Notts County 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Bad news and good news about today's home game against the division's strongest side, Wolverhampton Wanderers. We lost today, which does not help with regards to our position in the table, but the level of performance today was much better than in previous games, as we prevented Wolves from playing particularly well, losing only by one goal (and a slip up at that). A very encouraging performance, it is hoped that this is a sign that Shaun Derry is slowly growing into his role and will oversee a turnaround at Meadow Lane.

Hampered by international call-ups, today's team saw Alan Sheehan, Manny Smith, Gary Liddle and returning old boy Kieron Freeman in defence, Callum McGregor, Joss Labadie, Mark Fotheringham and Jamal Campbell-Ryce in midfield, and Ronan Murray partner Marcus Haber in attack. 4-4-2 was the formation, with ever reliable Bartosz Bialkowski in goal.

Wolves, who has managed to hang on to ten players from the 2011/12 Premiership season, started the brighter side, as Jake Cassidy and Bakary Sako had the first concrete chances of the game, even though Notts got a corner as early as the 3rd minute.

The first Notts chance came courtesy of McGregor, who was on the pitch despite playing for Scotland U21's earlier in the week. His right-footed shot from outside the box was blocked.

On 19, Smith got two chances, one after the other, as his header bounced off a crowd of players, while his follow-up shot was deflected by Richard Stearman.

Danny Batth committed a foul worthy of a red card as he upended McGregor on 22, but to the crowd's amazement, he was only booked.

Five minutes later, Jake Cassidy unleashed a powerful drive from outside the box, but this was saved by Bart down to his left as the ball dangerously curled away from him.

Another dangerous Wolves tackle came courtesy of David Davis, his lunge striking Liddle. Comically, the away player hurt himself in the process, receiving a booking for his misdemeanour.

Towards the end of the first half, Bart showed why is so valued with a brilliant diving save to thwart a James Henry shot destined for the top-left corner.

The second half saw JCR get a shot from outside the box on 48, but this missed, swerving to the right of the goal. Meanwhile, Sheehan was responsible for a great block to thwart Sako on 56.

McGregor, always with an eye for goal, had two good attempts on 62 and 64, but the Wolves defenders were able to block both of these.

Tackles (and indeed cards) were also flying, as the young Scot, plus Fotheringham and Freeman, all received yellows during the course of the second half.

Sadly, Notts' great rearguard action was finally thwarted on 76 as Ethan Ebanks-Landell made the most of a Notts slip up to score, after Henry's delivery was not dealt with by the defence.

Despite this, Notts were determined not to go down without a fight, kept pushing forward and tried desperately to net an equaliser. McGregor came agonisingly close in the final ten minutes, but sadly, Wolves were impenetrable, and thus the match finished 1-0.