Phew!

Notts County is safe!

Richard Butcher scored the only goal as Notts County beat Wycombe to end their relegation worries.

Butcher converted a pass from Jason Lee after Myles Weston opened up the visiting defence with a great run.

Wycombe, who rested several players with the play-offs in mind, had almost scored after two minutes but Scott McGleish headed against the post.

Notts keeper Russell Hoult denied Delroy Facey, while Wycombe's Sam Stockley saw red for a second booking.

Actually, it was this Notts win combined with Mansfield's loss to Rotherham that sealed the deal for the Magpies.

Dag & Red also won today leaving Mansfield and Chester fighting to avoid the drop. All Chester needs is a point from its two last games to relegate Mansfield.

It looks like it is bye bye Stags.

Notts County: Four Point From Safety

Here is how the wild and woolly world of English League Two looks at the moment.

P GD PTS
1 Milton Keynes Dons 44 44 93
2 Peterborough 44 40 89
3 Hereford 44 26 82

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4 Rochdale 44 23 78
5 Stockport 43 18 78
6 Darlington 44 26 75
7 Wycombe 44 14 75

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8 Chesterfield 44 21 68
9 Bradford 44 4 62
10 Morecambe 44 -3 59
11 Brentford 44 -14 59
12 Rotherham 44 2 58
13 Barnet 44 -7 57
14 Bury 44 -5 55
15 Grimsby 44 -6 55
16 Lincoln City 44 -15 55
17 Shrewsbury 44 -9 48
18 Accrington Stanley 44 -34 48
19 Macclesfield 44 -18 46
20 Chester 43 -17 44
21 Notts County 44 -17 44
22 Dag & Red 44 -24 43

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23 Mansfield 44 -17 42
24 Wrexham 44 -32 37

Because Dag & Red play Mansfield on the last match day Wrexham is already relegated. For Notts it works this way:

Scenario #1: Mansfield wins both remaining games to finish at 48 points. Dag & Red could do no better than 46, leaving Notts two points from safety.

Scenario #2: Dag & Red wins both of its games to finish at 49 points. Mansfield could do no better than 45, leaving Notts one or two points from safety, depending upon goal differential.

Scenario #3: Dag & Red and Mansfield both end with a win and a draw ending the season at 47 and 46 points respectively, leaving Notts two or three points from safety, depending again upon goal differential.

Scenario #4: Dag & Red and Mansfield each end the season with two draws, leaving Notts needing one point for safety.

Any other results and Notts is already safe.

Clash Of The Titans?

There is a match today that could have huge repercussions for Notts County's survival in League 2 this season. Luckily, Notts isn't even involved. When bottom feeders Mansfield host Wrexham literally dozens of people worldwide will be anxiously...um...napping possibly...but still a draw of some sort would do wonders for the Magpies so *I* at least have to pay attention.

Relegation battles such as this one usually draw greater interest from fans who spent most of the preceding matchdays washing their car or staring at a blank wall for hours wondering just how their life could have gone so terribly wrong. Unfortunately, for the Mansfield fan base, a lot of them will be turned away at the gate: Stags capacity cut for crunch tie

Mansfield Town has had its capacity cut by 50% for a crucial home match in the League Two relegation battle.

The Stags face bottom club Wrexham at Field Mill at 1945 BST on Tuesday.

The county council said it imposed the reduction after "an interruption in safety management" due to the resignation of chairman James Derry.

Stephen Booth, the club's chief executive, said he was "disappointed" by the decision, which allows a maximum 4,682 fans into the ground.

Yes, a crushing blow for a side that drew 2,616 back on March 22nd against Grimsby.

The Agony Of Near Disaster

Notts County could have silenced once and for all any relegation fears this season when they took on Mansfield at home today.

What's that you hear? Relegation fears of course:

Notts County had keeper Russell Hoult to thank as they earned a point against fellow League Two strugglers Mansfield.

Hoult had injured himself in the warm-up but struggled through the 90 minutes much to the relief of his side.

The keeper pulled off several fine saves while Nathan Arnold also rattled the angle of bar and post with a fierce shot for Mansfield.

