Review of the season... AUGUST

Last updated : 06 May 2008 By Paul Smith and Gary Moss
Notts

A whole host of new signings by manager Steve Thompson saw Notts go into the season's opener at Grimsby Town in a positive frame of mind.

With the play-offs targeted from within the club, and recognised talents such as Neil Mackenzie, Hector Sam and Richard Butcher bolstering the ranks,

Thompson... Promised big things
optimism was high as Magpies fans made their way to Cleethorpes.

MacKenzie immediately illustrated his talents, striking Notts' equaliser in a 1-1 draw after Ryan Bennett's header had given Town an early lead.

Notts, who employed a 4-3-3 formation throughout the month, were to keep on drawing in August with the first Meadow Lane game of the season also ending 1-1 against Brentford, Butcher getting off the mark for the season, before the same man hit a stunning late brace to get Notts a share of the spoils at early pacesetters Darlington in a 2-2 draw.

Unfortunately, Notts couldn't show the same resilience at Championship Coventry City, exiting the Carling Cup in the first round with a resounding 3-0 defeat, as Thompson chose the occasion to introduce some of the fringe players into the starting eleven.

He said: Manager Steve Thompson: "We are not going to be frightened to mention the word 'promotion' or 'play-offs' this year. That is an objective of

Butcher... Goalscorer supreme
ours and I want the supporters to see that the board have backed the football club and the management team. Let's not be scared to use the 'p-words' let's believe and go for it."

Player of the Month: It could only be Richard Butcher, for his superb goalscoring start. Neil MacKenzie had perhaps influenced games more at this point, but Butcher's three goals had earned Notts two draws, and his goalscoring was only to get better.

Verdict: Three successive league draws to start the season was a sure sign of things to come, with Notts notching the division's highest total of draws come the seasons end, a grand total of 18. If only so little as five of them were made into wins, what a difference it could have made. But this month, looking back, really set the tone for the rest of the campaign. Notts were difficult to beat, decent at the back, but lacking in goals, apart from Richard Butcher. Sound familiar?

League position: 17th.

League Two

A strong start to the season is very highly desirable yet not essential, as League Two demonstrated this campaign.

After the opening three games of the season, Darlington and nearly-relegated Chester City had set the pace for the division, taking seven points from an available nine.

The Quakers had been widely tipped for big things over the summer months

Abbott... Looked top marksman in August
and after back-to-back convicing wins at home to Wrexham and at Accrington Stanley, Dave Penney's men were living up to their tag.

Pawel Abbott and Tommy Wright started the term in bright form both netting twice each to inspire the side from the North-East.

Darlo ended the month with an entertaining 2-2 draw against Notts County, but it was not enough to deny an early top spot.

Second-placed Chester also came out the traps flying with victories over Dagenham and Rochdale as well as a bore draw with Chesterfield.

Eventual strugglers Shrewbsury were also in the mix in third after an opening day 4-0 thrashing of Lincoln and 1-0 scalp of new-boys Bradford as well as a 1-0 Carling Cup win over Champiosnhip outfit Colchester United.

The MK Dons sent the Shrews crashing back to earth though ending the month with a 3-0 drubbing, although boss Gary Peters could be none other than happy with his sides beginning.

The trio of opening games saw every side in the division registering a point although the biggest shock was probably huge title favourites Peterborough losing two of their first three league games with defeats at the hands of previously relegated Rotherham and Chesterfield. But a 2-1 scalp of Southampton in the League Cup coupled with the early season form of goal getter Aaron McLean, kept the critics at bay from Posh chief Darren Ferguson.

Dagenham and Rochdale made up the bottom two going into September with just a single point from three games played.