Disgraceful.

Did we ever think it could get as bad as this? After losing (and the scoreline flatters us) 2-1 to the footballing super-powers that are Southend Utd, Mills' men now sit at the bottom of the football league. That's 92nd place in the football league. Jimmy Sirrel, in attendance, must have been as devastated as the rest of us as to what has happened to this once great club.

Mills: Baffling decisions

After the last home game against Cheltenham, the fans who did decide to visit Meadow Lane in the pouring rain must have come with one thought in mind: Things Can Only Get Better.

How wrong we all were.

Notts lost thanks to two headed goals, both from set pieces, from centre back Adam Barrett. Substitute Glynn Hurst ended the Magpies near-four game scoring drought with a late consolation.

Mills, once again, opted to start with three at the back, a formation that has not served us well this season. However, this time it was more 3-4-3 then 3-5-2, with Tony Scully and on-loan Youssef Sofiane either side of lone striker Marvin Robinson.

The two strikers, along with midfielder Craig Pead, were making their home debuts. Elsewhere, club captain Mike Whitlow replaced the injured Julian Baudet at the heart of the defence.

Strangely, Notts didn't start too badly. The first real chance came six minutes in when Scully produced a moment of magic, skillfully beating three defenders before being well tackled before he could pull the trigger.

That was pretty much as good as it got for Notts, though, as Southend slowly started to get the better of a lifeless first half.

Robinson: Shocking home debut

The visitors' should have taken the lead on 17 minutes, but striker Lawrie Dudfield's six-yard effort went narrowly wide with Henderson beaten.

They didn't have to wait to much longer to take the lead against the woeful Magpies, though, and on 27 minutes it was BARRETT who got the all-important goal.

The original corner from the left was cleared, but Kevin Meher swang the ball back in and the ex-Stags defender powered a header past the hapless Henderson. Incredibly, the defender had now equalled the entire Notts' team total of goals for the season.

Notts were now looking as clueless as ever. A few corners had been won, but nearly all of those had ended with new-boy Marvin Robinson jumping into someone and giving away a free-kick. The only invention was coming from Scully & Sofiane, though both were badly starved of service from our quite awful 'midfield'.

Henderson made a couple of decent stops from Shrimps' dangerman Mark Gower, before the half time whistle was blown to a chorus of boos from the Magpie faithful, who, once again, were frustrated with their teams 'efforts'.

Half time: Notts County 0-1 Southend Utd

The woeful Robinson was replaced at half time by Matty Williams, though this change did mean a series of players looked like they didn't have a clue as to where they were playing.

Barrett (left): Scored twice

French forward Sofiane then had Notts' best chance of the game so far, but delayed his shot just a second too long and the covering defender was able to block for a corner.

David Pipe, way below his best, then became the first Notts player to get into the referee's notebook with a very late challenge.

Southend striker Tes Bramble saw his shot sail over the bar, before the visitors made it 2-0 in the 54th minute.

The goal was shockingly easy. The corner was floated in from the right, BARRETT rose to head unmarked and powered his header home.

The Notts fans now made their feelings clear. Chants of 'What a load of rubbish', 'What a waste of money' and even a (very) muted 'Mills out' were heard ringing from the terraces.

To the credit of the home faithful though, those chants were quickly followed by louder renditions of the 'Wheelbarrow' song, plus 'County 'til I die'. Mills, on this occasion, could not blame the supporters.

The under-fire Notts manager responded to the blow by bringing on Glynn Hurst and Matty Gill.

Hurst: On the mark

Gill came on to replace the woeful Pead, while Hurst, somewhat bizzarely replaced Scully, by far the Magpies biggest threat of a goal.

This is where the fun really started. The players were all over the place, and half of them genuinely didn't look like they knew where they were playing. The blame, again, has to land squarly at Mills' door. He can't blame the fans' for this.

The visitors then came extremely close to making it 3-0, but Dudfield's effort was too casual and Ian Richardson was able to clear the ball off the line.

Southend continued to out-play their hosts, who looked like a side well and truly Conference bound. Depressing stuff, indeed.

Sofiane, who at least worked his socks off with little reward, then fired a free-kick over the bar.

Notts then got an undeserved goal to get themselves back in the game, with five minutes remaining.

HURST did well to twist and turn in the box, his left shot took a deflection and looped over the hapless keeper.

Sofiane then had a decent effort go narrowly wide, before Southend regained control of the match.

Substitute Wayne Gray twice missed good chances to finish the game off, before the final whistle rang out to a chorus of boos from the home crowd, who have had just about enough of this rubbish.

Full time: Notts County 1-2 Southend Utd

We thought it couldn't get any worse, but it did. We are now bottom of the entire football league and fans' patience with Mills, who again refused to speak to the media after the game, has just about ran out.

The Notts' players, for the second home game running, didn't look they had a clue as to what their jobs where at the end. The Notts gaffer also criticised the fans in his programme notes, and took off our most creative player.

A poll is on the site now as to whether his time is up, with the early vote in favour of giving him his P45.

Match ratings to follow.