Notts slaughtered by Stags

Last updated : 17 October 2004 By Rob Davies
Surely this is now the point of no return for Gary Mills. Mills said early on in his reign that if he lost the support of the fans he would resign. Well, I think it would've been clear to the 1,800 odd travelling fans that he no longer has the support of the fans (or the players for that matter). Surely, then, that leaves him with only one possible option.

Worst Ever?
The Notts manager, who had got himself some breathing space with the 2-1 win at Maccesfield last week, immediately set the tone by naming both Matty Gill and Paul Bolland in his now full strength midfield. Meanwhile, Tony Scully and on-form Bosnian Fahrudin Kuduzovic were both left on the bench.

Mystifying stuff from Mills. The Notts manager, therefore, left out young full-back Kelvin Wilson to accomodate the hapless Bolland, with Pipe moving back to right back, while Gill, back from injury but as bad as ever, replaced Craig Pead, who returned to Coventry this week.

Young striker Chris O'Grady was given the nod to partner Glynn Hurst, after an impressive showing in the week, while Deeney was preferred to Steve Mildenhall between the sticks.

It was clear right from the outset that, despite being promised by Mills in the week that the players knew how important this game was, there was only going to be one winner. And it wasn't going to be us.

Despite a few half-decent moves orchestrated by Stefan Oakes, the Magpies never really threatened Man U reject's Kevin Pilkington's goal, while Mansfield tested Deeney a number of times in the opening 20 minutes.

The Irish stopper had to make an excellent save at his near post after Stags hitman Colin Larkin had easily got in behind the slow (understatement of the year) moving Whitlow. Nippy forward Derek Asamoah was also allowed in behind the Magpies rearguard a number of times in the early stages, and throughout the game for that matter.

Deeney again did well to parry a Rhys Day scissor kick on 21 minutes, after the Welsh centre back was completely unmarked at a set piece.

Day: Netted opener
Notts clearly did not learn their lesson, though, as the centre back was again left unmarked to nod the home side into a deserved lead on 24 minutes.

Ex Notts midfielder Adam Murray, who revelled in the space given by his former employees, whipped in the free-kick where Day stood completely unmarked on the 6-yard line to get the slightest touch past Deeney.

It was debateable as to whether Day even got a touch on the free-kick, but what was certain was to how poor Notts had now become at defending set-pieces, among other things.

The Stags, loving the amount of space given to them in midfield (just what does Gill do?), continued to fly forward at every oppurtunity, with strikers Colin Larkin and Derek Asamoah constantly exploiting the lack of pace of Whitlow.

It was big striker Guy Ipoua though, making his debut for the home side, who really should have scored when dancing past two Notts 'challenges' only to finish rather poorly, scewing his effort wide.

Larkin was the next to miss a gilt-edged chance when played through by Murray, only to send his effort narrowly wide when one-on-one with the keeper.

The Stags weren't to be denied though, and eventually went in at the break with the two goal cushion their dominance deserved.

The goal, from Notts' point of view, was an absolute shambles. The original danger appeared to have gone after Asamoah show-boated in the area, Ipoua intercepted a cutback aimed at someone else and Notts had 6 players between the ball and the goal. Wrong. Ipoua danced past 3 'tackles', the ball was badly cleared and left back Craig Woodman hammered a right-foot shot into the top corner of the net and past a motionless Deeney.

The half-time whistle was met with a chorus of boos from a disgusted travelling support.

Half time: Mansfield Town 2-0 Notts County

After an 'inspirational' pep-talk by Mills and Gee, County came out for the second half looking revitalised. Yes, I'm lying. They were as bad as before.

Larkin: Should've had a hat-trick
Wilson was brought on to replace the hopeless Gill, though it was probably due to an injury, as it's very unlikely Mills would have ended his love affair with the midfielder by choice. This meant Bolland moving into centre midfield alongside Oakes, with Pipe pushing further forward.

Notts, now attacking the goal in which their disgusted supporters sat behind, were lacking any sort of creativity whatsoever, with Mansfield running through the heart of the midfield time and time again. Predictably, Bolland was frequently found on 'walkabout'.

Chris O'Grady, devoid of any useful service up the front, did manage to twist and turn his way into a half opening early on, but his left-footed strike smashed into the side netting.

That was a rare attacking venture, though, from Notts, who were desperately trying to hold a rampant Mansfield outfit to just two goals.

Asamoah, again, forced Deeney into an outstanding save after a bad error from Julian Baudet, while Stags midfielder Alex Neil then somehow managed to fire over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Mills, having already put Gavin Gordon on for O'Grady eight minutes earlier, then decided to use his final substitution on 66 minutes by putting on Scully for the unfit Chris Palmer.

The change meant little, however, when LARKIN fired Mansfield's third of the afternoon. If the first two goals were bad from a defensive point of view, this one was an absolute disgrace.

The ball was punted high up into the air by a defender, Whitlow let Murray get a flick to it and the unmarked Irish hitman somehow managed to refrain from burst out laughing to slot the ball past Deeney.

Gordon: Late consolation
This was enough for Notts' band of travelling supporters, who now made their feelings perfectly known with loud cries of 'We Want Millsy Out'. The Notts manager, predictably, turned his back. Incidentaly, the Notts manager also refused, yet again, to talk to Colin Slater after the game. When will he ever accept responsibility for this rubbish?

The rest of the game was hardly much to write home about. Deeney excelled himself, having his best ever game for Notts, producing countless wonder-saves to deny the Stags clocking up a cricket score which wouldn't have been undeserved.

The keeper also saved a penalty from Asamoah, after Wilson- having an utter nightmare- brought down the former Northampton striker in the box. Premiership ref Dermot Gallagher- excellent through-out- had little option but to point to the spot, and Notts can count themselves lucky he refused one just before after Whitlow hacked down Larkin.

GORDON did manage a late consolation for Notts, reacting well to Hurst's flick-on, which perhaps explained the Notts' fans rather subdued reaction at the end, rather than the fierce booing and anti-Mills chanting that had taken place earlier.

Full Time: Mansfield Town 3-1 Notts County

Another shambolic display by the Magpies. And, with 7 or 8 players that could walk into the majority in this Division, it should be obvious where the blame lies.

Mills and Gee may continue to insist they're doing a good job here, but the majority of Notts fans disagree- and the Supporters Trust should take note of this.

Match Ratings and reaction to follow.