Notts County 3 - 0 Coventry City

Another match day, another turn of events. Just when it seemed that we were perilously edging back towards the drop zone, comes another great performance, another great result, and another reassessment of our chances of surviving the drop.

Notts County comprehensively beat Coventry City this afternoon, as goals from Hayden Mullins, Jimmy Spencer and Alan Sheehan secured a fantastic 3-0 win.

Shaun Derry gave Spencer his full debut less than a week after signing from Huddersfield Town, as he replaced the big man Enoch Showunmi in attack. Meanwhile Mullins, who had made his first County appearance off the bench against Preston North End, lined up in the starting XI in place of Mark Fotheringham.

And despite Kevin Pilkington's immense performance between the sticks in last week's defeat at Preston North End, Bartosz Bialkowski was restored as the Magpies' Numero Uno.

The club paid tribute to former Notts legend Tony Hateley, who sadly passed away a week ago at the age of 72, by staging a minute's applause before the game.

Once proceedings got underway, the Sky Blues had the first chance of the game, as on-loan forward Nathan Delfouneso struck a shot that whizzed past the Notts post. The Pies hit back with a free kick from Callum McGregor that flew high above Joe Murphy.

Just before the quarter-hour mark, however, Notts were in the lead, thanks to a great run and cross from Jamal Campbell-Ryce that was met by the head of Birmingham City loanee Mullins. His goal sent the home stands into raptures.

Sheehan very nearly scored a few minutes later, but Murphy made a good save to thwart the left-back, before denying Manny Smith twice in quick succession.

Just after the half-hour mark, Notts doubled their lead courtesy of a simply fantastic strike from Spencer. The 22-year-old, let go by the Terriers on Transfer Deadline Day, certainly gave his former employers some food for thought after he won the ball in the final third, before striking a sumptuous 30-yard howitzer into the top-right corner.

Kieron Freeman and McGregor could have scored more goals before half time, but Coventry did just enough to keep the score down to 2-0.

The Sky Blues made two changes at the break, highlighting their desperation, but Notts weren't to do a Peterborough this time, and in fact increased their lead when JCR was fouled in the Coventry box three minutes before the end.

Sheehan stepped up and, making amends for his earlier miss, struck a great penalty to take the scoreline past "respectable" into "thrashing".

We've now stuck our heads just out of the relegation mire again, but with the sides below us having several games in hand, we've got to home that they don't make the most of the potential points up for grabs.

Notts currently occupy 19th place in the League One table, but are a solitary point above Sheffield United in 21st.