The last few weeks have seen a switch in footballing fortunes for both our Nottingham clubs and after such a bright start to the season, Notts County have come crashing down with a  bump.

They suffered their first league defeat of the season, as they lost to Shrewsbury Town 2-0 at Gay Meadow. Goals were both conceded from free kicks, The defeat had more problems than simply three lost points. Captain and influential centre half Julien Baudet got sent off for a reckless stamp in injury time, which means he will be suspended for the next three matches. Also suspended is striker Steve Scoffham who is banned for the next two matches after being sent off in the previous match for an elbow offence, which will give Thordarson his first real test as Notts County boss.

The promotion masterplan had been going according to plan until the unfortunate defeat which on the whole, fans will agree it was no more than the magpies deserved. Before then Notts had stormed to the top of the league with a 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers with both goals coming from Glynn Hurst, as well as the now famous 3-2 victory over local rivals Mansfield Town. The stags went ahead first with Richie Barker netting in the 15th minute, only for Hurst to pull it back three minutes later. The stags went ahead again after half time with Jelleyman capitalising on former stag’s keeper Kevin Pilkington’s mistake. Things were looking for the pies until seven minutes from time, when first Mike Edwards heads the equaliser. Then with four minutes left to go Glynn Hurst popped up at close range to slot home a rebound, for his fourth goal in two matches to keep the Magpies top of the league and the fans into a state of delirium at the turn around the now confident County had achieved.

Before that the Magpies had bowed out in the first round of the Carling cup to championship side Watford with a 3-1 loss, illustrating the gulf in class between league two and the championship. The table-topping feat Thordarson had achieved earned him the manager of the month award for August. However the manager of the month curse struck straight after with Notts performing badly in the next match against Doncaster and only coming away with a point thanks to a late Andy White equaliser.

Chester followed, and Notts were grateful to come away with point after Scoffham got sent off a minute before half time for an elbow. Notts rallied in the second half and went ahead through Hurst who struck again inside the six yard box to take his tally for the season up to five. However the extra man proved too much and on seventy minutes City got the equaliser they’d been pressing for.

The Magpies suffered their first league defeat after to Shrewsbury, which gave them a spur to take on Rushden at Meadow Lane. However that was not the case. Despite the signings of Crystal Palace winger Tyrone Berry and the return of Southampton’s David McGoldrick both on loan, which did little to inspire a lacklustre Notts side who found it hard to break down a Rushden side that were playing for a draw as early as the beginning of the second half.

However worse was yet to come as the Magpies travelled to Grimsby. Thordarson had hoped to stop the rot by changing tactics and personnel by using Berry, McGoldrick and Sheridan upfront in a three four three formation. But that backfired spectacularly as Notts crashed to a 4-0 defeat. Repercussions from that match go on though. Lewis McMahon will serve a three-match suspension for an elbow on former Notts man Paul Bolland, and Glynn Hurst was omitted from the team for an argument with Thordarson, as well as being fined a week’s wages.

Notts then travelled to Macclesfield hoping to avenge the defeat in mid-week, and they did. Sort of. The leaky defence had been plugged by moving Pipe to right back. Although the goals weren’t being shipped in at the back, they were neither scored at the other end, with County mustering few chances on the Silkmen’s goal. However Kevin Pilkington made some heroic saves to keep the scores level in what was otherwise a drab encounter.

All in all, after the great start to the season that saw Notts look down on every team in the league, the month of September isn’t one that will stick in the mind. Now instead of being unbeaten in eight, they are now looking for their first win since the local derby against Mansfield.

www.nottscounty-mad.co.uk
www.nottscountyfc.co.uk

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