Notts County head coach Martin Paterson praised his players’ reaction after they came from behind to record their first away win of the season at Tranmere Rovers.
The Magpies had to respond after falling behind at Prenton Park, but goals from Matthew Dennis and Kellan Gordon secured a 2-1 victory. Paterson kept faith with the same starting eleven that drew 2-2 with Bromley, with striker Alassana Jatta making a return on the bench following injury and suspension.
Paterson admitted that the home side began strongly but was pleased with the way his players responded. “I thought they started well in the first period of the game and they're a well-coached, organised team. I played with the manager, I know him ever so well, and they're difficult. So we've worked on a lot of things and the improvements were there in terms of the defensive actions. I was really pleased.”
He emphasised the importance of remaining disciplined during the early stages of pressure. “We had to just respect the game, we had to defend, we had to withstand a little bit of pressure here at Tranmere, it's a tough place to come. And then I thought we started to build our way into the game to then, dare I say it, have good control.”
Despite conceding late in the first half, Paterson was encouraged by the team’s attitude. He made his expectations clear at the break and was delighted with the reaction. “I chose my words very carefully at halftime, but I also made sure the group were abundantly clear what I expected in the second half. And what I will give them a massive credit for is the performance in the first half, but again, not the result. Very similar to what we've experienced in the first few games, if I'm honest. So I had that feeling, oh, not again, come on. But then what I saw in the second half was a reaction and a response from the words that I said and my mannerisms at halftime. So credit to my players, because we've got a great bunch here.”
Dennis levelled soon after the restart before Gordon struck the winner with a composed finish. Paterson highlighted the improved organisation, particularly during the closing stages. “For the last 15 minutes when they gave and they're probably the best set play team in the division at the moment they threw everything at us and we stood our ground and that looked like a Notts County performance today.”
He was quick to stress the importance of progress over celebration. “There’ll be no overreaction from me, good or bad. It's on to Lincoln now and we have to continue the progress that we're making. Sometimes you can downplay certain things, but what I can't downplay is the reaction and the performance in the second half to win a game of football. It's absolute key and I'm really, really proud of them, but it means nothing if we don't kick on now for the next two games.”
The head coach also praised his back line, which he felt looked “like a proper back line today”, and the work of his staff behind the scenes to improve the team’s fitness. “What I did see, we look fitter. We look fitter. And that was a big thing for me coming in. I think we really needed to be fitter so that we don't droop and don't fall back in those last moments.”
Jatta returned for the final stages and combined with Dennis in attack, something Paterson was pleased to see but cautious not to overstate. “Yes, they are forming a partnership. But again, one swallow is not a summer. So we need to get back to base camp. I've told the players, listen, enjoy it tonight, have a nice film with your family. But come Monday morning, we're at work as we always are because we're just trying to get back to level par.”
Looking ahead to transfer deadline day, Paterson confirmed he does not expect major changes. “I don't think so. The owners have been really, really clear on the outs. Inns will be more so if it is the correct player that will improve the group, which is the key thing. I don't think we as a club, owners, head of football and myself plonked underneath that, are in a knee-jerk reaction to just get bodies. It needs to improve us.”
Notts will now prepare for their next challenge, away at Lincoln City, with Paterson urging his players to keep building on the progress shown at Prenton Park.
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