Shrewsbury Town fell to a 4-1 loss at Notts County.

Goals from Matt Dennis, Sonny Aljofree, Nick Tsaroulla and Conor Grant won it for the hosts.

Town fell 2-0 down at Meadow Lane but pulled a goal back thanks to an excellent header from John Marquis.

However, a goal shortly after the interval from Iorpenda made the fight-back even harder - with County going on to get a late fourth and claim all three points.

Team news:

Town had lined up with a back three in the opening four games of the season.

But boss Appleton switched to a back four at Meadow Lane. It saw Sam Stubbs start at right-back with Will Boyle left back and Toto Nsiala and Tom Anderson in the middle.

Sam Clucas and Tom Sang sat in midfield two with Anthony Scully on the left flank and Taylor Perry on the right.

Marquis operated in the 10 role with George Lloyd the central striker.

Notts County lined up in a 3-4-2-1 system with Jodi Jones and Tom Iorpenda operating just behind Dennis in attack.

Report:

It was Notts County who flew out of the blocks at Meadow Lane - with Dennis giving them the lead in the eighth minute.

Jones sent in a low cross which Elyh Harrison couldn't hold and Dennis was on hand to turn the ball in from close range.

The hosts grabbed a second in the 20th minute.

Initially, Harrison did well to parry away a curling effort from Iorpenda.

But from the resultant corner, the ball broke for Alojfree, who fired in from inside the eight-yard box.

Town pulled a goal back just past the half-hour mark.

Stubbs whipped in a really dangerous cross, which Marquis then glanced home with an unstoppable header.

Only a brilliant save from Kelle Roos then prevented Town from getting on terms before the break.

Following Sang's corner, Anderson bulleted a header towards the top corner.

But at full-stretch, Roos produced a brilliant one-handed save to parry the ball away.

That save proved even more crucial when the hosts grabbed a third shortly after the restart.

Jones found Tsaroulla just outside the box. And he then curled a wonderful strike beyond the reach of Harrison and into the back of the net.

Town had a big chance to reduce the deficit once again just before the hour mark.

A brilliant ball from Marquis looked to have split the County defence and put Scully in on goal.

But the winger's first touch let him down and the ball harmlessly ran through for Roos to collect.

Appleton made a triple change with 15 minutes to go.

Callum Stewart, George Nurse and Luca Hoole all entered the fray - Scully, Nsiala and Boyle were the men to make way.

Shortly after, Sang saw a low effort from the edge of the box sail narrowly wide. 

County, though, wrapped up the game with a sensational goal.

First, Tyrese Hall and Kellan Gordon combined well before sending in a cross.

And that was met with an outstanding first-time finish from substitute Grant - whose shot kissed the post before nestling into the top corner.

Teams:

Notts County: Roos, McDonald, Bedeau, Norburn (Hall 75), Jones (Grant 69), Iorpenda, Palmer, Dennis (Kouhyar 86), Aljofree, Tsaroulla (Bennetts 75), Cotter (Gordon 69). 

Subs not used: Griffiths, Macari.

Shrewsbury: Harrison, Stubbs, Anderson, Nsiala (Hoole 74), Boyle (Nurse 74), Clucas, Sang, Marquis, Perry, Scully (Stewart 74), Lloyd. 

Subs not used: Savin, Biggins, Gilliead, England. 

Attendance: 8,810 (527 away).