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Date Tuesday 1 January 2002 Carlton Palmer stuck by the same team of youngsters that had lost 3-0 to Birmingham three days earlier. The same substitutes were also retained for one of only nine Nationwide league games that survived the big freeze. West Brom's Jason Roberts had the early chances, but was largely frustrated by a series of offside flags from the referee's assistant, much to the chagrin of the West Brom fans in the home end However, the same player did successfully break through on 17 minutes, shrugging Aaron Lescott aside before sliding the ball past Sam Turner. County then made a substitution midway through the first half, bringing Scott Taylor on for the ineffectual Gary McSheffrey in what seemed to be a tactical switch from Carlton Palmer. However, this did not help to stem West Brom's forward advances. Their second goal further exposed County's defensive frailties from set-pieces. Neil Clement's corner kick was comforrtably headed home by Andy Johnson, who rose above the entire County defence in the penalty box and found the corner of the net with a glancing header. As the first half continued so did the threat from West Brom's two wing-backs, Neil Clement and Igor Balis both finding pace in behind County's 4-4-2 formation. Only Sam Turner's stretch prevented an own-goal from Leo Roget as he appeared to panic having had Roberts drift away from him. At half-time the game already appeared to have been won by the Baggies, with County hardly ever troubling their back line during the first 45 minutes and being under constant pressure. If the first half was all but Jason Roberts, the second had more to do with his strike partner Danny Dichio. Dichio had two early chances in the second half, his tame shot from a right-wing corss was coolly dirbbled from out of the six-yard box by Rob Clare and then he saw another shot tipped over the bar by Turner. Former County boss Gary Megson then withdrew Roberts for Adam Chambers, and this appeared to spur on Dichio as he finally found the target, much to his obvious relief. There were 72 minutes on the clock when he hit a rising drive from the edge of the area after a pass from Igor Balis. Six minutes later Dichio took the oppourtunity to double his personal tally after Mike Flyn left him free on the edge of the area to again crash the ball home from 18 yards out. Dichio was then swiftly withdrawn, receiving a warm round of applause to greet his first two goals since a permanent move to the Hawthorns. Even in the last ten minutes County showed no signs of pressing but with Scott Dobie missing a great late chance County were not further taken advantage of. It now appears that they are going through the motions of a team who appear to be relegated, drifting along through games and well clear of the other team in Division One. West Brom: (3-4-1-2) Hoult; Moore, Gilchrist, Sigurdsson; Balis, Johnson, McInnes, Clement; Dobie; Roberts (A.Chambers), Dichio (B.Taylor). Not used: Jensen, Fox, Jordao. County: (4-4-2) Turner 6; Lescott 6, Roget 5 (Clare 6), Flynn 5, Clark 6; Gibb 6, Delaney 6, Briggs 6, Welsh 5; McSheffrey 5 (Taylor 5), Daly 5. Not used: Woodthorpe, Williams, Maguire.
ATTENDANCE: 20,541 Date Sunday 13 January Debutant Dave Challinor was brought in to a back three to attempt to sure-up the football league's leakiest defence. Also in: Palmer, Ellison, Woodthorpe, Clare and Andy Dibble, leaving the side were Turner, Flynn, Roget, Clark, McSheffrey and Andy Welsh. The ITV Digital cameras returned to Edgeley, a reminder of County's last win in front of the same cameras just shy of two months ago. They saw after just four miuntes signs of what Dave Challinor can bring to the side, a long throw launched from level with the edge of the Palace area went straight in to the arms of Kolinko, perhaps showing that even County were suprised by the incredible length. On ten minutes Trevor Benjamin, a member of Palace's pacy three-man front-line saw a shot from 20 yards out beat Andy Dibble but hit the outside of the left-hand post and went wide. Shortly afterwards Jon Daly's hit from a dimilar position outside the Palace area went just wide of the target with Kolinko struggling to get to it. In truth it was Palace who did have the majority of the good chances, Clinton Morrison going just wide with a shot from the angle and being denied a clear run on Dibble by an offside flag which cued a show of frustration from the Palace front-man, who despite having 14 league goals has still not scored away from Selhurst Park this season. Andy Dibble showed that he is still capable of some spectacular saves on 34 minutes when he flung himself full-length to his left to deny former Manchester City defender Kit Symons' header following a right-wing corner. County could have had a goal just before half-time after Kevin Ellsion was put through on Kolinko, but failed to get any power behind his shot which was easily saved. All in all, a better performance than of late with the three man defence looking more solid than the previous regime in the opening 45 minutes. Ellison had a similar chance not long in to the second half, but this time moving slightly away from goal, he again failed to get sufficient power and the Palace 'keeper made an easy save. The Londoners then hit the woodwork for the second time n the game when a quickly taken free-kick found Morrison, and his cross came to Aki Riihilahti unmarked six yards out, but his shot also hit the outside of the woodwork. County then took over attacking duties in the game, with two pacy ruins from Keith Briggs and Ali Gibb bringing a noise out of the County crowd that has probably not been heard for some weeks. However, this County pressure was cut short in the 67th minute. Jovan Kirovski got in behind Colin Woodthorpe in to the left-back area of County and pulled it back to the edge of the area where Dougie Freedman hit a sweet volley, which hit the back of the net before Andy Dibble even moved. County reponded to this with a change of forward line, Scott Taylor and Luke Beckett replacng Ellison and the impressive Daly. In the closing twenty minutes County had two further good chances, both thanks in no small par to new signing Challinor. Ali Gibb's right-wing corner was met by the defender's head only to be kept out by Kolinko's diving header, although the Palace 'keeper could do nothing about the second chance ten minutes from time. One of Challinor's lnog throws caused mayhem in the box and Beckett stole in between defenders, noly to see his shot cannon back of a post, just outside the rech of Damien Delaney. County's final throws of the dice were in stoppage time, with a goalmouth melée following another Challinor throw being eventually cleared by the Palace defence, and in lasting out the stoppage time one of the home side's traditional adversaries, Trevor Francis, earned his first ever win at Edgeley Park. Make no mistake though, this was a fr better performance that probably deserved at least a point. County: (3-5-2) Dibble 8; Clare 7, Palmer 7, Challinor 8; Gibb 7, Briggs 8, Lescott 7, Delaney 6, Woodthorpe 6; Daly 7 (Beckett 7), Ellison 6 (Taylor 7). Not used: Turner, Hancock, Welsh.
