We take a look at how the press from both camps viewed our 1-0 defeat at Wrexham on Saturday.

Neil Roberts' late goal kept Wrexham's hopes of avoiding the drop alive, while the Magpies were dragged back into the scrap for survival as a result.

Nottingham Evening Post Report by Stevie Roden

Prior to Notts County's trip over the border to Wrexham, manager Ian McParland stated that, if the Magpies came away safe, you would find no happier man in Nottingham.

With the club dear to his heart after making himself a household name during his playing days, he has given everything in this battle to steer Notts to safety.

After taking over, he acknowledged it was a tough task and no doubt he has endured many a sleepless night, going over different ways to make it better.

But going to north Wales on Saturday he knew three points, along with results elsewhere going their way, could see them safe with two games to play.

Finally, he could start planning ahead to next season and restoring the good times at Meadow Lane.

But in 90 minutes against League Two's bottom club, a team who Notts could condemn to relegation, that light at the end of the tunnel suddenly went dimmer. After his side spurned a glut of opportunities, a piece of naive defending from Lee Canoville gifted Wrexham a free-kick from which they won the game.

And instead of being the happiest man in Nottingham with a drink in his hand, looking forward to a good night's sleep for the first time in months, McParland probably boasted the mother of all frowns as he arrived back at his home.

Not only had his side lost but Mansfield had won to close the gap to two points, with Notts facing two tough encounters against Wycombe and Chesterfield.

But as he looks back, McParland will wonder why he is not celebrating.

Wrexham made six changes from the side that was thrashed 3-0 by Shrewsbury, giving youth a chance at the expense of experience.

And despite the threat of Wes Baynes when on the ball, Notts looked comfortable at the back.

Only Baynes' effort straight at Russell Hoult was of any note before Danny Crow wasted a golden opportunity when Neil MacKenzie played him in behind the Wrexham defence.

After beating the offside shout the striker went clear only to fire straight at Gavin Ward in the hosts' goal.

Notts continued to apply pressure, Ryan Jarvis causing trouble with a pinpoint ball into the six-yard box before MacKenzie pulled a shot wide from the resulting corner.

But a first-half ankle injury to Michael Johnson saw him unable to continue after the break and a reshuffle took place with Paul Mayo coming on and Stephen Hunt moving to centre half. Hoult was in for a relatively easy afternoon it appeared, saving a weak toe-poke from Matty Done before Lawrie Dudfield replaced Crow.

He almost made an instant impression as he out-muscled Mike Williams, got into the box and fired a fierce shot that Ward appeared to tip over the bar but, to Notts' annoyance, the referee gave a goal kick.

Hunt headed wide from a corner while Jarvis spurned a great chance from ten years when Ward only half cleared a Jason Lee header.

Wrexham were failing to punish Notts for their lack of ruthlessness, as Marc Williams' downward header was straight at Hoult. Hunt and Lee went close again from free kicks before Canoville was guilty of a poor tackle on the edge of his own box on Done, gifting a free-kick.

It was to be Notts County's undoing as the impressive Baynes swung it in from the left, Neil Roberts met it and hooked the ball into the net as Notts failed to clear.

A killer blow from nowhere but Lee steered a thumping header goalbound for what looked like the equaliser only for Ward to pull off a fantastic save in front of the Notts fans with his outstretched hand.

Hoult was then called into action and produced an even better stop at the other end when faced with Marc Williams but the striker's effort into the top corner was plucked out of the air by the Notts goalkeeper.

In the end, a defensive lapse killed off Notts but the chance for Crow will be one that goes continuously through the mind of the Magpies manager as he revisits what happened on Saturday.

Afterwards he questioned the steel within his side, the killer instinct to finish teams off. After all, those inside the Racecourse Ground could see that had Notts found a breakthrough, it would almost certainly have been game over.

The Magpies would now be all but assured of League Two football next season. The talk of relegation would no longer be of real concern.

Instead there are another few days of fans, players and management looking at all the permutations, wondering what will happen next.

What if? That is not a question that anyone connected with Notts can let play on the mind. This is no time for looking back, only forward.

This is no time for anyone to hide. They need to show that steel, show that character, show that they deserve to be in League Two next season.

Saturday was a golden opportunity missed. There was never a better chance of ending the threat of relegation. There was no better chance to make McParland the happiest man in Nottingham.

