John Gannon admitted after Notts County's 1-0 win over Chesterfield yesterday afternoon that the Magpies had to dig deep and show some wonderful qualities in the best game of the season so far at Meadow Lane.

Stephen Hunt's first-half header secured Notts' second straight home win, and Gannon was overjoyed with the players' efforts.

"It was a battle, especially in the second period, and towards the end we had to dig deep," admitted the Assistant Manager afterwards.

"It was hard to pick out an outstanding player because everyone showed real steel and belief that we could get the result, displaying some wonderful qualities.

"We know we have the determination in the camp, and out there in the first 30-or-so minutes we moved the ball around and passed the ball around very well which was more progression from the Rotherham game.

"It was certainly the best game we've had this season, but Chesterfield played their part too in it. It was a good match and I hope both of us are up there come the end of the season.

"Chesterfield came back into it, but they are a good team and we expected that because they are up there for a reason and they will be up there at the end of the season.

"It was a magnificent team effort, especially as we had to battle against their dominance late on but we could have added another on the counter-attack - and we had the belief that Tann and Hunt would give nothing away, even up against some very tough customers in Fletcher and Lester."

Gannon felt Tann and Hunt came out on top in what was a key battle, and he felt their performances gave the rest of the team belief.

He explained: "I said before the game they thing to winning the game would be how Tanny and Hunty dealt with their front two, and I take my hat off to them.

"They were magnificent and I think their performances gave the rest of the team some belief."

Steve Thompson's right-hand man is also of the belief that the team are nowhere near their best yet, but he feels the signs are very promising.

"As a team we are nowhere near our best, but I think the signs are excellent," he said.

"The signs are there that we can become a good side, but there's an awful lot more work to get through on the training ground.

"The players are responding and are a good unit defensively, and going forward it is definitely coming as well."

Notts have another game coming round very quickly with another one of the early-season pace-setters in Hereford United visiting Meadow Lane on Tuesday night - another game Gannon expects to be very tough.

"This is just the start, because we know we've got another really big and tough game coming up this week against Hereford," he said.

"We're looking at these games (Chesterfield & Hereford) as one, and if we can get another win on Tuesday we will be really progressing in the right direction.

"But, we know it is going to be really tough against Hereford. They have had a good start."

John's post-match interview, along with match-winner Stephen Hunt's views, are now available on Magpie World while the thoughts of another defender, Paul Mayo, will follow on Monday as we begin the build-up to the Hereford game on Tuesday.