It took Notts County 70 minutes to test keeper Carl Muggleton for the first time through Danny Crow.

So it wasn't a complete disaster, but this was a game Notts should have won.

Mansfield has seven games remaining and can top out at 55 points. Notts is sitting at 41 points with six games (18 possible points) to go.

That makes it 15 points from safety.

Let the countdown begin.

Well, That's Just Spiffy

More from the hell that is the Notts County season:

Paul Mayo's blunder gifted striker Jamie Forrester his 11th goal of the season as Lincoln won to push Notts County closer to the relegation zone.
Mayo was under no pressure as a cross came in, but the County defender managed to head his clearance straight to Forrester, who fired home.

County almost equalised when Ryan Jarvis saw a strike parried by Lincoln goalkeeper Alan Marriott.

County's best chance fell to Mayo, but his header was cleared off the line.

All I can say is thank God I don't have to actually see any of it.

Now, if I could only find a way to keep the Blues out of the media...oh, that's right...the NHL has already managed to do that for us.

Whimpering To The Finish Line(s)

You know...one would think if you support enough sports teams there would be a shotgun effect so that at any given time one of them would be playing decently. You might think that, but you'd be wrong.

Let us look at the state of things for yours truly:

The Blues: This team's inability to score is downright embarrassing. The sad truth is it is not possible to excel in this league without a number one center, and the Blues have been without one for the better part of a decade. (Even when Dougie Weight was younger he was more of a good #2 than a real #1.) So we are left with the sorry display of a team that doesn't have anything to play for anymore. Combine that with a monster nine game road trip, which we are already 0-2 on, and it is gonna be a very difficult month of March.

The Billikens: Remember when I said something about how the Bills were starting to get the hang of the Majerus system? Well scratch that, I must've been drunk. SLU is getting drilled, absolutely drilled, by terrible teams. Yesterday Duquesne, sporting a 2-13 record in A10 play, beat the Bills by 27. Luckily, the conference tourney will be able to put this team out of my misery.

Notts County: Yesterday was a huge game for the Magpies in their quest to not get relegated out of League Two. They had Barnet at home and, by all accounts, they were damn lucky to draw 0-0 with them. Notts has a quick turnaround, playing Lincoln on Tuesday at Meadow Lane. You've gotta get something from that, as they then go away to Peterborough (where the Pies will get hammered if current form says anything) and then get tough games at home against Rochdale then away to Shrewsbury two days later. It is getting late and there seems to be little confidence in the side. (It didn't help matters that bottom of the table Wrexham managed a 2-0 away win this week.)

Hell, and I haven't even mentioned the self-immolation that is an average Braden Looper spring training start.

Notes From The Lunatic Fringe

I'll I can say is at least Notts County is trying to right the ship. Here we are in March and the Pies are sitting in 21st position, a mere four points from the relegation zone with 12 games remaining. That would be scary enough...but its the releagation zone in League Two we are talking about.

Hopefully, some help is come:

Notts County have signed experienced Derby defender Michael Johnson on loan until the end of the season.

Johnson's move represents a return to the club where he started his career.

The 34-year-old made 135 appearances for the Magpies between 1991 and 1995 after coming through the ranks at Meadow Lane.

After the debacle against Bradford towards the end of February, it was clear that Notts needed some help to stay afloat. Hopefully, Johnson, along with the other newcomers Crow and Jarvis, can contribute to the club's survival.

At least I hope so. I'm not sure I can handle Conference Football.

The "R" Word

The BBC is starting to use the word "relegation" when they talk about Notts County.

Notts County 1-0 Chester

Adam Tann's first goal this season saw off Chester and halted Notts County's slide towards the relegation zone.

The skipper put his head in where it hurts to nod home a Jason Lee flick from close range to give County a deserved win, and their first of 2008.

Things might have been different but for a stunning save from the hosts' goalkeeper Kevin Pilkington two minutes before their winning goal.

The Magpies stopper somehow palmed a Kevin Sandwith free-kick over the bar.

If Notts drops out of League Two I won't know what to do with myself. League Two is lunatic fringe enough, thank you very kindly.

