When you come away from a game disappointed with a point, you know the standards have been set to a new level.
With two consecutive National League draws, the Magpies remain at the summit of the table with a lead of two points, knowing a win for Wrexham away to Scunthorpe this evening will see Phil Parkinson's side claim top spot.
But there is still a lot of football to be played in this extremely long season and it's far too early to be focusing on results around you, rather than concentrating on your own.
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A point was a fair result in what was an entertaining encounter at Roots Hall, providing a great advert for the fifth tier of English football, made all the more prominent by the presence of the BT Sport cameras.
The country got to see how deadly Macaulay Langstaff has been this season, firing in Notts' opener and his 18th goal of the campaign just shy of the 35-minute mark.
Despite Cedwyn Scott firing the visitors back in front following Ollie Kensdale's controversial equaliser, Luke Williams' side failed to hold on for the three points, with Callum Powell getting on the end of Jack Bridge's low cross with the aid of an Aden Baldwin deflection.
Following the game, here are five things we learned down in Essex.
Aden Baldwin performance
Arguably the standout player for the Magpies on the evening, showcasing the importance of his presence in the Notts defence.
His composure on the ball is something of football league standard, receiving the ball under pressure yet remaining calm and picking a pass into midfield or driving with the ball and breaking the lines.
The range of passing the 25-year-old possesses at his feet is amongst the best in the league in his position, spraying a number of cross-field passes out to Aaron Nemane and Adam Chicksen which allowed Notts to create a different avenue of attack rather than playing through midfield.
Whilst Connell Rawlinson's performances in his absence were nothing short of brilliant, Baldwin's importance was signified once again at Roots Hall with his aerial presence and recovery speed.
Albeit unlucky for the second Southend equaliser, the defender kept his head up and put in a determined defensive display against a good Shrimpers side, dealing well with the returning Harry Cardwell when he was introduced into the action.
Controlling the game
Williams highlighted after the game about his disappointment of his side not being able to control the game having taken the lead twice at Roots Hall.
The Notts boss explained that the scrappiness of the encounter against the Shrimpers almost matched their opponents when going in front, rather than smoothing the play out and playing the game at their pace to ensure the three points returned to Meadow Lane.
This was further highlighted in Southend's second goal, allowing Jack Bridge the opportunity to cross after losing concentration in the build-up to the second equaliser.
Speaking after the game, Williams said: "When we score first, we are normally difficult to play against, but the game was difficult for us to control, and we couldn't manage to smooth the game out.
"It became very end to end and scrappy, and it is not the type of game that we thrive on."
It has been a feature of the Magpies' last two performances, allowing Michael Cheek the opportunity for a free header in their match against Bromley and will be something the Notts boss will look to focus on ahead of another long away trip to Eastleigh this Saturday.
Impactful decision
The one glaring decision during the match at Roots Hall was the foul leading up to Southend's equaliser early in the second half.
It was poor play initially from Aaron Nemane to give the ball away in a dangerous area to Bridge for the resulting corner kick.
And when the ball was swung in from the corner, the Magpies again should have done better with the initial header from Geraldo Bajrami, but there was certainly a case for a push on Scott in the lead up to Kensdale's looped header.
On review, the Southend number six clearly puts two hands on the back of the Notts striker before heading the ball over Slocombe.
It was clearly a decision that incensed the Magpies players, with Kyle Cameron and Nemane leading the protests but ultimately, it fell on deaf ears as referee Daniel Middleton waved away their protests.
The goal came at a crucial point in the fixture, and one that may have impacted the result at Roots Hall, with the Magpies' second goal coming just six minutes later. If that decision is given in favour of Notts, the outcome of the game may have been different.
Goal kick routine
Whilst Williams briefly explained the reasoning behind the tactic from goal-kicks during the Fans' Forum last week, it always casts an element of nervousness even though we know it's coming.
On a number of occasions on Tuesday evening, Southend were keen to keep two players on the edge of the area to stop the routine.
And whilst Baldwin is arguably one of Notts' best passer of the ball, Sam Slocombe provided almost unnecessary pressure in avoidable situations during key moments of the game.
Shortly before Langstaff's opener, the Notts 'keeper was guilty of misplacing a pass into midfield which the hosts almost capitalised on with Chris Wreh forcing a vital save from Slocombe at the near post.
Despite the continual threat from the opposition ahead of goal kicks, the Magpies continued to persist which shows their confidence in the tactic, but sometimes the better option was to kick the ball long to try and avoid a potential game changing situation.
Unbeaten run continues
With their seven-game winning run coming to an end against Bromley last week, the Magpies ensured they remained unbeaten in the league since their 3-1 defeat to Dorking Wanderers back in September.
Notts' current unbeaten run was extended to nine games with their point at Roots Hall, bettering their previous record this season after going eight games without defeat at the start of the campaign.
The importance of a point was vital at one of the form teams in the league this season, with the Shrimpers having already taken points of Woking and Wrexham on home turf already.
And after going four games without conceding a goal, the Magpies scoring two further highlighted their improvement under Williams.
In comparison to last season after 18 games, Notts are currently nine points better off and four places higher in the National League, scoring 18 more goals and conceding four less, bettering their goal difference by 22 so far this campaign.
