We take a look at how the press viewed our 1-0 win over Chester City at the weekend with reports from both angles.

Adam Tann's second-half header secured the win for Ian McParland's men, their first of 2008.

Nottingham Evening Post Report by James Pallatt

It was cometh the hour, cometh the man stuff in every way at Meadow Lane on Saturday - except that Notts' captain Adam Tann was two minutes early for his cue.

But then, the Magpies had waited long enough for a win.

Their spirit and confidence might have been shaken by a winless run that stretched all the way back to December 8, and a slide down the League Two table, but at the end of the game against Chester, boss Ian McParland shook the hand of every player as they left the field in recognition of a committed and, crucially, victorious display.

The relief was tangible on the final whistle. McParland, his assistant Dave Kevan, the players and fans all breathed a huge sigh of relief when the club's first win in seven games was confirmed after four agonising minutes of added time that seemed to last an eternity.

It was fitting too, that Tann should take centre-stage. He had spoken of confidence being at a low ebb in the Magpies' dressing-room ahead of the game, and the importance of character and being fearless and he was quite outstanding. He led by sheer example.

In short, he was Notts' very own Captain Marvel. He made some critical tackles as the Magpies kept their first clean sheet since New Year's Day at Hereford, before and after netting his first goal for the club since arriving on a permanent deal in the summer.

And he marshalled the defence brilliantly at set-pieces to make sure they did not lose concentration and concede in a way they did twice at Bradford.

It was a reshuffled rearguard, following Krystian Pearce's return to Birmingham City after a loan spell at Meadow Lane in the wake of the defeat at Valley Parade. Stephen Hunt was switched to centre-back alongside Tann and Austin McCann was recalled at left-back. All, including Lee Canoville, put their bodies on the line to ensure victory.

And keeper Kevin Pilkington, extraordinary throughout Notts' poor run, produced a world-class save to deny Chester's Kevin Sandwith before the deadlock was delightfully broken in the second half. If he had failed to parry the defender's free-kick it could have been a different end.

McParland was forced, too, to cope with an injury to on-loan Ali Gibb in training on Friday. He switched leading scorer Richard Butcher to the right of midfield and brought Gary Silk into the centre alongside Gavin Strachan, with Felix Bastians on the left-wing. Bastians was the biggest threat in the first half, thoroughly tormenting Chester right-back James Vaughan and delivering some dangerous crosses, and Strachan brilliantly orchestrated possession throughout with simple pinpoint passes to his colleagues.

It was amazing to see the difference a week's training with his new team-mates had made, after he had been thrown in at the deep end at Bradford.

In attack, Jason Lee was another thrown straight back in after injury, admitting himself he was surprised to get the call from McParland. But he was a constant aerial threat and played a huge part in the winner.

His strike partner, Lawrie Dudfield, was unlucky not to end his barren run in front of goal. He showed characteristic commitment to the cause, harassing the Chester defenders to give them an uneasy afternoon, and came close to scoring on several occasions - the closest in the dying minutes of the game when he dragged an effort inches wide of the far post. He deserved better.

There was even time for Jay Smith to come off the substitutes' bench for Strachan for an injury-time run-out after nearly four months on the sidelines with injury. His introduction was met with huge applause and so too was Strachan's departure at the end of a stylish shift.

Notts were bright from the start, with Bastians central. Twice in the opening minutes he made good deliveries into the penalty area, from a free-kick and corner, that Tann tried to convert only to be thwarted on both occasions.

He was then unceremoniously brought down by Kevin Roberts on 12 minutes, as he tried to surge into the box. The result was a caution for the defender and a wayward free-kick from Strachan.

Chester worked their way into the game with neat interchanges and young striker Chris Holroyd sent a glancing header straight at Pilkington after finding space in between Tann and Hunt.

Ellison then dragged an effort wide on 17 minutes at the end of a clever set-piece from the visitors. Wilson sent a free-kick from the halfway line into the crowded penalty area, Holroyd knocked it down into the path of his striker partner but his effort was poor under pressure.

Lee led the reply with a far-post header on 24 minutes and Hunt headed wide from close-range from a well-delivered free-kick from Bastians as the Magpies kept the pressure up on the visitors.

Dudfield also got in on the act, seizing on the ball at the end of another attacking move from Notts but firing a right-footed effort straight at John Danby just after the half-hour mark.

Tann was booked on 35 minutes for an ill-timed tackle on Ellison just inside his own half. It was harsh and the only blemish on his performance.

McParland kept faith with his players in the second half and it paid off as they were quickly back on the front foot.

Lee nearly got on the end of a Bastians cross after just one minute before Chester countered through Hughes, who dragged an effort wide of the target from just outside the area.

Dudfield then directed a header against the crossbar on 50 minutes, from another measured free-kick from Bastians.

He had already done well to win a free-kick, outmuscling Paul Butler to the ball on the left edge of the box before being brought down by the defender. And he was so unlucky not to break the deadlock.

He was involved again three minutes, latching onto a long pass from Canoville and turning past his marker inside the box but Danby came rushing off his line to smother the ball.

Then came the wonder save from Pilkington on 56 minutes. At full-stretch to his right, he showed unbelievable agility and strength to parry Sandwith's vicious free-kick past his post. And the importance of that save was underlined only two minutes later when Tann scored.

It came from a corner from Butcher that Dudfield met, only to see his effort cleared off the goal-line. Lee pounced on the rebound and directed the ball back across the face of goal and Tann headed it in from point-blank range.