I swear to God, if they drop to a non-league status I'm switching over to a Scottish side.

Encouraging

From the BBC: Notts Co to revive youth scheme

Notts County have revealed plans to rejuvenate their Centre of Excellence and youth programme.

It closed in May 2006 as a cost-cutting measure but now chairman John Armstrong-Holmes wants to re-open it.

He told the club website: "In the past couple of years we have seen significant financial benefit. But over the next few years we will miss out."

A proposal to relaunch the centre at the start of next season will go before the board of directors on Friday.

Chief executive Geoff Davey explained: "The proposal is indicative of the progress we have made in getting our finances back into shape.

"It's very good news that the club is strong enough to make such an undertaking."

There is no way you can run a succesful club without a vibrant youth program. This is really the first time I'd heard good news about the Magpies finances in awhile.

Baby steps.

Breaking Magpie News!!!!

From BBC:

Notts County boss Thompson sacked

And lucky me sharing a blog with one of the three people on the entire planet who has, I assume, an informed opinion on the subject. Ahhh, isn't the internet wonderful. Two State-side Midwestern boys separated by 1500 miles, yet somehow connected via a shitty League Two English soccer team.*

*Take this post as an indication of how excited I am about the Seinfeldesque Pineiro signing - he's probably as serviceable a fifth starter as you'll find......not that there is anything wrong with that.

IM here:

I think you can take this quote from the BBC story as an indication of how things were going for Thompson:

"We have taken the action we believe is necessary to rectify the situation," chairman John Armstrong-Holmes said.

"I want to thank Steve for assembling what I believe is the best squad of players we have had at County for six or seven season."

Translation: "With this squad how are you sitting in 19th place in the table? How are you getting waxed by the likes of Wycombe? You bloody great pillock."

For a team that, until a late season swoon, had thoughts about possible promotion last spring their form has been truly abysmal. If you don't want to admit you made a mistake in your signings, sacking the manager is the best option. My own expectations would have had them closer to 20 points after 11 games, instead of their present 11 points.

Oh well. It might get worse before it gets better.

Darlington 2 - 2 Notts County

It's early yet, but Notts coming back twice to tie Darlington maybe shows promise.

That is an awful big maybe.

A last-gasp goal from Richard Butcher saw Darlington drop their first points of the season as Notts County twice came from behind to snatch a draw.

The hosts had two early goals disallowed but Tommy Wright did give them the lead on 40 minutes.

Butcher levelled from close range on 72 minutes before Ian Miller gave the hosts the lead again with a header.

But Butcher seized on some poor defending at the death and slotted past David Stockdale in the Darlington goal.

Hmm...maybe promotion is not in the offing.

M.I.A.

As in Missing Interesting Action. I can live with the fact that I will not be able to see Notts County (losers 2-1 to Walsall on Saturday) as they are languishing in the lower leagues, but I really want to see my Aussie rules. I especially want to see games like the flogging of Freemantle.

WEST Coast broke their run of defeats by Fremantle and extended the Dockers' miserable start to the season with a 14.17 (101) to 11.4 (70) victory at Subiaco.

Leading at every change, West Coast was always the better team without having a huge advantage on the scoreboard, leading by just 13 points at the final change.

But with the game on the line, West Coast delivered with Steven Armstrong capping an impressive game with his third goal and Michael Braun's industry earning him the Ross Glendinning medal for best-on-ground.

I'm gonna have to see if I can make nice at a sports bar in town, but I'm not sure if I can get the college kids here to go along with my peculiar sporting habits.

Of course if I could find a consistent way to get Irish Football I'd watch that everyday.

Aw well.....leaves me more time to brood about the Cardinals.

Bristol Rover 2 - 0 Notts County

The late season swoon continues for the Magpies. It is a little sickening since this squad was in a positition to claim a play-off spot. Promotion always seemed unlikely, I'll admit, but it might have been valuable experience for next season.

The BBC on this game:

Two fine strikes from Stuart Nicholson lit up an otherwise scrappy mid-table affair as Rovers emerged with the win.

The on-loan striker fired Rovers ahead in the 53rd minute when he tucked away his shot following a penetrating run and cut-back by Lewis Haldane.

