Still bottom of the table, Mansfield at least ended their seven game losing streak with a superb 1-1 draw at in-form Barnet last Saturday.

But the injury-hit makeshift defence again shipped a goal 18 minutes from time to make it 13 games this season without a clean sheet and a miserable 19 in all, dating back to 21st March at Wrexham.

"It is always difficult to keep a clean sheet when you have to change the back four every week," said Dearden.

"I never make excuses - you just have to get on with it and do the best you can.

"But we would probably have a clean sheet by now if we were not having to keep chopping and changing.

"We will be working very hard on it this week and hopefully we can finally come up with a clean sheet against Notts County.

"I have always said that we will create chances and score goals at the other end.

"Having said that, we have not scored as many as we should have with the chances we have created.

"We create enough chances to win football matches and just have to be tighter at the back."

Dearden is looking forward to crossing swords with his former club on Saturday.

"It is a big local derby and let's hope we can build on the draw at Barnet and take the confidence from that into this game and get back on the winning trail.

"We have only won one home game and our record here is poor. No one likes losing in front of their own supporters.

"I would like to think that with the takeover we will see a lot of fans coming back now and they have to get behind us and encourage the lads to get the win which I am sure they will."

Dearden continued his search for loan players to bolster his injury-hit squad this week after last week's atempts drew a blank.

But he is hopeful he may be able to draft at least one new face for Saturday.

There are seven players having treatment this week with Lee Bell (knee) and Dan Martin (shin) hurt on Saturday on top of John McAliskey pulling a groin in training last Thursday.

They join Jon D'Laryea, Chris Wood, Martin McIntosh and Gareth Jelleyman on the list.

However, Dearden hopes Martin and Bell may be fit by the weekend.
Skipper Jake Buxton has also been struggling after his dead leg went very stiff after the game at Barnet.

But again Dearden hopes Buxton will be fine to face Notts as should Sean McAllister who missed out at Barnet through illness.

County arrive on the back of three defeats on the trot and with assistant manager John Gannon in charge after the board sacked Steve Thompson today.

Fans gave Thompson stick after Saturday's 3-1 home defeat by Bury.

Without the influential Mike Edwards, his problems increased last week when hot man Jason Lee broke his arm and fellow striker Danny Crow, who had just opted to go from Peterborough to Notts instead of Mansfield, broke a bone in his foot in his debut on Saturday.

Former Stags midfielder Neil MacKenzie has been impressive, despite having to battle on with a groin strain.