DERRY WANTS IN ON ACTION
NOTTS County boss Shaun Derry admits he’s getting itchy feet in the dugout after his side maintained their unbeaten run in September with a draw at Chesterfield.
Former England U20 international Blair Adams’ first goal for the Magpies since signing on a free from Coventry on 15 minutes looked for a while to have sealed the game.
Yet despite Austrian defender Georg Margreitter earning a point for high-flying Chesterfield in the second half, Derry was ecstatic.
“I’ve just told the lads just how proud I am of them, they are an absolute pleasure to manage,” he said. “I wish I was in the dressing room with them as a player because throughout my career I haven’t been involved in a team with that much character.
“What a game. We got the first goal and I thought we could have got a second, we hit the post, we had two or three other chances.
“I’m looking for us to be a little bit more ruthless but I haven’t got any arguments, second half we had our backs to the wall and Chesterfield were magnificent and they deserved to get something out of the game.
“I think I have the best goalkeeper in the league in Roy Carroll, he was fantastic, some of his saves were Premier League class and that is why he has played there.”
The visitors started well and Zeli Ismail could have put them ahead within the first minute had his header not been well saved by Tommy Lee.
However, after a Nicky Wroe shot was deflected wide, they were ahead on 15 minutes as the resultant corner fell to Adams who rifled home from the edge of the box.
Chesterfield’s first chance of the game came in the 20th minute with a close-range effort from Jay O’Shea, which he put wide, before the impressive Adams went on a fine run but his shot hit the post on 23 minutes.
Margreitter hit the bar with a fine header on 61 minutes, but one minute later his header found the back of the net from a Daniel Johnson corner to put his team level.
County substitute Shaun Harrod then had an overhead kick headed off the line by Ian Evatt on 74 minutes before Margreitter saw his header nodded off the line by Harrod on 84 minutes.
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook said: “We just keep going, you don’t change your habits, you work hard and keep doing the right things.
“To be fair to them their keeper was sensational for them, that’s why he’s an international goalkeeper and he’s had the career he’s had.
“Notts County have come here and got a goal and started the game well. But our lads showed a great work ethic; they are a great credit to the club.
“They go about the game in such a great manner, so honest and positive. Second half we created chance after chance but that’s how football is sometimes.
“Notts County have got a very strong defensive record for a reason, Shaun has done a very good job at the club, you have to take your hat off to them and say well done.”