We take a look at how the press from both camps viewed our 4-2 loss at Rochdale on Tuesday night.

Despite goals from Jason Lee and Neil MacKenzie; Notts fell to a second successive away defeat at Spotland.

Nottingham Evening Post Report by James Pallatt

Michael Johnson will always remember his goal against Rochdale at Meadow Lane nearly four weeks' ago because it was his first for Notts County.

He will probably always remember his own-goal against them in the Magpies' heavy defeat at Spotland last night too.

It capped a miserable night for Notts, as they conceded four second-half goals to slump to one of their heaviest defeats of the season.

It was meant to be an opportunity for Ian McParland's side to pile the pressure on their relegation rivals. They could have climbed above Dagenham. They could have moved further clear of Mansfield. But they failed to take their chance.

And it could get even worse. They could drop into the relegation zone if the Stags win at Stockport tonight.

The defeat to Rochdale is the Magpies' second away loss in the space of four days - four days that have completely changed the face of the relegation battle in League Two.

They have to beat Accrington at Meadow Lane on Saturday now if they want to be masters of their own destiny. Anything less than three points could have catastrophic consequences.

Perhaps the most worrying part of the two latest setbacks is that Notts have conceded six goals. The defence, which for so long this season has been the greatest source of strength and hope, suddenly looks shaky.

Injuries to key players are also beginning to mount. Captain Adam Tann and Jay Smith both missed the game last night with knee problems, and Paul Mayo was sidelined with a foot injury. All are doubts for the game against Accrington.

Their absence forced McParland into making changes, and he opted for an adventurous approach.

Neil MacKenzie was recalled into the centre of midfield to partner Richard Butcher, and Ryan Jarvis was given a role on the right wing.

Jason Lee started in attack alongside Danny Crow and Stephen Hunt came into the defence at left-back, in place of Mayo.

Rochdale were also forced into making three last-minute changes to their line-up.

Centre-backs Nathan Stanton and Rory McArdle, and Ben Muirhead were all named on the team-sheet but failed to make it to the ground for kick-off because they were stuck in traffic on the motorway.

It didn't disrupt the home side and they started the game brightly.

They went close to breaking the deadlock on ten minutes, with a sweeping attacking move.

Rene Howe raided down the right wing and whipped in a cross across the face of goal that was just too far in front of his strike partner Kallum Higginbotham.

It fell to Rundle, who rifled a first-time effort at goal that Lee Canoville blocked.

Jarvis led the visitors' reply with a long-range effort minutes later, after MacKenzie fed him the ball.

And then, on 36 minutes, the Magpies had the best chance of the half to take the lead. First, Jarvis fired an effort that looped up off keeper Tommy Lee and was cleared off the goal-line and then he fired the rebound straight at Lee from point-blank range. He should have done better.

The home side were claiming a penalty five minutes later when a venomous strike from Howe hit Michael Johnson on the hand as he lunged to block it.

But referee Dean Whitestone waved away their protests.

Both sides had chances at the start of the second half.

Lee fired over the crossbar on the turn from the left-edge of the penalty area on 50 minutes, after using his strength to hold off a challenge. And then Rundle responded, cutting inside Canoville and rifling a low effort at goal that Hoult held.

Crow nearly sent Jarvis through with a clever reverse pass minutes later, but Nathan D'Laryea made a great recovering tackle to deny him as he raced forward.

The home side broke the deadlock on 58 minutes, through Howe. The striker rose brilliantly to head a cross from Tom Kennedy past Hoult from close-range.

The Magpies' heads went down and the home side's tails were suddenly up.

David Perkins fired a stinging effort at goal that was too hot for Hoult to handle just after the hour mark and then Rundle flashed an effort across the face of goal from inside the penalty area, before he doubled their lead.

The winger showed great composure when the ball fell to him just inside the box. He feinted to shoot with his right foot to wrong-foot the defence and then shifted the ball onto his left and drove it low past Hoult.

The Magpies gave themselves hope of staging a fight-back just two minutes later when substitute Myles Weston muscled his way past Perkins and cut the ball back to Lee to apply the simplest of finishes from six yards. It was his first of the season, but not the last of the game.

It was 3-1 and all over on 78 minutes when substitute Adam Le Fondre directed a delightful header into the back of the net from a pinpoint cross from Howe.

MacKenzie thundered an effort just wide from the edge of the penalty area in quick-fire reply. But then insult was added to injury when Johnson inadvertently put the ball past Hoult with an attempted back-pass.

Notts never gave up and the lively Weston won a penalty in the final minute when he was dragged down in the box. MacKenzie dispatched it into the bottom right corner of the net with cool aplomb.

But it was no consolation for the Magpies, who cut dispirited figures as they trudged off the pitch at the end.

Manchester Evening News Report By Mike Brookes

ROCHDALE further underlined their promotion credentials with a clinical destruction of struggling Notts County despite the fact they lost three players stuck in traffic.

Dale boss Keith Hill had to re-arrange his starting line up because of the horrendous M62 traffic jams.

Teenage defender Marcus Holness and Nathan D'Laryea had to replace Nathan Stanton and Rory McArdle with another teenager Joe Thompson coming in for Ben Muirhead.

"It was unavoidable that the lads got stuck," said Hill, "but all our players are ready and the ones that came in did themselves and their team mates justice."

It looked like being even more frustrating for Hill as his side completely bossed the first half and had two good penalty shouts as the pressure built. Hill's young side kept plugging away and on 57 minutes full back Tom Kennedy produced a great cross for Rene Howe to head home.

Dale doubled their lead on 70 minutes through Adam Rundle and though veteran Jason Lee pulled one back, substitute Adam Le Fondre added a third on 78 minutes.

On 83 minutes Le Fondre forced veteran defender Michael Johnson into putting the ball into his own net before the scoring was finished with virtually the last kick as Magpie Neil Mackenzie stroked home a consolation penalty.

Hill's young side are showing no sign whatsoever of nerves as they get to the business end of the season and he is rightly proud of their progress.

"They want to win games and they know how to do it. They are all well versed on what we want to do and we play with creativity, freedom and energy.

"I am really pleased with the way that the club and squad is developing. The players are not just young athletes, they are young football players who are athletic, and that is an important distinction.

"To me they shouldn't be showing nerves and I am certainly not going to put any pressure on them. If they don't achieve this season, they will emerge stronger as a result.

"Having said that though, we will go into every game between now and the end of the season in a positive manner looking to win it and see where that takes us."