NOTTS County were indebted to their no.1 goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski in a goal-less first half at Swindon Town in League One today.
The Pole made two good saves to deny the Robins in the opening 45 minutes at the County Ground, while the Magpies did not threaten to score once before half-time.
The big news before kick-off was that 19-year-old midfielder Greg Tempest started in the Magpies' midfield, making his full League debut for the club.
Notts were also boosted by the return from injury of right-back Julian Kelly and he joined Dean Leacock, Gary Liddle and Alan Sheehan, a former Swindon player, in defence, in front of Bialkowski.
Tempest was named alongside captain Neal Bishop, Andre Boucaud, Jeff Hughes and Alan Judge in midfield, while Enoch Showunmi started in attack.
The Magpies came under pressure in the opening stages of the game as Swindon winger Gary Roberts fired a shot over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area on ten minutes and midfielder Simon Ferry dragged an effort wide from inside the box two minutes later, after Liddle had blocked a close-range shot from Andy Williams.
Tempest looked confident on the left wing and Judge was full of energy, but, with just Showunmi up front, Notts badly lacked a cutting edge and it was the home side who threatened again on 21 minutes, defender Alan McCormack smashing a shot at goal from 20 yards that Boucaud charged down.
McCormack then swung a dangerous cross into the Magpies' penalty area on 23 minutes that Williams headed back across the six-yard box and Kelly hacked clear under pressure.
Sheehan got the first sight of goal for Notts, after Bishop was fouled 25 yards out on 30 minutes, but the Irishman miscued a free-kick badly wide against his former club.
Swindon were quickly back on the attack, however, and Bialkowski was forced into his first save on 34 minutes.
Roberts fed the ball to Town right-back Nathan Thompson inside the box, he struck it powerfully at goal and Bialkowski blocked it at his near post.
Bialkowski made a second good save to deny Tommy Miller four minutes later, parrying away a stinging low shot from the midfielder from 20 yards at full stretch to his right.