Now they have to do it the hard way. The next task is seventh-placed Wycombe at home. The challenge is there, now the players have to rise to it.

They cannot prolong the agony for themselves, their manager or the fans. This Saturday is another chance, albeit a much more difficult one.

If they deliver, everyone connected with the black and white side of the Trent can forget what happened at Wrexham and finally put their feet up enjoy a drink and look to the good times ahead.

If they don't, the unthinkable could yet still be on the cards.

Wrexham Leader Paper

It seems that Wrexham aren't going down without a fight.

That may not have been true after last weekend's horrendous derby defeat at Shrewsbury Town but it was a different story on Saturday.

It wasn't a classic, but rock bottom Wrexham dug deep to secure a much needed 1-0 win against fellow strugglers Notts County at The Racecourse on Saturday.

Victory means Wrexham are now six points adrift of safety with three matches remaining, but they do have a game in hand on third from bottom Dagenham and Redbridge, and Mansfield, the other side in the drop zone.

Hopes of avoiding relegation have been severely dented after a seven game winless run that produces a meagre two points.

Nothing more than victory would have done against the Magpies, and Neil Roberts netted his eighth goal of the season to give the Reds renewed hope.

Whether of not this is just a stay of execution, the main thing is that there is still a chance of extending Wrexham's 87 year stay in the Football League.

There is still a lot to do to avoid dropping into the Blue Square Premier Division.

It is no longer in Wrexham's hands, and the last few weeks have only plunged the Reds closer to the drop.

The recent poor run, at such a crucial time in the season, meant manager Brian Little decided upon a major shake-up for the visit of County.

Apart from goalkeeper Gavin Ward, all the outfield players on show were inherited by Little as he left out the signings he had made.

Looking to the future meant younger players were given a chance, and Wes Baynes, Shaun Pejic, Mike Williams, Andy Fleming and Levi Mackin all came in from the cold.

A sixth change saw Steve Evans return to the side, with Simon Spender, Phil Bolland, Richard Hope, Sam Aiston, Michael Proctor and Drewe Broughton the players ommitted.

Baynes in particular shone with his enthusiasm, and he was always eager to try his luck at goal.

Named man of the match, Baynes was pushed all the way for the accolade by Evans - who got through 90 minutes despite suffering an early head injury - and scorer Roberts who both gave their all for the cause.

Little was right to make wholesale changes, and that decision was justified.

But Wrexham can't rest on their laurels and they need to follow that up with another three points in their game in hand at promotion chasing Hereford tomorrow.

The first half lacked quality and produced only one clear cut chance which fell County's way.

Jason Lee volleyed wide for County following Neil Mackenzie's ninth minute corner, while Baynes dangerous cross at the other end just evaded Marc Williams and Neil Roberts.

Baynes also brought a comfortable save out of keeper Russell Hoult after Gavin Ward's long clearance fell kindly, but the best scoring chance of the half came in the 17th minute.

Mackenzie threaded the ball through for Danny Crow whose fierce shot was blocked by Ward, and Steve Evans put the loose ball out for a corner.

The second half began with Baynes, ever willing to try his luck, firing wide of the target, but County substitute Lawrie Dudfield - only on the pitch 60 seconds - then turned Mike Williams before seeing his drive just clear the bar.

Stephen Hunt also headed narrowly wide on 55 minutes from Myles Weston's corner as County continued to pressure, and Ryan Jarvis shot into the side netting after Ward had punched Mackenzie's free-kick partially clear.

Roberts also cleared Lee's header off the line following another free-kick while Little made a double substitution on 71 minutes with midfielders Danny Williams and Conall Murtagh replacing Mackin and Fleming respectively.

Baynes saw his 25 yard drive flash narrowly wide, but Wrexham took the lead 13minutes from time.

Done earned the Reds a free-kick when he was brought down on the left flank by Lee Canoville and Murtagh's delivery was turned home by Roberts at the far post.

The lively Baynes wasn't far away with another long range effort but County almost equalised in the 82nd minute but Ward spectacularly palmed away Jason Lee's bullet header.

Back came Wrexham and Marc Williams' powerful drive was parried by Hoult, and a late curling effort from the Reds' striker was dummied by Roberts but a diving Hoult prevented another goal.

Roberts' lone goal turned out to be the winner and the fight to beat the drop is still on.