We take a look at how the press from both sides viewed our 1-1 draw at Stockport County at the weekend.

Stockport hit back through Tommy Rowe to cancel out an early goal from Mike Edwards, and in the end both sides had to be content with a point and keep their unbeaten runs going.

Nottingham Evening Post Report by James Pallatt

There was one thing that stopped the Magpies' claiming a crucial victory at Edgeley Park on Saturday, and it was not an outstanding piece of defending from the home side or a world-class save from Stockport keeper Conrad Logan.

It was the fear of losing that stood in Notts' way of a win.

It is perhaps understandable given their precarious position in League Two, where every point is precious, that they will try to protect a point rather than risk it for all three.

But Stockport, for all the hype of their incredible rise as play-off contenders and the potent threat of leading scorer Liam Dickinson in attack, were there for the taking.

Notts exploited their vulnerability from set-plays to take an early lead through Mike Edwards, as he bundled the ball over the line from close-range at the far post from Richard Butcher's free-kick.

But they failed to do so again throughout the entire game - even from an almost carbon-copy set-piece to the one from which Edwards pounced, as a corner from Butcher flew dangerously across the six-yard box eluding everyone just minutes later. The slightest connection from any player in black-and-white and it would have been 2-0 to the Magpies and a very different game.

They spurned some good opportunities to re-establish their lead in the second half, with winger Ali Gibb and play-maker Gavin Strachan both guilty of being wasteful after the home side had been carved open.

And then, with 11 minutes left, Ian McParland brought off striker Lawrie Dudfield, who gave a typically energetic display on his return to the starting line-up in place of Jason Lee, for Myles Weston.

The tenacious Gary Silk had already been introduced for Jay Smith three minutes earlier, and Notts switched to a trio of Butcher, Strachan and Silk in central midfield with Weston and Gibb in wide positions. It was a tightening-up tactic, meant surely to shield their share of the spoils. But it only encouraged Stockport to stage a late flurry of attacks that could have cost the Magpies dearly.

They hung on for a point to extend their unbeaten league run to five games, which is an impressive feat. But with just one win and four draws in that sequence it means Notts are not putting any decisive daylight between themselves and the relegation pack. It means they aren't making giant strides towards safety, but are rather getting there slowly but surely.

It is also the third time in the last four games the Magpies have given away a lead, after Butcher put them ahead against Morecambe and Grimsby. McParland wasn't happy with his side's defending for Stockport's equaliser, but it was a good goal in its build-up and execution.

The home side swept the ball from left to right to the feet of Anthony Pilkington, who whipped a dangerous cross into the six-yard box and Tommy Rowe made a clever dart in front of his marker to direct the ball past Kevin Pilkington.

It was a well-worked equaliser and it proved decisive, meaning the Magpies have still won just one league game away from home so far this season, at Accrington on November 3.

Perhaps more worrying for McParland is the fact his side have not scored twice in a game since they beat Shrewsbury 2-1 at Meadow Lane on December 8. They have to develop a killer instinct, and quickly, if they want to claw their way up League Two.

In fairness to both Dudfield and Ryan Jarvis, neither had any gilt-edged chances to score and Jarvis had to adjust to being switched from attack to wide left during the game. Dudfield had a half-chance on 17 minutes when he raced forward to seize on to a pass from Adam Tann and cut inside to fire an effort at goal from outside the penalty area, but Logan was equal to it.

Jarvis unleashed a powerful strike at goal just after the half-hour mark that Logan easily took the sting out of.

The pair nearly combined to good effect in the closing minutes of the first half, with Dudfield threading a pass through the defence for Jarvis to race on to but Logan again denied them as he raced off his goal-line to smother the ball at Jarvis' feet.

The on-loan attacker did miscue an effort wide in the opening minutes of the second half, as the ball came to him quickly on the edge of the six-yard box from Gibb's cross that Smith flicked on, but Gibb and Strachan wasted better chances.

Gibb fired wildly wide on 65 minutes, after a clever and quick move from left to right gave him time and space for so much better. Strachan blazed the ball over the from just outside the penalty area.

Stockport manager Jim Gannon was ridiculously gesturing to referee Carl Boyeson that Notts were time-wasting at every opportunity. Every time they got a goal-kick, throw-in, free-kick or corner he pointed at his watch. It got farcical in the end, with sections of the home fans even jeering him.

Notts didn't waste any time taking a lead at Edgeley Park. But they wasted an opportunity for a vital victory.

Manchester Evening News Report

Tommy Rowe's first goal in senior football helped stretch County's unbeaten run to eight league games.

But there was little else to enjoy in a disjointed game on a terrible pitch.

Notts County took the lead in the ninth minute in controversial fashion. Richard Butcher's corner evaded everyone in the home box and the ball was deflected goal-bound by Mike Edwards.

Conrad Logan appeared to have grabbed the ball on the line but the linesman ruled it was over, leading to a furious protest from the Stockport keeper.

County were back on level terms in the 22nd minute of the match with the best move of the game, begun by Greg Tansey.

Jamie Smith played the ball forward to Anthony Pilkington, who cut the ball back for 18-year-old Rowe to slot home.

With the visitors happy to play for the point, it wasn't until the 45th minute that County created another chance, Michael Rose going close with a free kick.

A forgetable second half finally came to life in the 89th minute when sub Leon McSweeney hit a powerful 25 yard shot inches over the bar.