Review of the season... FEBRUARY

Last updated : 20 May 2008 By Paul Smith and Gary Moss
Notts

The month of Michael Johnson's return, although only at the very end after five games had brought about more panic on the terraces.

Heading into it unbeaten in three, Notts improved that sequence to five with two more draws at the start of February.

That made it four draws on the bounce with the Magpies proving their
Johnson made heroic return
resilience and determination to avoid defeat, but again the lack of strikers was proving costly as Ian McParland's men found vital goals lacking.

The battle to stay up was clearly on, but the Magpies were doing themselves no favours with a sequence of poor attacking shows limiting the potential for maximum points in games they really needed them, as the rest of the relegation haunted sides began to get in the groove.

Optimism was fairly high going into the month after two away draws at top half sides in the form of Morecambe and Brentford, and there was an expectancy that Notts could build on that to finally haul themselves out of the trouble they had got themselves into.

Danny Crow returned for a second spell in time for the third game of the month at Chester.

Before then however there was a chance to see January signings in Meadow Lane action as Ryan Jarvis, Ali Gibb and Gavin Strachan played there in Notts colours for the first time.

Indeed, February's first game saw Jarvis' debut, and he came closest to winning the game as the Magpies drew 1-1 with improving Grimsby Town.

Richard Butcher's tenth of the season put Notts ahead just after the break, but former County defender Nick Fenton came up with Town's equaliser just two minutes later to earn a share of the spoils.

Jarvis could have changed that, but blasted at Grimsby goalkeeper Phil Barnes' face when put through one-on-one.

The second game, and draw, of the month was a very decent point as Mike Edwards notched his first of a tumultuous personal season so far after injury to put Notts ahead at play-off hopefuls Stockport County early on.

Crow scored on second debut
Young Hatters midfielder Tommy Rowe earned the hosts a point, but another significant moment for McParland was the return of Jay Smith to his starting eleven after a five month absence.

A midweek home game with promotion chasing Darlington heralded no points as Ricky Ravenhill struck the games only goal, and Notts lost new boy Strachan to a hamstring injury that would rule him out of the rest of the season after just seven, impressive, performances.

Then came the decisive game of the month as the Magpies again triumphed 1-0 over Chester City, this time away from home, hauling the Blues into deep trouble themselves and providing a massive boost back in Nottingham.

The returning Crow showed how capable he could be with a fine headed winner from a Gibb centre.

However, the ecstacy of that win was punctured by the bad news that followed ahead of the final February game at home to rejuvinated Bradford City.

Because goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington was injured in training, ruling him out of the rest of the season, meaning Notts were without a custodian with number two Tim Sandercombe also injured.

That Pilkington was also in unbelievably good form at the point of his injury heightened Notts concerns but McParland acted quickly and wisely by bringing in experienced former Premiership stopper Russell Hoult.

He made his debut as Notts were overturned by the Bantams 3-1, despite a good first hour of play in which Jarvis netted his first Magpies goal to give Notts a deserved lead until Peter Thorne inspired a comeback that shocked McParland.

And then Johnno came back.

He said: Johnno on his comeback: "Me and Notts County go back a long, long way - about twenty years in fact when I was a schoolboy. I am delighted to be asked to come back and over the moon to be here again. I enjoy
Pilkington picked up second successive Player of the Month
playing and I really do love the club."

Player of the Month: Despite missing the final game after picking up his unfortunate training ground injury, Kevin Pilkington again picked up this accolade from the NCM poll. Pilks was in unstoppable form at times, and a key difference in Notts winning a game or drawing, and drawing rather than losing. His consistency was fantastic and the Magpies could count on his safe hands throughout.

Verdict: With the business end of the season in full swing, fans were beginning to panic about Notts' chances of survival. A lack of goals meant a lack of wins, and if you can't win games then you will be up against it. Three points at Chester was a massive result, particularly looking back at it now. But the month's best and most pivotal moment arguably came at the very end, away from the pitch, as Johnson signed up to McParland's survival project, a huge moment for the run-in.

League position: 20th.

League Two

February saw the fate of the League Two title thrown wide open.

While the MK Dons were pre-occupied with dispatching of League One big guns Swansea on route to the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final, their league form took a bitter blow as their eight point lead was stripped to a single point by Peterborough United, with Hereford United in the thick of the race also.

The Bulls won five on the spin in a six-game strong month to haul themselves further into the frame, sitting third, two off the pace.

A superb dozen goals between Gary Hooper and Sherjill McDonald put a stamp on an excellent month for boss Graham Turner.

Posh had a busy schedule but came out glowing winning six and drawing one to move second.

Jackson led Imps well before lay-off
Three each for Aaron McLean and George Boyd steering Darren Ferguson's ship towards silverware.

Peter Jackson collected the League Two Manager of the Month award with four wins from five lifting the Imps to 16th spot 12 points above the trouble zone.

Jacko had to thank a real team effort for his accolade as the Imps notched up 14 goals including three each for Jamie Forrester and Louis Dodds as the red and whites saw themselves just 13 points behind the play-offs and dreaming of a comeback into the pomotion frame.

News that boss Jackson was to undergo surgery against throat cancer rocked the club though, with former Swindon Town boss Iffy Onuora taking the reins at Sincil Bank.

Ironically Lincoln's only defeat of the month came at Millmoor losing 3-2 against Rotherham who endured a horrible month seeing them slide deeper into financial trouble. Administration was looking likely with a hefty ten-point deduction the likely outcome, which would puncture their hopes of making the play-offs.

A 4-1 home crushing at the hands of Stockport summed up their misery midway through the month for Mark Robins' Millers. Tommy Rowe hit the killer hat-trick as United saw their season take a dramatic turn for the worse.

The Millers ended the month in fifth but faced their deduction likely to be inflicted in March, to completely dent any play-off dream. The Millers were left hanging.

While Rotherham's season was climaxing to collapse, Stockport County's was going distinctly the other way.

Jim Gannon's troops took four wins and a draw from their six outings to rise from tenth place to seventh and well amongst the play-off hunt.

Liam Dickinson was coming to the fore as County were at last living up to
Strevens inspired Daggers fightback
their promotion reckoning.

In the fight against relegation, Dagenham and Redbridge took huge strides towards their Football League safety with four straight wins to close out the month with 14 goals scored in the collection of 12 valuable points.

Ben Strevens was the man of the moment notching four in as many games to help the Daggers ease away from danger, sitting pretty eight points ahead of the bottom two.

Morale boosting 2-1 wins over Wycombe and Darlington had rivals Mansfield Town still scrapping for their lives.

Jefferson Louis scored in both games as the Stags moved to within two points of nearest relegation rivals Macclesfield who had a turbulant month marked by the sacking of manager Ian Brightwell.

The Silkmen won just a single game all month and were in the thick of the drama at the wrong end.

Chester City were sinking surprisingly into the mire losing the first four of the month to stretch their agonising winless streak to 14 games.

A 3-1 win over Mansfield ended the rot with two goals for Kevin Ellison securing the points but the Blues had still managed to slip just 12 points above the drop zone - could they be the surprise relegated team this term?

Bobby Williamson saw his managerial post in a fragile state after a season collapsing before the fans' very eyes.

Wrexham, six points behind safety, continued to look doomed.