Lack of quality tells in derby draw

With dwindling attendances, long-ball football and a win-less streak that had contained defeats against Rochdale, Shrewsbury and Peterborough, optimism wasn't high on the agenda as Steve Thompson's Notts side awaited the visit of their not-so friendly neighbours from up the road.

The Stags themselves leapfrogged the Magpies in the table for the first time in mid-week, their 2-1 success over Chester on Tuesday night their third on the bounce.

Notts' Stephen Hunt on the way to a disallowed goal

But, though some Notts fans still came away disappointed that the scoreline ended goal-less, they surely couldn't have questioned the work rate and resolve of Thompson's team in what was an improved display on recent weeks.

Defences won out in a game where chances were at a premium but Notts were comfortably the better side, as Mansfield failed to live-up to the form that saw them beat promotion candidates Wycombe Wanderers and Lincoln City in successive weeks.

Notts, missing the suspended aerial presence of Jason Lee attack, struggled to create clear-cut chances against the blossoming defensive partnership of Jake Buxton and Alex-John Baptiste, despite Lawrie Dudfield leading the line superbly. Dudfield was surprisingly partnered in attack by Andy Parkinson, with Junior Mendes switching to the left wing in a bid to target Stags right-back Jonny Mullins.

The switch was partly successful in that Mendes enjoyed one of his better games against his former club, with much of Notts' good work in a strong first half coming from the 30-year-old speed merchant, who has often failed to deliver this campaign. Parkinson, though, was again out of his depth in attack and once more brought into question Thompson's insistence of making him an automatic starter.

For all the Magpies' good work in the opening period, the game's first notable

Mansfields' Matt Hamshaw on the way to a disallowed goal

moment came when Mansfield had a goal ruled-out in the 14th minute through Matt Hamshaw. Hamshaw was offside when he slotted-in Stephen Dawson's knock-down, but the ease of which the Stags found the net in their first visit to the Notts penalty area will have been of great concern to Thompson. It will have also encouraged his opposite number, Billy Dearden, returning to Meadow Lane for the first time since resigning as manager after such a turbulent reign three years ago.

Set-pieces were again proving to be Notts' main weapon going forward and one such Ian Ross delivery saw Notts have the ball in the net, only for Steven Hunt's scrambled effort to be chalked-off for a foul on Stags goalkeeper Jason White.

In a game lacking in any real quality, Notts produced the move of the match shortly before the interval, involving good work from David Pipe, Ross, Dudfield and Parkinson. Eventually, Pipe's cross was headed narrowly wide by Dudfield - just before the onrushing Mike Edwards could nod-in.

While the tempo of the game would pick-up in the second period, the ratio of chances would not as both sides held firm. Mansfield's Simon Brown looked the most likely to break the deadlock, despite being continually caught offside by a back-line well-marshalled by returning skipper Alan White. So often a nippy customer such as Brown has proven to be nemesis of many a Notts defence and it was proving to be the case here, but when the Stags forward did slip-in, he was denied by the diving figure of Saul Deeney. Shortly after, Brown was substituted in a surprise move by Dearden.

Junior Mendes beats Johnny Mullins for the umpteenth time

It wasn't just the Stags manager who was making surprising changes, though. When T'cham N'Toya emerged from the bench with 20 minutes to play it was the effective Mendes and not the hard-working, yet woefully lightweight Parkinson, who was withdrawn. The decision, quite understandably, clearly didn't please the striker-cum-winger, who headed straight down the tunnel.

It is tactical decisions such as these that are beginning to turn sections of the Notts faithful against Thompson, after he had previously won the sceptics over following the club's strong start to the season. His decision not to use Dan Martin was also questionable, but it is his consistent choice to make players such as White and Parkinson undroppable that is really grating supporters.

The erratic N'Toya did at least show glimpses of creativity in what was an ailing game, but he was unable to produce the moment of magic that would break the deadlock or at least trouble White in the Stags goal.

Analysis

In fairness, only making fleeting visits to the 'Lane allows a little more perspective than previous seasons and, despite what some would have you believe, some of the football being played is an improvement on the previous campaign.

The problem with Thompson is he doesn't seem to be encouraging his team to play neat stints of play more often, if at all. Admittedly, the Meadow Lane pitch - for the first time - is a state and doesn't make passing football easier, but it is still possible to play short football, instead of the kick-and-rush stuff encouraged by both managers yesterday afternoon.

Assuming relegation is out of the question, if Notts want to push on to bother the top seven next season under Thompson, one of the coaching staff - that includes Howard Wilkinson - needs to realise that the team looks at its best, and has produced its best football, when playing the ball on the floor. Hoofing the ball forward to Jason Lee is an occasional option, but it shouldn't be Plan A - particularly yesterday when he wasn't even playing!

Until Thompson and Wilkinson give the team this identity and stop worrying what the opposition is doing - both games against Lincoln are prime examples where Notts tried to play football because their opponents were - mid-table scraps such as these will remain the norm.