Notts County: The story so far

Last updated : 19 November 2007 By Paul Smith

The usual Meadow Lane soap opera has run its course yet again and the promotion hopes are fading fast with Notts sitting in 19th in League Two, closer to the relegation zone than a playoff place.

Really, the writing was on the wall from the very start of the season, when last season's player of the season Mike Edwards suffered a broken leg and ankle ligament damage on a pre-season match in Devon.

As the real season kicked off, Notts' luck showed no sign of letting up.

August

Butcher... Impressive start to Notts career

As Lincoln set the tone for their bad start to the season with a 4-0 loss at home to Shrewsbury, so did Notts set the tone for their start with the first of four successive league draws.

Neil MacKenzie hit Notts' first goal of the season as Steve Thompson's men opened with a 1-1 draw at Grimsby Town before an early Carling Cup exit was followed by draws with Brentford and Darlington.

New boy Richard Butcher was the player of the month hitting all three Notts goals in the last two matches.

September

Butcher's late heroics continued as Notts chalked up another 1-1 draw with league newcomers Morecambe, before a first round Johnstone's Paint Trophy exit to Leyton Orient.

The first league defeat came before a first league win as pressure immediately began to intensify around Thompson who, alongside most of the squad, had spoken about promotion at the start of the season.

That defeat was a real hammering at MK Dons by 3-0, but Thompson earned a reprieve as MacKenzie hit a late winner for a win at home to Dagenham & Redbridge.

Before the month was out Notts had drew at Rotherham before a fine home win over Chesterfield.

October

New... Armstrong-Holmes unveils McParland
Three games and three defeats in, Thompson was sacked by new chairman John Armstrong-Holmes.

It followed the concession of three goals in each game at the start of the month as the Magpies were defeated by Hereford, Wycombe and Bury.

The Bury defeat was the final straw as fans roundly chanted for his dismissal, with Armstrong-Holmes duly advising two days later.

He acted fast appointing former playing hero Ian 'Charlie' McParland as manager in time for the next game - a local derby at Mansfield Town which Notts lost 2-0.

Immediately after McParland named another former player, and best mate Dave Kevan, as his assistant.

MacKenzie then supplied late heroics as McParland inspired a first win in four at home to Wrexham to end a busy month.

November

The month started extremely positively with the first away win of the season

Dudfield... In good form in November
coming courtesy of a debut Craig Lindfield goal, and Lawrie Dudfield's first of the campaign, at Accrington.

In the next seven days Notts recorded a draw at Barnet and a 3-0 home win over non-league Histon in the FA Cup - another young loan signing Krystian Pearce making a solid debut at the back.

Unfortunately, the renewed optimism has now been blunted after last Saturday's 1-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers Macclesfield Town, making the Lincoln City clash even more important.