers remained unchanged for the trip following the success of midweek which saw a new look formation adopted by Lambert pay dividends against Bristol Rovers. The only difference in the squad saw youngster Stephen Gregory come in for Lewis Christon on the bench who suffered a slight toe injury in training on Friday.

Like the game at the Memorial Ground the Blues did have the early share of possession but with Mooney up front on his own, attacking options were limited meaning the frontman was forced to come deep on a number of occasions, allowing County to keep a high line at the back.

However it was the captain who had the best chance of the first half for the visitors when he escaped the shadows of Dan Gleeson to head Grant's well taken free kick across the face of Pilkinton's goal.

The opening 45 minutes were typical of what some might expect a League Two fixture to be all about. Balls were lumped in the air, clearances were miscued and the physical presence of County's Dan Martin, Alan White and Matt Somner severely restricted any creativity there was in the Wanderers side.

And they went behind after Grant misplaced his attempted cross-field pass on 18 minutes. Effective midfield man David Pipe latched onto the ball in the middle of the park and slipped in Mendes who, after cleverly directing his run between Williamson and Will Antwi, finished neatly beyond Ricardo Batista.

It was the Magpies' first chance of the game but it perked the home side up as for a period they were the better side. Two of their former players in Stefan Oakes and Chris Palmer struggled to impose themselves against their old club and with the exception of a wayward Palmer effort on 22 minutes, Wanderers had little to shout about.

That was until five minutes before the break when Grant received his second yellow by the referee and was sent marching down the tunnel. The Chelsea youngster did deserve the caution for carelessly bringing down Andy Parkinson but it may not have been as influential had the first booking, which was a little harsh, not been given.

One positive point from the half was the performance of Sam Stockley who looked a lot sharper than he had done in his first two games for the club.

No changes were made by either side at the interval with Lambert continuing to leave Mooney as a lone striker which until substitutions were made, failed to see the Blues make any inroads into the visiting 18 yard box.

County used that to their advantage and following the introduction of Tcham N'Toya, nearly put the game beyond their opponents. The striker had an immediate impact on the match when he fed Mendes in seconds after coming on. But after wrong-footing Russell Martin, the former Huddersfield Town man shot straight at Batista.

Parkinson was the next to frustrate home fans after failing to capitalise on Pipe's cross when Antwi misjudged his clearance and Mendes again found Batista instead of the net when through on goal. 

Although the Blues didn't get anything from the game, Lambert can take heart from the fact that he gave it a good go. Jermaine Easter, Sergio Torres and Jonny Dixon were all thrust into the action as the game went on and added a bit of spice to the contest that was absent from the first half.

Torres in particular nearly created the equaliser with quarter of an hour when he broke down the left flank and crossed for Williamson, only to see the centre back's volley well blocked by Austin McCann.

Pressure was mounted by Wycombe with Easter, Betsy and Mooney all attempting to break down a solid County backline that in the end didn't resist.

Lambert added. "In the end the first half performance cost us. The goal and the sending off changed the course of the game and it was difficult after that."

Wanderers: Batista, Stockley, Martin (Easter,58), Antwi, Williamson, Oakes, Grant, Bloomfield, Betsy, Palmer, Mooney.
Subs not used: Young, Gregory.
Sent Off: Grant (39).
Booked: Antwi (27).

County: Pilkinton, Pipe, McCann, Gleeson, Edwards, White, Somner, Martin, Dudfield (N'Toya,53), Parkinson, Mendes.
Subs not used: Deeney, Sheridan, Hunt, Ross.
Booked: Somner (24), Martin (56).

Attendance: 4053 (411).