This time last year, another away draw and another team from a high division that saw this game as a "run out for the youth lads".
The Carling Cup, I'm on about. Crystal Palace away on a summers August evening didn't really seem that appealing to be honest. I, my self, was forced into going on the coach back from Rochdale. But after queuing in traffic in and around London for what seemed an eternity, we finally made it to what looked like a ground hidden in between houses and built on top of Sainsbury's.
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In side, though, it seemed pretty impressive. Still, hard to imagine it once held Premiership football due to its location and surroundings.
Anyway, once inside the ground, we heard of the team news... Notts had made 8 changes to that starting line-up that we had witnessed win at Rochdale only 3 days before with, which included Liam Needham (remember him, anyone?) Tom Curtis, Tcham N'toya etc. Up against a very mixed Palace squad, which included fringe players and the likes of Clinton Morrison, Dougie Freeman and Jon Macken to name a few.
You kind of got the feeling it might have been a waste of time travelling down to south London. Surely a beating was on the cards here?
It looked that way when, on 17 minutes, Michael Hughes - another big name in the Palace starting line up - fired past the helpless Saul Deeney in the Notts net from the edge of the area to give the hosts the lead. But Notts fought back almost instantly, with Lawrie Dudfield crashing in an equally impressive and well deserved equaliser on 23, after a smart pass from the outstanding Dan Martin, which was looped in between 2 Palace defenders and Dudfield smashing home from 25 yards.
Notts took the rough with the smooth and, perhaps, should have conceded one or two more, but, when Extra Time looked a certainty, Liam Needham whipped in a delightful ball into the path of the unmarked Dan Martin, who, from 6 yards out, volleyed first time through the legs of the helpless Flinders in the Palace net.
Wild celebrations followed the final whistle, indeed. And perhaps, for once, things looked positive for a decent cup run?
Or so it seemed. Drawn away, again. This time to Premiership outfit Middlesbrough - you honestly couldn't make it up. For the 3rd time in 4 season, we were up against the Northerners.
The quarter filled Riverside Stadium was the next venue for the 1st round giant killers.
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A different feeling this time, though, to the ones at Palace. The slight sense of optimism crept up.
'Boro, unsurprisingly, took control of the game. Up until a mistake on 26 from 'Boro defender Tony McMahon which the lively Tcham N'Toya took control of and rocketed the ball into the back of the hosts net which left the stadium in silence. Apart from the small section of 300 or so Notts fans stashed being the goal at the opposite end, who were going wild. The young striker's celebration weren't bad either.
Notts, though, held on, and ran themselves into the ground and deservedly took the 1-0 victory away with them. It was nothing more then they deserved as the 'Boro players just couldn't find away past the impressive Notts back line of Deeney in goal, McCann, Edwards, Hunt and Silk making up the makeshift back four. A back four, which would become quite familiar with each other as the season went on.
Surely, this time, a home draw was on the cards? And now the 'Big Boys' of football were involved it had to be a decent team, at home.
Wrong, AGAIN! Although we were drawn at home, it was to Championship outfit Southampton. Taking nothing away from them, it wasn't quite what was expected.
Never mind, though. We've dumped one Championship team out, and went one better when Middlesbrough was sent packing. Can we do it again?
For the first time, in what seemed like 100 years, we had a cup game at home, and the Notts faithful certainly made themselves heard. Which, no doubt, gave the players a huge boost.
After an impressive 2-0 win away at Grimsby Town just 4 days previous, the Notts line-up, for the first time in this cup run, included quite a few first team regulars. Which included the likes of David Pipe, Jason Lee and Andy Parkinson.
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From the off, though, Notts took control, and after some fine work on the right by Junior Mendes, the ball broke lose to Mike Edwards, who poked home on thirteen minutes to send the players, staff and fans alike, mental.
Notts had to withstand some heavy pressure from the Saints, but on the stroke of half time, Notts doubled their lead.
The ever impressive Andy Parkinson cut inside from the left and played the ball back to Jason Lee, and the 9 foot 4 inch, elbow specialist, let fly to score his first goal at Meadow Lane in Notts colours.
Surprisingly for some, the Saints failed to start out of the traps in the second half, much like in the first, and mistakes in the Southampton midfield lead to half decent chances for Notts. But, unfortunately, nothing came of it.
Just like in the previous Carling Cup games, Notts had to fight for this victory, and, with two clean sheets in two cup games, the confidence was certainly there.
Fourth time lucky now? It's got to be, surely? With an even less amount of lower league clubs in the fourth round draw, the chance of landing a big club at home was on the cards.
Out the hat it came..."Notts County"... at home, yes! Come on. A big club, please... "Will play…… Wycombe Wanderers" Noooooooooooooooooo!
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Despite dumping Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough AND Southampton out in the previous rounds respectively, this was by far the biggest test for Notts yet.
Despite the freezing cold November evening… the reduced ticket prices, a strong 7,000 crowd and a hot cup of Bovril soon put that to the back of the mind!
I don't actually remember much of this game, only that a mistake by Saul Deeney (surely not!?) gave Jermaine Easter the chance to bag the only goal of the game, and keep up the young hit man's record of scoring in every round of the cup, which sent the Chairboys onto the Quarters, and eventually, the Semis - where Premiership giants (so there were some in this Cup Competition, then?) Chelsea put out any hopes of a League Two team in the final.
It was the end of, what was by far, the most impressive Cup run by the Magpies for many a year.
So onto another season, and another positive outlook as we're, once again, drawn away (shock horror) this time to - another - Championship side, Coventry City.
Still, if it doesn't go plan, and we're knocked out and the first hurdle, at least it's not a long drive back to Nottingham!
See you there…
C'MONNNNNN YOU PIIIIIESSSSSSSSS