We take a look at how the watching press viewed our excellent start to the Easter Bank Holiday with Saturday's 1-0 win over Rochdale.

Notts secured a priceless win thanks to Michael Johnson's first-half goal which handed the visitors only their fourth away defeat of the season.

Nottingham Evening Post Report

It was Michael Owen who grabbed many of the headlines in the Sunday tabloids, after sealing a first win for Newcastle United since Kevin Keegan's return to St James' Park.

Michael Owen Johnson's first-ever goal for Notts County that inspired the Magpies to their first win at Meadow Lane since January 19 was given far less prominence - but it was equally significant.

Johnson has joked in the past that the England striker was named after him. The way he took his goal against Rochdale, he just might have been.

The defender struck with outstanding clinical opportunism inside the six-yard box, the kind Owen has displayed throughout his career, to decisively break the deadlock in the first half on Saturday.

He had a split-second to seize his opportunity when the ball fell to him and he took it with cool aplomb. It was Owen-esque stuff.

Johnson might not have the same incredible strike-rate as Owen, with his first goal in the black-and-white stripes of Notts coming nearly 17 years and more than a century of league appearances after his debut against Arsenal at Highbury on October 26, 1991.

But it was worth the wait. And it was worth its weight in gold too, with the Magpies in such desperate need of a victory in their scrap for survival in the Football League.

It was a great goal in its build-up and execution.

Winger Wayne Corden weaved his way into the penalty area from the right, embarrassing two defenders en-route with two stylish side-steps, before cutting the ball back to Ryan Jarvis.

The on-loan striker controlled the ball with his back to goal before quickly centring it to Johnson, who pounced from point-blank range.

It was the first goal for Notts in 208 minutes of combat on home soil, after they misfired against Barnet and Lincoln, and boss Ian McParland could hardly contain his joy as he raced from the dug-out down the touchline triumphantly punching the air.

It put the Magpies deservedly ahead. But in truth they should have broke the deadlock much earlier.

Twice, on-loan striker Danny Crow - who was back in the side after a leg injury - spurned glorious chances before Johnson scored.

The first came on 19 minutes when keeper Russell Hoult angled a free-kick to the edge of the penalty area from deep inside his own half.

Crow ghosted in behind the visitors' back-line with a well-timed burst to latch on to it. He deftly lifted the ball over the visitors' keeper Tommy Lee, but just past the upright.

His second chance came just minutes later.

Crow pulled off the shoulder of his marker inside the penalty area to control a cross from Richard Butcher from the right, but then sent a hurried effort over the crossbar.

Butcher himself went close on 27 minutes, at the end of a brilliant attacking move.

He linked up well with Jarvis before cutting inside on to his left foot and arrowing an effort at goal that was deflected just wide.

A third gilt-edged opportunity came Crow's way on 39 minutes when he seized on to a measured through ball from captain Adam Tann. Again, he was through on goal and again he lifted the ball over the onrushing Lee. But again his effort was wayward.

He should have done better. He should have doubled the Magpies' lead.

But Notts have scored twice in a league game only five times this season - and that damning statistic alone shows why they have struggled so badly this season

The last time was in the 2-1 win against Shrewsbury at Meadow Lane back on December 8, when Krystian Pearce and Neil MacKenzie struck second-half goals to inspire a stirring fightback.

It meant McParland's men had to try to protect the narrowest of leads with their lives - something they have failed to do so many times this season.

In fact, Notts had taken the lead nine times in 18 games before Saturday and surrendered it on seven occasions, to draw four and lose three.

They capitulated in spectacular style against Bradford City at Meadow Lane, conceding three goals in 12-minutes after Ryan Jarvis had put them ahead.

But there was no collapse this time - no surrender. Quite the opposite, in fact.

The Magpies were resolute in the face of some fierce pressure from the visitors, particularly in the second half as they sought an equaliser - even though they lost their two centre-backs.

Mike Edwards never re-emerged for the second half after suffering a dead-leg at the end of the first half and Johnson was forced off with a groin injury in the closing stages of the game.

It meant the back-line was reshuffled twice in the second half, with Lee Canoville starting at right-back and Tann switching into the centre alongside Johnson in place of Edwards.

Canoville was then moved to centre-back alongside Tann, following Johnson's exit, and Gary Silk dropped back to right-back.

It could easily have disrupted the defence. It could have led to a costly mistake. But it didn't. The back four stayed organised and strong - and pulled off some last-ditch heroics to guard the lead in the end.

Tann threw himself in front of a powerful effort from Gary Jones, Johnson cleared off the goal-line from Rene Howe. So too did Silk from a dangerous cross from Rundle. It was bodies on the line stuff at times but that's what is needed if Notts are to survive.

Rochdale had the ball in the net on 76 minutes, when Adam Le Fondre fired past Hoult from point-blank range. But it was disallowed for a foul on Paul Mayo by Jones in the build-up.

They piled the pressure on Notts in the closing minutes of the game, with Howe missing a great chance to pull his side decisively level on 85 minutes when he rifled a shot just wide of the post from the edge of the box.

It would have been a harsh end for the Magpies had they been denied victory.

With Mansfield and Wrexham both losing, it is a big win. Make no mistake. But Notts won't be getting carried away, just like they didn't when the bottom two reeled them in last Saturday.

It is three points closer to safety. No more. No less. And the focus has quickly moved to Shrewsbury today and a chance to take another big stride towards survival.

Johnson's goal will always be remembered, being his first for Notts. It could also go down as one of the most significant goals in the club's history if they stay in the Football League.

Manchester Evening News Report

Rochdale endured an afternoon of frustration at Meadow Lane as they dominated the game but left with nothing.

Dale went behind when Michael Johnson struck in the 28th minute, and although Keith Hill's side enjoyed long spells of pressure the Magpies held out.

Hill said: "There wasn't enough quality or a lot of thought. We are disappointed to lose a game that we dominated and we should not lose games like this in view of our ambitions.

"We have given the opposition what they wanted be conceding and gave them a lift and to be fair to them, they defended superbly. We have to be more ruthless but I'm sure that we will bounce back on Monday against Rotherham."

Hill gave Tommy Lee a debut in goal having signed him on Friday evening from Macclesfield, but may lose him for Monday's game if the Silkmen recall him.