EVERYONE knows about the famous 'Ferguson hairdryer'. Now there's the 'McParland paint-stripper'.

The Notts County manager, Ian McParland said there was paint coming off the walls inside the home dressing-room when he tore into his players after defeat to Chester City in the Magpies' last game at Meadow Lane.

Not literally, of course. Unless he ordered his under-performers to redecorate the dressing-room as punishment, that is.

No, he meant there was venom in his criticism that left them in no doubt at all he was angry. And it worked.

Severely stung, the Magpies responded with a good performance at Rotherham – one that deserved a point at the very least.

In fact, it is still hard to understand how they lost. Given the way Notts commanded the game for long spells, especially in the first half, and the chances they created, the narrow defeat was terribly unjust.

They could easily have been two goals ahead before Mark Hudson put the Millers ahead almost on the stroke of half-time.

Firstly, Myles Weston thundered a powerful, rising effort against the top of the crossbar in the opening minutes. And then on-loan Jonathan Forte forced Rotherham keeper Andy Warrington into the outstanding save of the game with a low left-footed volley from the edge of the penalty area.

It looked destined for the bottom right corner of the net to put Notts ahead, until Warrington reacted rapidly and parried it away low down to his left.

Both Weston and Forte revelled in their roles in a 4-3-3 formation in the first half. Usually on the left wing, Weston started on the right and Forte was on the left, either side of big Delroy Facey.

When the home side had possession the pair dutifully dropped back to form a five-man midfield, with Matt Hamshaw, Richard Butcher and captain John Thompson, to make the Magpies hard to break down.

And with their prodigious pace, they were able to hit the Millers on the counter-attack time and time again.

Hamshaw too, was impressive in an advanced central midfield position against his hometown club. Given a licence to roam by McParland, he was an imposing influence.

Whether or not the Magpies' tactics caught Rotherham by surprise or not, it was an astute game-plan and so nearly paid off.

Such was Notts' dominance at the Don Valley Stadium, the home side did not create a memorable opportunity until 36 minutes when Ryan Taylor measured a cross into the box that Drewe Broughton headed back across Kevin Pilkington. At full-stretch to his right, the Magpies' keeper was beaten but the ball went just wide of the post.

Rotherham took the lead eight minutes later and, instead of being deservedly ahead at half-time, Notts were undeservedly trailing.

Now, Millers boss Mark Robins will applaud the vision of Micky Cummins to thread a pass through the Magpies back-line, and, as an ex-Manchester United striker, he will admire the opportunism of Hudson to break forward and seize onto it and fire the ball past Pilkington.

McParland, however, was deeply disappointed with his side's defending and pointed the finger at Thompson, who should have tracked Hudson's run. For him, it was a goal that could have easily been prevented.

So too, was the home side's second goal, the decisive goal in the end.

Once again, Notts were undone by a simple through ball as Pablo Mills sent leading scorer Reuben Reid through and, like Hudson, he made no mistake, confidently sliding a low effort past the on-rushing Pilkington. For McParland it was all too easy for Reid, for Rotherham.

At 2-0, it would have been easy for the Magpies' heads to drop, to give up. But they didn't and Forte inspired hope they could stage a late fight-back and claim the point they merited.

Switched back to his preferred position as a central striker, he took his chance with aplomb, holding off Nick Fenton inside the box and rifling past Warrington from close-range.

It was his eighth goal in 13 league starts for the club, an impressive record indeed.

How Notts need a prolific striker like that next season if they want to challenge in the top-half of League Two, and even the play-offs. Even after that Notts had chances to snatch a draw – and the best chance of them all fell to Facey.

Stirred by Forte's strike, the Magpies put Rotherham under pressure in the closing stages and Hamshaw flashed a dangerous cross into the six-yard box from the right wing that Warrington parried straight to Notts' leading scorer.

But with the goal at his mercy, Facey only managed to direct a tame effort at goal that the Millers' keeper claimed gratefully.

It should have been his tenth goal of the season. It should have been 2-2 and a precious point.

But, after a win at Bournemouth and a draw at Lincoln, the Magpies endured a narrow defeat, however unfair.

If they produce the same standard of performance against Grimsby at Meadow Lane today they will surely claim a victory. After four home games without a win, they certainly need to.

If they don't, the players might well have to repaint the home dressing-room when McParland has finished with them.

james.pallatt@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk