Manager Shaun Derry believed that Notts County’s 2-0 defeat to Preston North End was a fair outcome.
Despite a promising opening 45 minutes, Notts came under a lot of pressure in the second period and struggled to create chances at the other end.
Stand-in goalkeeper and Man of the Match Kevin Pilkington kept out the hosts until the 65th minute, when striker Craig Davies found the top corner.
A controversial Joe Garner penalty then doubled Preston’s lead to secure the points for the promotion chasers.
Derry was short on numbers on the day but felt his side needed to show more going forward.
He said: “You go to a place that’s a fantastic football club first and foremost but you look at their bench and their bench would probably get in most League 1 teams.
“With the greatest respect to us, we were very light in numbers – very light with senior professionals.
“2-0 was a fair result in the end because we didn’t trouble their goal anywhere near enough.
“There wasn’t enough attacking nouse shown for the way that I want us to be but at the same time I was delighted with certain people out there and not so delighted with others.”
Notts dropped back into the Sky Bet League 1 drop zone as a result of the loss but have an opportunity to lift themselves out of trouble in next weekend’s Meadow Lane clash with Coventry City.
“It only takes one change in fortunes in terms of one day’s results and you can be back in the sticky stuff,” said Derry.
“That’s going to hurt the guys and it hurts me at the minute knowing about that.
“Ultimately we’ve still got a number of games left where we can redeem ourselves out of this position.
“I’m more than confident, again, that we’ll be able to do that starting next weekend at home.”
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