Ian McParland; Michael Johnson; Hans Backe; Dave Kevan & Steve Cotterill have all been in the dugout for Notts County in this turbulant season which makes their current position even more remarkable. Meanwhile, their Lancashire rivals; Rochdale - have had a very quiet, efficient season, ploughing their way towards the title. It was in the last week of February that new chairman Ray Trew declared that the ex-Burnley and Cheltenham man would be taking charge of the Magpies until the end of the current season. Not one Notts fan would have dared imagine what was in store for the next month. When Cotterill took over Notts were occupying the last play-off place 14 points behind leaders Rochdale. County hadn't won in 4 games including a defeat away at promotion-chasing Bournemouth and dropping points at home to struggling Grimsby Town. These results, combined with the uncertainty of whether the club would sink into administration had Notts fans worried. Now, on Easter Sunday, a day before Notts travel down to promotion-hopefuls Shrewsbury they are sitting pretty in second place. It is not only the grit, determination and organisation that Cotterill has installed since he took charge but the modesty and professionalism which is lacking from Keith Hill's locker (after his rant on Sky during the broadcast of Notts - v - Bournemouth).
One of the main contrasts since Cotterill started his reign as Notts manager is the defence. Eight clean sheets out of a possible nine has helped Notts' rise to the upper echelons of the league. The team have inflicted 5-0 home defeats upon Hereford and Bury, but it is not all flambuoyance. It is the dedication and the willingness to work for the other man which has seen Notts pick up precious 1-0 wins against Chesterfield, Rotherham, Crewe and Macclesfield. Notts also claimed a 3-0 win against Accrington Stanley (the only team thus far to beat Notts on their own patch). A last-minute goal from Bournemouth substitute Jeff Goulding secured a point for the visitors in a 2-2 draw. Notts also failed to finish off Bradford at Valley Parade as they dominated without any reward besides taking a point back from Yorkshire after a goaless game.
Notts' eighth clean sheet of Cotterill's reign came against an out-of-form Bury who hadn't scored from open play in 7 games. This statistic would not have been feasible to even the most imaginable fan in November after an enthralling 3-3 draw at Gigg Lane after a mud patch had spared Notts' blushes (see video below).
But the Shakers' lack of confidence was evident as Mike Edwards put Notts into a 1-0 lead and after Kasper pulled off a magnificent save, low down to his right; there was only going to be one winner. Craig Westcarr added a second at the beginning of the second half with a side-footed finish after good work by Luke Rodgers down the left-hand side. Ben Davies effectively finished the game off after a move that would not have looked out of place in the Premiership. Lee Hughes and Delroy Facey put the gloss on the scoreline and had it not been for Cotterill replacing Davies, Hughes & Rodgers - Notts may have added even more to the scoreline.
Cotterill is definitely not getting carried away with the win though.
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