Scunthorpe United 0 - 1 Notts County

Talk about going from strength to strength.

We’re on the cusp of November now, and with the season in full swing, Notts County now find themselves well into League One’s playoff places following another good display and a clean sheet finished off with a solitary strike from the spot to secure all three points away at Scunthorpe United in a 1-0 win at Glanford Park.

The Magpies had the better of the opening exchanges, Shaun Harrad blasting wide from a corner in the second minute.

Then, a cross from Blair Adams just missed Michael Petrasso, before Liam Noble struck the post with a long-range effort.

The Iron played in a manner not befitting their lowly league position, with Gary McSheffrey also rattling the woodwork with a header, while Roy Carroll had to save from Lyle Taylor after Haydn Hollis’s miscued header nearly set their striker up.

Shaun Harrad then saw a shot saved by Robert Olenjik following a ball from Garry Thompson.

Mustapha Dumbuya had to be at his best to thwart Paddy Madden and McSheffrey early on in the second half, but in the 54th minute, Madden and Taylor combined to very nearly score, the ball going wide by a whisker.

Both defences were at their steadfast best throughout most of the second half, with blocks and tackles taking the sting out of most efforts.

The game looked like it could go either way, but right at the end of the game, Olejnik hauled down substitute Ronan Murray in the box to gift the visitors a penalty.

Fellow substitute Zeli Ismail set the ball on the spot and duly smashed home to gift Notts the win in front of the ecstatic away fans, which puts the Magpies third in the league.