Crewe Alexandra 0 - 3 Notts County

In hindsight, it wasn't the most taxing of pursuits. Crewe Alexandra have been nothing short of shambolic this season, mired at the bottom of League One with the most goals conceded in the English professional leagues.

Nevertheless, Notts County's 3-0 win at Gresty Road against the beleaguered Railwaymen was a very welcome result, one that goes a long way to confirm that the Magpies are a different proposition to last season.

Shaun Harrad, the local boy who started his career at Meadow Lane, proved a nuisance to the Alex back line in the early stages, helping to set up Noble and force a save from Ben Garratt.

Crewe responded through another Notts alumnus, Marcus Haber, who saw his header flash across goal and spook the Magpies defence following a corner from Jamie Ness.

Harrad then went on to maraud into the box midway through the first half, but proceeded to blast his effort over the bar, but the intent was there.

Notts kept on pressing, new loan signing Stephen McLaughlin playing the ball to Jake Cassidy, whose subsequent effort ended up being spilled by Garratt.

Haber continued to prove a thorn in County's side with a dangerous header, but moments before half time, the visitors took the lead.

Garry Thompson charged forward and whipped a low cross towards Cassidy, beating the Crewe defence in the process and requiring nothing more than a tap-in at the back post from the on-loan Wolves man.

Just seven minutes into the second half, Notts doubled their lead, courtesy of Harrad's drive forward and shot past Garrat after being set up by McLaughlin.

And just after the hour, the third goal came for the Magpies to put the result beyond all doubt, as the scintillating McLaughlin received the ball out wide and played a low cross in to the centre of the Alex six-yard box.

Cassidy charged forward to poke the ball beyond Garratt into the home side's net and secure three crucial points for Notts that sees them climb to 10th in the table.