Notts. County 0 Plymouth Argyle 0

Last updated : 06 March 2004 By Footymad Previewer

A penalty miss by the normally reliable Paul Heffernan ensured Notts County's first goalless encounter in 66 league matches against league leaders Plymouth Argyle.

Heffernan hit his shot too weakly and Plymouth's 21-year-old goalkeeper Luke McCormick confirmed his promise by diving to his left and making an easy save.

In the same 68th minute, McCormick should have been beaten again but was not troubled when Mickael Antoine-Curier flashed a shot wide of the goalkeeper’s left--hand upright from a good opening.

Neither side subsequently had such clear cut chances, Plymouth's best having occurred in the first half when Stuart Garden made the save of the match as he tipped over David Norris' flying header.

Plymouth showed all the confidence expected of league leaders and marginally edged the balance of play, but they were never able to break down a Notts defence usually prone to errors but holding firm for the first blank sheet in eight matches.

Roared on by a big following from Devon, Plymouth had started at a cracking pace without being able to fashion easy openings, and when a rare chance fell to leading scorer David Friio, he flashed his effort wide.

It was not until 15 minutes before the break that Notts began to make real progress, but little found it's way through to trouble the agile McCormick.

The second half pace was even more frenetic than the first and Notts finished with three casualties.

Central defender Nick Fenton had to be replaced with suspected ligament damage while David Pipe - Notts best player - carried on with a suspected broken nose and Garden hobbled on despite his back problem, and was unable to take goal kicks in the later stages.

Notts manager Gary Mills said the fact that they were disappointed not to achieve a fourth consecutive win against the league leaders showed how far his team had progressed in recent weeks.