Goals at the beginning and end of the second half from Stockport saw Notts crash to another defeat here at Edgeley Park.
Anthony Pilkington and Liam Dickinson were the scorers for the hosts, over a lacklustre, and completely ineffective away performance.
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A stomach bug had swept through the ranks over the Christmas period, with Dudfield one of the casualties. The former Boston forward has been in decent form, after finally earning a starting place after two months of substitute appearances. He could count himself rather unlucky, whereas many other members of the side can count themselves lucky that they remain in the team following that abysmal showing on Friday.
Stockport, with only two defeats at home this season, though Notts have lost only twice away, arrived in the game on the back of defeat themselves, 2-0 at promotion hunting Wycombe. Prior to the proceedings, the Hatters sat in fifteenth position, though only five points adrift of Notts.
It was the hosts who started the livelier, with Dickinson attempting an early effort on goal, only to see his effort fail to trouble the returning Pilkington. Deeney had occupied the number one spot for just three games, after initially being brought in to stem the tide of unforced errors from Pilkington. However, Thompson decided the change had been right after Deeney's own mistakes in defeats to Macclesfield and Hereford.
Despite early pressure, Pilkington hadn't had a great deal to do, with several stoppages preventing the game from flowing.
Stockport were forced to make a change after Keith Briggs picked up an injury. Adam Griffin entered the action for Jim Gannon's men.
They had a shout for a penalty after twenty minutes when Tesfaye Bramble was felled in the penalty area. Referee Darren Deadman waved the appeals away, before Griffin had an attempt on goal that whistled wide.
Notts striker Junior Mendes sprung into action for the Magpies firing in at goal, and winger David Pipe attempted to touch home the ball that had fizzed across the goalmouth. Pipe ended up in the net, but somehow the ball didn't.
Griffin again got involved when he burst through on goal, but his shot, though powerful and well placed, again missed the target. Pilkington was stranded, and had it been on target, there was no doubt the hosts would have had the lead.
Notts were struggling to stamp their authority, with midfield duo Somner and Jay Smith unable to gain possession. Thompson's men were competing well, and with the pitch in a poor state, the game turned into more of a battling affair.
Lee, back after a two match suspension following ten bookings this season, picked up another caution for persistent infringement.
It said much of the opening forty five minutes that one of the most exciting moments came just two minutes from the break when a Smith corner caused momentary confusion in the Hatters' ranks. With Lee and Gary Silk challenging, there appeared to be a half-chance, but it petered out to nothing, as did most of the half.
Better was to come though, when Notts forced a corner seconds later. It was Notts' second of the game, and after it was swung into the box, Mendes battled well, before Mike Edwards prodded the ball towards goal, where the ball was scrambled off the line. Parkinson then fired back in towards the target, but it was again stopped.
Before the half was out Pilkington comfortably saved after Bramble's ambitious effort.
It is fair to say Notts were the more satisfied of the sides as the interval arrived. Notts' back line was looking particularly strong, with Stockport managing just four attempts at goal. The worrying thing, particularly so with the recent poor scoring form, was that the Magpies had failed to have a single attempt on target all half.
Les Bradd's appearance as a half-time guest for Stockport, appeared fittingly such is the lack of goals from Thompson's strikers. Bradd, Notts' all-time record goalscorer made the half-time draw, and it appeared that a draw may be the only result as the manager's began their half-time team talks.
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Bramble then headed at goal, but it only looped easily into Pilkington's grateful arms.
Somner became the second name in Mr. Deadman's book following a fierce midfield challenge.
Notts' first chance of the half came when Lee met Mendes' cross, but a lack of direction and power saw it fail to trouble Spencer in Stockport's goal.
In an attendance of 5823, the 428 following from Meadow Lane were certainly quiet, as Thompson's men continued to huff and puff with little ingenuity.
However, Notts did begin to push forward and Mendes struck a post following a weaving right sided run. Edwards then pounced on Lee's flick on from a free-kick to hit at goal, though Spencer managed to gather.
It seemed that Notts could cause the Hatters problems, but the players seemed drained of energy, perhaps too much Christmas pudding, after they travelled to Edgeley Park late on Christmas Day.
Dan Martin, with four goals in eight starts this season, prepared to enter the action with time running out. Former Derby trainee Martin has been forced to sit on the bench on numerous occasions this season, despite calls for his first team inclusion, and Notts' army gave their seal of approval as he finally entered the action with fifteen minutes left. He replaced Silk, who had again performed adequately as he continues his resurgence in the right-back slot. Pipe, luckless on the wing, moved to full-back.
Edwards became the third Notts man to receive a yellow card when he was harshly penalised for a foul. From the resulting free-kick Pilkington saved well down low.
Thompson shuffled his pack further when Dudfield, who said he would be okay to play in the latter stages, was brought on for the ineffectual Parkinson.
As with previous appearances, Dudfield's emergence saw him create a chance as he crossed from the right, where a corner was forced. However, once again the delivery, this time from Martin, failed to aid Notts' cause and it was easily cleared.
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Dudfield again got himself involved, when he was put through for a good chance towards the end, but his lack of football showed as he poorly placed his attempted effort.
As stoppage time approached Lee appealed for a penalty after he felt he was held, but the unfussy referee failed to give it.
Not that it mattered, as Stockport doubled their lead less than a minute later. Perhaps the best football of the game by Stockport ended with a through ball to Gleeson who rammed it against the bar. Nevertheless, Liam Dickinson followed up to smash into the gaping net.
This was the queue for nearly all of Notts' travelling support to leave Edgeley Park, with Notts ending the Christmas period pointless and goalless from two fixtures against mid-table sides.
Devoid of ideas, and once again lacking any threat in the final third, Notts thoroughly deserved their third away loss of the campaign, which will surely leave them with only dreams of the Playoff's.
The only way for the dreams to be realised would be for Thompson to strengthen up front with at least two new bodies. However, in a pre-match interview with BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Slater, Thompson categorically stated there would be no money available in the January transfer window: “There are no finances, so we will work with what we have got.”
Which, on today's and Friday's showings, isn't much.