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County testing Derry nerves

Image: Shaun Derry: Feeling the heat

Shaun Derry said the result was all that mattered after Notts County recorded a crucial 1-0 home win over Crawley.

Jimmy Spencer's header just past the half-hour mark was all that separated the sides, although the Magpies were forced to weather the storm late on. The victory moves Derry's men on to 46 points, just one point behind Tranmere and Crewe with two games remaining. "It was nerve-wracking," said Derry. "We've had some great wins here at Meadow Lane, but they have been wins with a lot of goals. "We've not won too many games 1-0. "We've rode our luck at times in the game. We only had two shots on target, but I don't care - the three points were most important. "It was tough being there on the sidelines and I told the players I know exactly how they feel. "The character was fantastic and they got the win the football club deserved. "It was a great comeback from Friday, which was a tough day because of the way we lost despite playing so well. "We played on a carpet of a pitch there, but we played with a different system and a different style and I thought the lads played well. "But at Meadow Lane, the pitch is awful so we had to adapt and make changes." County's goal deservedly arrived in the 34th minute when Spencer headed home following Alan Sheehan's free-kick. But Crawley improved after the break, with Magpies goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski forced into a brilliant save from Matt Tubbs before also denying Gary Dicker and Gwion Williams.

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