Luke Williams has further highlighted the importance of Sam Slocombe's contribution in Notts County's 2-1 win over Torquay, but provided an overriding sense of frustration with Ruben Rodrigues' dismissal at Plainmoor last weekend.
With the Magpies surviving the early wave of aggressive pressure from Gary Johnson's side, a moment of confusion inside the penalty area forced Connell Rawlinson into a mistake with an awkward backward header.
The home fans inside Plainmoor rose from their seats as the ball looked destined to nestle inside the net, only for the Notts number one to spring into action to acrobatically tip the ball over the crossbar.
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It was the first of many important contributions from Slocombe on a nervy afternoon on the Devonshire coast, with Williams further reiterating the importance of his goalkeeper, who at times has won games on his own this season.
"It was absolutely brilliant because I think there have been several games when Sam has not been required to do too much, but then at the moment he is always awake.
"That is because he is a brilliant professional and a really smart guy.
"He doesn't switch off or fall asleep during games and when he is required to do a lot of work, he's there and you can rely on him.
"In games when most of his work is with the ball at his feet, he has made incredible actions relentlessly time and time again, making passes in the right moments with the exact quality that Matty, Jim, or John require to take the ball and make a key build-up pass.
"When I saw the header from Connell, it was a moment of anxiety when the ball looped up in the air, but in the end Sam made it feel as though it wasn't a big deal and his body language and demeanour makes it feel like he is in control of the situation.
"That's a huge thing to have that presence and I am very grateful for Sam bringing that to us."
This weekend sees the Magpies make the short trip to promotion rivals Chesterfield in their re-arranged fixture at the Technique Stadium.
The Spireites have endured a difficult time of late, losing three consecutive games in the National League, with a defeat this weekend potentially all but ending their title hopes.
However, the hosts will be buoyed by the news that Notts' Rodrigues will be unavailable for the trip to Derbyshire following his sending off against Torquay.
Chesterfield will also have manager Paul Cook in the dugout for the fixture, with the 55-year-old serving a touchline ban for the previous encounter before the game was postponed due to a frozen pitch last month.
A game of this magnitude is one made for players of Rodrigues' quality and flair and he will be sorely missed on Saturday, with Williams echoing his frustrations from the bizarre decision against the Gulls.
"It does, and the overwhelming thing is frustration and disappointment.
"I think if Ruben made seven fouls and deserves to be sent off, then you could say he had that coming and it was a bad performance from him and he deserved it.
"But in this manner, it makes it feel very frustrating indeed.
"We don't want to dwell on that too much because we have to cope with life without Ruben for this game and we have to focus on that and the good players coming in."
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