AS the Notts County manager Shaun Derry made his way back down the players' tunnel, he almost had to duck under the countless verbal bullets being fired over his head.
Despicable and disgraceful were two of the printable criticisms of referee Scott Mathieson as Rochdale fans vented considerable anger at Garry Thompson's stoppage time goal being allowed to stand.
Despite two players being stood in offside positions, the goal was given to grant Notts a dramatic 2-2 draw and the subsequent abuse which came the officials' way was not for the faint of heart.
There was an ironic smile from Derry as he disappeared out of view because he knows exactly what it is like to drop points as a result of a debatable decision this season.
Indeed had he not been in the opposite dug-out, he might have shown some sympathy as part of the managers' union, but when it's a head-to-head duel you simply look after your own.
"I don't really care how upset they were about it if I am honest," was his pointed response when asked about the Rochdale fans' reaction to the late controversy.
"I was delighted because I only care about us.
"Emotions run high in the game and everybody shows it in various ways.
"There were times in the game when I was getting battered from the fans behind the dug-out.
"It's nice to be able to say 'I'm pleased with our goal'."
The late goal from Thompson ensured Notts protected their unbeaten away record in League One and they are the only team in the top four divisions which can boast such a statistic.
It is a phenomenal achievement, but it was in real danger of being blown apart by Keith Hill's Dale, who were literally seconds away from claiming a considerable scalp.
Indeed, a full page in Dale's matchday programme advertised Notts' unbeaten run in what appeared to be some kind of clever PR motivational tool.
If that was what was intended then it certainly did the trick, because after Mike Edwards had given Notts the lead, Dale fought back with vigour, energy and spirit.
Goals from Ian Henderson and Peter Vincenti put them in front following a quality second half performance, but Notts continued to graft and were eventually rewarded for their endeavour.
Derry was not happy with his side's own performance, but he said the equaliser epitomised the spirit of his team.
"We kept it alive," he said.
"We put our bodies in where it hurt and we were rewarded for it.
"But I didn't think we did that enough during the course of the game.
"We never really went into the danger areas where it burns you.
"That desire we have shown all season was lacking a little bit and we paid the consequences of that in the second half.
"But in that final passage of play, we kept going and we got the goal.
"We have to walk away from Rochdale delighted this unbeaten run is still going.
"The only reason it is is because we didn't chuck the towel in. Other sides may have felt sorry for themselves. We didn't and that epitomised what we are about."
Notts now just have to negotiate one away game to take their unbeaten record into 2015 with a tricky trip to Bradford on Sunday.
And Derry has quickly set his side the target of ending the calendar year with that proud run intact.
"Our best play has come away from home this year," he said.
"We have a game plan and we will look to keep the record going at Bradford."
