A month which started so brightly, ended so poorly, perhaps summing up the entire campaign and the disappointing fall from play-off hopefuls to relegation fodder.
Ian McParland started his first full month in charge on the back of a last minute win over Wrexham at the end of October, meaning optimism was at its highest as the Magpies travelled to Accrington Stanley.
The fans were given further optimism when McParland struck a deal with Liverpool to entice young professional Craig Lindfield on loan for the month,
|
Lindfield was given his first start at the Fraser Eagle, making a stunning immediate impact, lofting home a debut goal to send Notts into the break 1-0 up and looking likely for their first away win of the season.
Lindfield's strike partner Lawrie Dudfield got in on the act late on, grabbing his first of the season to see Notts to a 2-0 win.
There was an immediate chance for Notts to build on what was becoming an impressive start under McParland when they visited then high-flying Barnet for a cold midweek fixture.
The hosts took a deserved lead through a Jason Puncheon stunner, but Notts were always in the game and picked up a good point when that man Richard Butcher again scored his sixth of the season, his most fortuitous of the campaign.
Playing in a wide right role, the former Peterborough man overhit a cross but saw it drop into the net after a mistake from Bees custodian Lee Harrison. The McParland bandwagon was rolling on.
And the wheels weren't to come off for at least another week as Notts began there FA Cup campaign in style, hitting three goals for the only time in the
|
That game featured another young Premiership loanee for the first time as Birmingham centre-back Krystian Pearce arrived on a month's loan, looking every inch a Premiership regular of the future.
But all optimism was swept aside, despite a favourable cup draw that would pit Notts against Blue Square South part-timers Havant & Waterlooville in the second round in December.
That was because a poor home defeat to fellow strugglers Macclesfield Town, swiftly followed by a 2-1 reverse to bottom side Lincoln City, completed the month in miserable fashion, denying McParland a dream start.
Gary Silk's stunning goal, since voted as NCM's 'goal of the season' was the only bright spot of a miserable effort at Sincil Bank, and worse was to follow in December.
He said: Out of favour attacker Andy Parkinson was still insisting a play-off push was possible: "We have left ourselves a big task because of the start we have had but in the league if you can win a few games and get a run going
|
Player of the month: Adam Tann became the first person to pick up the monthly NCM crown for a second time, following up his September success with another consistent month. A sturdy five displays, full of character and aggression, Tann seemed to be epitomising everything McParland wanted from his side with the battle they were in. He was even made captain.
Verdict: It was all going so well for McParland that fans again were getting carried away. A couple of decent results in the league had the Magpies moving back in the right direction, while the cup run had begun in earnest. But losing at home to Macclesfield was a poor return, and one that should have been avoided. Had it been, Notts would have been surging up to mid-table and no doubt confidence would have been sky high. Maybe that was some sort of turning point as McParland's first real run came to an abrupt end.
League position: 19th.
League Two
An action packed month of November served up the division's third managerial casualty so far with Wrexham's Brian Carey replaced by the vast experience of Brian Little.
Defeats at home to Shrewsbury Town and a 4-1 humiliation at Peterborough United in the FA Cup along with a bore draw against Wycombe Wanderers sealed Carey's fate as the Dragons sat a miserable second bottom of the division.
A Michael Proctor double helped Litttle begin his reign with a 2-2 draw against Chester City at the Racecourse Ground, but the point to end the month was
|
Jacko did not enjoy instant success at Sincil Bank losing the first three league games of the month including a 4-2 home humiliation at the hands of Chesterfield, inspired by a Jack Lester treble.
An FA Cup 1-1 draw with League One giants Nottingham Forest confirmed hopes of a turn around, taking the tie back to the City Ground, before the Imps ended the month with more triumph over Nottinghamshire opponents Notts County, 2-1.
Goals from Ben Wright and Lee Frecklington sealed the win which saw City off the bottom.
Mansfield remained in amongst the relegation mix after another disappointing month which saw them take only three points from their trio of outings.
The solitary victory was a 5-0 drubbing of Macclesfield Town though, as Simon Brown proved the hat-trick hero in the highlight of yet another damp month for the Stags.
Chester encountered the November Blues too dropping from second spot to seventh, with losses against Bradford and MK Dons proving their un-doing as they collected just four from an available 12 points for the month.
City's collapse paved the way for League Two newcomers Rotherham United to fulfill their fans' dizzy pre-season expectations.
Three wins from three powered by five goals spread around the park saw the Millers rocket into third to step up their hopes of an automatic promotion berth. Mark Robins looked to have found his bearings in the fourth tier.
Graham Turner's Hereford United continued their stunning start in sitting fourth ahead of the busy December schedule after adding ten points to their total in November as well as taking the prized scalp of Leeds United in the FA Cup.
Lionel Ainsworth, Theo Robinson and Trevor Benjamin were all in amongst
|
The MK Dons remained in top spot, while Peterborough United continued their turnaround to move to fifth with three wins out of four, topped off with a 7-0 hammering of struggling Brentford.
An Aaron McLean hat-trick stamped the rout.
This pasting was the low point of another poor month for Terry Butcher's Bees who finished November in 18th place.
Grimsby Town ended a run of eight league games without victory hitting Barnet 3-0 thanks to a Danny North brace. The Mariners still sat a lowly 20th with boss Alan Buckley feeling the pressure.
The victory ensured Paul Fairclough's form side Barnet ended the month without a win falling to ninth in the league ladder.
The Bees' drop allowed Lee Richardson's Spireites to step up a gear moving into sixth after taking seven points from an available nine.
Stuart McCall's Bradford took seven points in November too, to slightly stave off a fall towards the drop zone.
The table was poised nicely, ready for the busy Christmas to come...