Confidence suddenly seemed to course through Notts' veins and Butcher went close to doubling his side's lead before the end. He pounced on a poor clearance from Danby and carried the ball to the edge of the penalty area before dragging his effort wide of the target.

The visitors piled the pressure on a nervous Notts in the closing minutes, with Ellison firing wide, but, led superbly by Tann they held on.

It is a victory that lifts Notts up the League Two table, crucially. But it will do so much more than that.

Chester City Fanzine Report - The Onion Bag

Another game, another poor display and another defeat. When will the bad run end?

Kevin Sandwith was a surprise recall to the City side. Kevin Roberts moved to centre back whilst Kevin Ellison completed the tactical Kevin moveabout by pushing up front to partner Chris Holroyd in a return to 4-4-2.

To describe the first half as boring would be an understatement. City created little in the way of chances, as did County. Both out of form sides seemed happy to play out for a rare point.

City's best chance came when Laurence Wilson fired a low cross into the Magpies area, Ellison found space in the area but his shot was wayward and never troubled Kevin Pilkington.

Jason Lee was County's biggest threat with his physical presence. As if he wasn't dangerous enough in the air, City gave him a free header in the area only for him to cushion the ball straight into John Danby's hands.

Early in the second half Sandwith almost opened the scoring on his return to the starting eleven. However Pilkington somehow produced a wonder save from the free-kick to keep the scores level.

On 58 minutes County took the lead with a goal that looked offside but appeals were waved away. Jason Lee's header looked to be going in anyway but Adam Tann made sure, despite being in an offside position, by tapping it over the line.

City huffed and puffed at getting an equaliser, Craig Lindfield was thrown on for his debut in a bid to get something but the lack of service will have been an eye-opener for the youngster.

In fact the home side looked more likely to score next, Lawrie Dudfield's wastefullness in front of goal saw to that.

Paul Butler should have probably grabbed a point for City late on when he was left unmarked from a corner, his header lacked direction though and ended up behind the goal with the fans.

Chester City Official Website Report

Chester welcomed Kevin Sandwith back into the side this afternoon with Ellison moving forward to support Chris Holroyd in attack. Both sides had good spells in the first half but overall they cancelled each other out with few dangerous spells and no clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities.

Notts County started strongly and had a brace of corners in the first ten minutes. Chester couldn't get the first one clear, a cross to the back post from Felix Bastians, the second from Richard Butcher on the left was collected by Danby as City soaked up the early pressure.

Chester had a decent chance on 17 minutes courtesy of a long ball back into the area from Laurence Wilson from a Notts County clearance. It fell to Kevin Ellison in the middle of the box but his 15 yard strike was just wide of the right hand post.

There were no clear cut chances in the opening stages. The magpies had a half chance on 24 minutes when a long diagonal cross from the left found Jason Lee with a free header opportunity. He headed goalwards but Danby was well place to make an easy save.

As the half progressed, City started to come back strongly into the game with good link-ups betwen Laurence Wilson and Ellison down the left hand side. Ellison and Partridge switched sides around the 35 minutes and in was an Ellison pass from the right on 37 which gave Mark Hughes a half chance at goal from 20 yards, but he sent a weak shot wide of the left hand post.

Just on the half hour mark the ball fell kindly for Holroyd about 20 yards straight out from goal but he managed to mis-kick it and County were able to clear. Overall both sides effectively cancelled each other out in the first half with no serious goal-threatening spells at either end.

Chester had a lucky escape on 50 minutes when Dudfield went down on the edge of the box, clearly looking for a penalty. The referee awarded a free kick just on the edge of the box which Bastians floated in. It a goalmouth scramble, Lawrie Dudfield managed to header it off underside of the crossbar and Kevin Roberts was able to clear it.

City won a good chance on 55 minutes from a set piece just outside the 18 yard box. Kevin Sandiwth struck it very well indeed, getting it around the wall and on target forcing Pilkington to push it over for a corner.

It was the home side who took the lead though just a few minutes later. It came from a corner which Richard Butcher played to the back of the six yard box. There was a bit of a scramble and it looked like City were about to clear it but Adam Tann got a foot to it and sent it into the net from close range.

Craig Lindfield made his City debut midway through the half, replacing Mark Hughes, one of several players on a yellow by this point from the over officious referee.

City had a half chance to get themselves back into the game from a set piece. Wilson set Partridge on a run down the left hand side and he sent a good cross into the area. Chris Holroyd met it with a header after shaking off his marker, but he sent it wide of the right hand post.

Myles Weston went on a good run for County on 76 minutes down the left hand side and sent a potentially dangerous cross into the box. Laurence Wilson was there though with a good clearance under pressure to keep City in the game.

Lawrie Dudfield should have put the home side further ahead on 80 minutes with a diagonal shot from the left. He broke the offside trap and had a free shot at goal, drilling a low shot at an acute angle across the goal area which just sneaked wide of the right hand post.

At the other end Kevin Ellison received a ball with his back to goal 25 yards out, turned and shot just wide of the left hand post after a slight deflection.

With just a few minutes remaining, City had another half chance from a set piece. Sandwith took a free kick in the mid left hand channel and sent it towards the far right of the 6 yard box. It was just too high for Butler to direct it goalwards with a header and went behind for a goal kick.

The Blues pushed forwards well as the game went into injury time. Kevin Roberts tried to go for goal in a crowded goal area but found his way blocked.

Despite another defeat to continue City's bad run, today's performance showed much more promise with determination and passion from the players. They just lacked a bit of creative spark from midfield to the forwards to turn their many half chances into clear cut chances. The goals will come though based on today's much improved performance.