Notts County fell to their third straight loss in League Two this evening with a gritty display at Meadow Lane against promotion-chasers Peterborough United, with the Magpies falling to a 1-0 defeat.
After both sides squandered first-half opportunities to take the lead, Craig Mackail-Smith broke the deadlock seven minutes into the second period with a close-range finish which cannoned in off the crossbar.
The Posh shut-up-shop and gave few attempts away following that goal, with Kevin Pilkington in impressive form at the other end. Despite their efforts and a battling display, Notts suffered a fourth straight defeat and third in the League.
Notts Manager Ian McParland made five changes to his side which bowed out of the FA Cup in disappointing fashion against non-league Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday. Neil MacKenzie, Myles Weston, Lee Canoville, Paul Mayo and Hector Sam dropped out of the side - with Krystian Pearce, Austin McCann, Spencer Weir-Daley, Richard Butcher and Jason Lee coming into the team.
Dudfield and McCann operated on the wings, while Stephen Hunt was handed the job of coming in for Paul Mayo at left-back.
Peterborough named a full-strength side, with McLean and Mackail-Smith leading the line up the front with twenty-seven goals between them prior to the game.
The Magpies made a bright start to proceedings and came close to taking the lead on eight minutes through Austin McCann, but after latching onto a weak clearance by Morgan in the Posh defence he burst forwards and drove a low effort wide of Tyler's left-hand post as he went in search of his first ever Magpies goal.
On twenty-six minutes Notts almost broke the deadlock, but just when it seemed the Magpies were going to get the goal their early efforts deserved Craig Morgan got back to clear for the Posh. Butcher's low left-foot shot was pushed out by Tyler into the path of Dudfield with Lee and Weir-Daley a few yards out ready to pounce - but the cross was just cut out by Morgan.
At the other end the lively Mackail-Smith was full of energy and his movement was keeping the Notts defence on their toes, and on the half-hour he seemed odds-on to add to his four goals at the weekend when Boyd played him clear on goal - but after rounding Pilkington he was stroked off the ball with a fine challenge by Krystian Pearce who again showed maturity beyond his years with a fine piece of defending and then a composed pass to clear his lines.
The final five minutes of the half presented both sides with glorious opportunities to take the lead, but neither side were willing to snap up those chances. First McLean missed an open goal for the Posh from just a few yards out - and what a chance it was. Day's burst forwards from left-back seemed un-noticed by the Notts defence, and by the time he had advanced into the box it was too late to get near the left-sider and he was able to fire a superb cross along the ground to McLean at the far post with an open goal. Somehow, he sliced the ball high and wide.
At the other end Jason Lee was played clear on goal after breaking the offside trap, but with perhaps a little too much time on his hands he advanced towards goal he fired straight at the advancing Tyler and Morgan mopped up the pieces and cleared his lines.
Dudfield fired over with a chipped effort just before the break, meaning that the interval the scoreline was blank - and the Magpies left the field to warm applause from their supporters.
Half-Time: Notts County 0-0 Peterborough United
The Posh had the first chance of the second period as the dangerous Day fired over another superb cross from the left, and it was again McLean on the end of the left-back's ball but after meeting the ball full on the volley he lashes the ball just over.
Minutes later Mackail-Smith was played clear on goal, but again he was unable to beat Pilkington as he fired straight at the advancing goalkeeper. However, he only had to wait another minute for his next chance, and this time he made no mistake. A long-range shot by Gnakpa was blocked by a Magpies defender but fell into the path of the impressive frontman, who stuck out a boot and poked the ball home, in off the crossbar.
Dudfield attempted to drag Notts back level quickly, but his long-range effort was easily claimed by Tyler as the home side looked for an instant response. Against a Posh side who have good experience of being in a winning position this season they were giving little away.
McLean had opportunities to add to the Posh's lead but on the hour he first failed to connect with Mackail-Smith's initial cross, but he did meet a left-wing cross by Boyd seconds later but his header was straight at Pilkington after rising well to beat Hunt in the air.
Hector Sam and Neil MacKenzie were introduced into the action with seventeen minutes left, replacing Weir-Daley and Somner in straight swaps in attack and midfield, but it was the visitors who created the next opportunity but Mackail-Smith could only fire straight at Pilkington from around ten yards out after stretching to get on the end of Gnakpa's right-wing cross.
Notts huffed and puffed in search of an equaliser and introduced youngster Stef Frost from the bench in place of Dudfield. Tempers flared towards the end as Sam and Westwood were involved in a scuffle after Gnakpa had hacked the Notts frontman to the ground and the Notts frontman and the offending defender were cautioned.
In the end, despite five added minutes, Notts couldn't find their way through
Despite the defeat, it was clear to see the Notts team picked for the game had responded to Ian McParland's demands prior to kick-off. He wanted a massive improvement, and he got it. He demanded a battling performance, he got it. He demanded passion, and he got that. That's all he wanted, with Notts' performance lacking those on Saturday. The problem tonight was Notts came up against an in-form side at the top of League Two, who have been in highly impressive form and will almost certainly be in the top three this season barring a major landslide in the second half of the campaign.
All McParland can ask of his players is the same again on Saturday, and hopefully this time Notts will get the result they deserved. They deserved more tonight.
Notts County: Pilkington, Silk, Tann (C), Pearce, Hunt, Dudfield (Frost 83), Somner (MacKenzie 72), Butcher, McCann, Lee, Weir-Daley (Sam 72).
Subs Not Used: Sandercombe, Mayo.
Booked: Tann, Pearce, Sam.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: None.
Peterborough United: Tyler, Gnakpa, Day (Hughes 73), Morgan, Westwood, Whelpdale (Low 89), Lee, Hyde (C), Boyd, McLean (Howe 83), Mackail-Smith.
Subs Not Used: Jalal, Keates.
Booked: Whelpdale, Gnakpa.
Sent Off: None.
Goals: Mackail-Smith (52).
Match Referee: Mr D Foster
Attendance: 4,412 (1,544 Peterborough United Fans)
nottscountyfc.co.uk Man of the Match: Austin McCann