And Nicholson settled the outcome in superb style, accepting a 71st minute pass on the left-flank before lashing home a volley from a narrow angle.

County struggled, though Craig Hinton almost scored an own goal for them.

Notts sitting in 15th in the table.

Notts County 2-2 MK Dons

I suppose the good news is Notts came back down 2 goals to salvage a point against a side sitting fifth in the table.

The bad news is more points thrown away at home.

Notts now sitting in tenth.

From the BBC:

Stephen Hunt's injury-time diving header capped a battling comeback as Notts County drew with MK Dons.

Izale McLeod and squared the ball for Lloyd Dyer to finish in fine style as the visitors went ahead on 26 minutes.

Shortly afterwards, Dean Lewington curled in a free-kick with the help of a deflection to extend MK Dons' lead.

But Jay Smith's penalty five minutes brevived County and after Junior Mendes and Ian Ross had hit the woodwork, Hunt headed in that superb equaliser.

Notts County 1 - 2 Rochdale

Horror loss for Notts County at Meadow Lane. You get a lead and then give up 2 in the last ten minutes.

Not good enough, especially against a side in the lower reaches of the table.

Still in 8th, but tied in points with Darlington.

I feel things slipping away from the Magpies this season.

Notts County 3-1 Lincoln

An absolutely awesome win for the Magpies today over visiting Lincoln. From the BBC:

Lincoln's hopes of taking anything from their trip to Notts County went up in smoke with Jamie Forrester's red card.

City's Forrester was adjudged to have taken an off-the-ball kick at defender Austin McCann with the visitors already a goal down after Jay Smith's opener.

Within five minutes Jason Lee doubled County's lead on the half-time whistle when heading home Gary Silk's cross.

Lawrie Dudfield made it three before City's Spencer Weir-Daley slotted late and Scott Kerr had a penalty saved.

The win leaves Notts all alone in 8th, 2 points clear of Bristol Rovers and 5 behind Wycombe.

( Notts Lincoln)

Smith 2
Lee 45
Dudfield 61
Weir-Daley 89

Notts County 5 -2 Torquay

The Magpies layed a little wood to bottom dwellers Torquay today. It is exactly what this team has to keep doing if they want to capture a play-off spot this year. It is a little disappointing that Torquay was able to take a 2-1 lead in the game, but they only held the lead for a couple of minutes.

Scoring Summary: (Notts - Torquay)

Mendes (23) 1-0
Cooke (25) 1-1
Dickson (35) 1-2
Smith (39) 2-2
Parkinson (40) 3-2
Lee (83) 4-2
Lee (90) 5-2

With the win Notts moves up to 8th in the table, still tied on points with Stockport (who had a good road win at Peterborough.)

Accrington Stanley 1 - 2 Notts County

Well, Notts may not be able to win at home, but they sure do take care of things on the road. Goals from Dudfield (9th min) and Lee (20th min), with AS getting their one from Brown (14th min.)

There were also a couple of red cards handed out including Notts' manager Thompson. (From Notts County Mad)

But it was Pipe who tested Rogers soon after, taking the former Forest man on easily, forcing Rogers to retaliate with a thunderous, yet illegal challenge as he jumped in. Had he connected he may have broken Pipe's leg. The Welshman reacted, with a melee ensuing between the majority of the players. Referee Andy Woolmer immediately banished Rogers to the stands, a red card for him on his Stanley debut.

After much debate, Woolmer also sent Pipe the same way, rather harshly considering his reaction was little more than petty.

Officially Rogers was dismissed for dangerous foul play, and Pipe violent conduct, you could suggest unfairly considering his career could have been seriously hampered by the man Forest fans affectionately called 'Tank'. The fact that Notts earnt the free-kick from the incident, which was well dramatised by the opposing dugouts, highlighted who the greater sinner was.

It had been Pipe's first sending off of his Notts career, though manager Thompson got his second dismissal soon after, Mr Woolmer placing him in the stands for the alleged use of the word "cheat".

A "no no" in just about any league.

With the win Notts is up to 9th. If they could just start winning at home...