Why Notts struggled?

Last updated : 05 May 2008 By Gary Moss
3-1 L v Bury, Meadow Lane. 13 October 2007.

What happened?


Steve Haslam hit a cracker as well as Paul Scott and Nicky Adams getting on the goal trail as the Magpies sunk to their third straight defeat.

A Neil MacKenzie strike was not enough to take the gloom away from the County faithful.

A 'Thommo Out' banner was pulled out from a section of the crowd, his depature followed later that week.
Thompson...Sacked after Bury


The effect on Notts' season?

Bury at home is a game many fans would target a certian three points, and failure to produce this proved former boss Steve Thompson's last game in charge at Meadow Lane.

County were struggling anyway but more upheaval would never make the situation easier.

You do not sack a manager unless you are in trouble, from this point onwards it can be argued it was inevitable the targeted play-offs were out of reach.

The Shakers, eventual midtable fodder, brushed aside Notts with too much ease. The fans were not happy and bringing in a new boss with another's players is always a tough job.

2-0 L v Mansfield Town, Field Mill. 20 October 2007.

What happened?

In Ian McParland's first game in charge, Notts sunk to a disppointing defeat at fierce rivals, the Stags.

With hopes of the play-offs still targeted by fans, a Micky Boulding double helped 'Charlie' to a sour start.

The effect on Notts' season?

A sense of realistaion struck Notts after Ian McParland's first County outing.

The new chief can take no blame for the result after only working with his new players for one session, yet a bid just to beat the drop seemed on after this contest. A deflated McParland, interviewed after the game by NCM, perhaps realised the task ahead of him too. A derby defeat is never easy to accept and with fresh optimism of a new boss to match, this proved a bitter pill to swallow.

Coutny appeared to lack direction and the season still had a sense of an unknown feel to it. It was prayed McParland could turn a corner.

1-0 L v Macclesfield Town, Meadow Lane. 17 November 2007.

What happened?


The Silkmen's Francis Green popped up with the games only goal as Notts found themselves just eight points ahead of the League Two trap door.

Havant...Disaster
The effect on Notts' season?


One cannot help but feel this game could have been a turning point in a miserable Notts campaign.

If there is ever such a game which is labelled a 'home banker', then this is it, or at least it should have been.

The win would have put County 11 points above the danger zone and broke Ian McParland's team away from the mire.

But the Magpies inability to take the opportunity to break free of the strugglers ensured they were always in contention of non-league football.

1-0 L v Havant & Waterlooville, Meadow Lane. 01 December 2007.

What happened?


Havant & Waterlooville arrived in Nottingham without a hope in hell, but left with one of the competions biggest giant killings.

Tony Taggart stunned Notts with his winner three minutes from time as the Magpies fell to defeat against non-league opposition for the first time in 47 years.

The effect on Notts' season?

It cannot be denied that this FA Cup second round exit rocked Meadow Lane.

The Blue Square South minnows visited the Magpies with nothing to lose while the hosts saw their pride left in complete tatters.

A disgusting display and a massive mix up which led to the visitors goal, punctured what seemed an easy route through to the milestone third round of the cup.

And bearing in mind the pattern of the cup this season, who knows what could have happened?

An end to the cup run was not the problem though, it was the effect of the defeat on confidence that was more worrying.
McParland...Players failed to score enough goals


County went on to win just one of their next eight games, a run which saw them plunge deeper into League Two trouble. The loss also drained optimism from the fans. It was only a 'cup shock', which can happen to the best of sides, but it just added to the problems at Meadow Lane.

0-0 D v Barnet, Meadow Lane. 08 March 2008.

What happened?

A bore draw. Not much else, seriously.

The effect on Notts' season?

Far from Notts' worst performance of the season but an afternoon which perhaps summed up the campaign.

County failed to net in nine of their home games in all competitions, as they failed to ever make Meadow Lane the fortress it needed to be to progress up the league ladder.

The Barnet outing lacked creation, spark and most importantly a goal.

The visiting Bees never looked like scoring themselves as the Magpies' rear guard stood tall to any danger, but a lack of goal scoring exploits especially from the strikers, is exactly why Notts struggled this term.

Ian McParland's men ended the campaign as the lowest goal scoring side in the entire Football League, so maybe they can count themsleves lucky to still be in the division, yet their defence should probably take more credit.

1-0 L v Wrexham, Racecourse Ground. 19 April 2008.

What happened?


Neil Roberts his the solitary goal as Notts edged closer to relegation from the Football League.

In a game where maximum points were targeted, the poor Mgapies came away with none.

The effect on Notts' season?

To roll over to a doomed and eventual bottom side Wrexham shows Notts were never anything greater than strugglers.

Minus the odd shock, Brian Little's Dragons were swept aside time and time again over the season. Yet Notts blew a chance of all but securing survival with a frail performance at the Racecourse Ground.

County lost to the very worst team in the Football League and for that could take beating the drop as an achievement.

Wrexham were poor this season and on this afternoon Notts were worse, very worrying?

This game showed they were never anymore than relegation battlers.

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