He was full of praise for the Notts fans who provided excellent vocal support at the Causeway Stadium: “They've been terrific all season and the players, myself and John Gannon appreciate it. It's a long way to come and they work hard for the money and that's why the players have to go out and give 100%.
“About five and a half thousand Notts fans at the Lincoln game and they've got to come again next week because we are trying to play football.”
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Notts have faced Wycombe three times now this season, with a Junior Mendes goal deciding it in Notts' favour in the league at Meadow Lane, before Jermaine Easter's solitary strike knocked Notts out of the fourth round of the League Cup. After today, Thompson believed this highlighted how even the sides are: “Three contests, one win for us, one win for them, one draw, I suppose you can say it's honours even!
“I was on the edge of my dugout, Paul Lambert was, and any goal that was scored today was going to be done with hard work.”
Having said that, Thompson wasn't completely happy with his side: “I thought there were times we could have played the ball earlier and there were lots of free kicks and one thing Stefan Oakes can do is whip a ball in, there were hearts in mouths with free-kicks around the box.”
Pilkington kept his seventh clean sheet of the season, and Thompson acknowledged his goalkeeper: “Kevin's a great professional. We have had our little run-ins as you do with most players but that's what he is paid to do. I don't want to give him too much praise!”
Instead the Sheffield born man preferred to lavish praise on the whole side: “From Pilkington to (Jason) Lee, and Dudfield everyone worked hard. Everyone to a man has grafted. It's about team play and Pipe was flagging a bit fitness wise so I've took him off and everyone has to be right physically and mentally.”
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He also reserved praise for under fire Captain and used substitute today, Alan White, who has been out of the side recently: “Whitey stood up and did a Captain's job again. He was quick to take the armband off Jason, I think he nearly ripped his arm off! He has been first class he is a very good professional, and he has a bit of a groin problem which we are addressing.”
In his place youngster Stephen Hunt has seemingly made the starting centre-half spot his own: “(He's) been magnificent since coming in. He gives us balance with Austin McCann.”
Thompson hinted that he is now first choice: “Mike Edwards and Alan White now have to battle it out in there.”
Notts are now unbeaten in three games as they chase a Playoff place, and Thompson knows that it is vital his players keep the run going: “We gave them a six game target and they won at Lincoln, drew at Wycombe and now Rochdale has to be a victory, we have to win as many home games as possible.”