Crystal P: (3-4-3) Kolinko; Mullins, Symons, Popovic; Fleming, Riihilahti, Rodger (Kirovski (Smith)), Granville; Benjamin, Freedman (Gray), Morrison. Not used: Clarke, Berhalter.
ATTENDANCE: 5,541 Date Wednesday 16 January With Delaney, Challinor and Beckett all ineligable Carlton was forced to bring in the transfer-listed Karim Fradin and Andy Welsh to the starting eleven and Chris Williams to the bench for Beckett. Palmer was also forced to bring back transfer-listed Petri Helin. Having had to wait an additional 11 days for their first home FA Cup tie for six years, County finally took to the field for the local derby against Bolton Wanderers, knowing that the winners would face a trip to Tottenham or Coventry. For the first twenty minutes the game was reasonably even, County having some possession in the middle of the field, but Bolton looking very dangerous on the counter-attack with their pacy forwards. After twenty minutes Kevin Ellison could hve given County the lead with a speculative shot that nearly caught debut goalkeeper Jarni Viander off-guard, but he got across to the ball. This was part of an interesting opening period for Ellison, who spent most of his time generally getting under the skin of Bolton's centre-back Gudni Bergsson, a battle that came to a head shortly after when the two tussled for a through ball, but with Ellison going down the referee waved a way half-hearted penalty appeals. Forward Henrik Pedersen should then have given the Wanderers the lead, but put wide from just six yards after getting on to a right-wing cross. Then, on 36 minutes Andy Dibble produced a brilliant save to deny the David Norris, getting down low at the near post to push it round the corner. From the resulting corner, though Bolton did take the lead. Gudni Bergsson got up higher than the County defence, and his corner sailed in to the far corner of the goal. This lead was to be doubled before half-time after a freak own-goal. David Norris, denied earlier by Dibble, saw his shot deflected up in to the air of a County defender and loop over Dibble in to the opposite side of the goal from where it was originally aimed. The goal was creditted as a karim Fradin own-goal, though in truth either he or Woodthorpe could have got the deflection on the ball. Carlton Palmer took immediate action at half-time to try to cure the situation, a triple substitution including the withdrawal of the injured Kevin Ellison for Scott Taylor and Welsh and Fradin going off for Helin and Williams. Bolton now enjoyed huge amounts of possessio, without ever looking like delivering a killer third goal to County, and their carelessness almost cost them on a couple of occasions. One time, Viander had to deny Jon Daly after he was accidently put through by a Bolton midfielder. However, the game was given a whole different perspective by the introduction of Michael Ricketts. The England hopeful appeared from the bench for a 20 minute cameo, and almost instantly got in down the inside-left, and after making Petri Helin look like a monkey, placed the ball across the six-yard box for Henrik Pedersen to meet at the same time as Colin Woodthorpe, the goal was creditted to Pedersen for 3-0. The moment that the game would long be remembered for had still not come yet though. It came seven minutes from time. Ricketts started to go through his repitoire of tricks on the edge of the penalty area, beating Palmer before curling a beautiful shot in to the top corner, off the underside of the bar. I have to confess, this was the first time I have ever clapped an opposition goal, and I wasn't alone in the County ends. County were to get an FA Cup goal though, Jon Daly ensured that he would finish the season as County's leading scorer in the competition by netting from the penalty spot after an inexplicable handball from Kevin Nolan, but all-in-all, even a shadow Bolton side was far too good for County. County: (3-5-2) Dibble 8; Clare 6, Palmer 6, Woodthorpe 6; Gibb 6, Briggs 6, Lescott 6, Fradin 5 (Williams 5), Welsh 5 (Helin 6); Daly 5, Ellison 6 (Taylor 6). Not used: Turner, Hancock.
Bolton: (3-4-3) Virander; Barness, Bergsson (Nolan), Gardner; Southall, Farrelly, Norris (C.Taylor), Johnson; Hansen, Pedersen, Wallace (Ricketts). Not used: Poole, Buchanan.
ATTENDANCE: 5,821 Date Saturday 19 January Dave Challinor, Damien Delaney and Luke Beckett all came back in after being ineligable for the midweek Cup game, with Fradin, Ellison and Welsh making way. Coventry gave an immedaite warning off what they could do within 90 seconds on their first attack. David Thompson picked up a loose ball on the edge of the County area, moved inside an hit a shot from 20 yards that clipped the outside of the right-hand post. However, this was their only really chance off the half, as County got more in to the game than in any of their previous eleven straight defeats. A new chant for Dave Challinor (ooh, aah Chaillnor) sprouted up as the former Tranmere man got some of his trademark long throws in, but County were unable to force any serious chances from these. The best chance of the whole half came for Damien Delaney in the 33rd minute. Ali Gibb's right-wing cross was flcik-headed towards goal by Jon Daly, Marcus Hedman could only parry in to the path of Damien Delaney, but he slid the ball in to the side-netting from only six yards with the Swedish 'keeper struggling. There was then a nasty moment for County player-manager Carlton Palmer, after the received a bloodied nose from an accidental clash with Coventry striker Lee Mills. After a rather long delay he was however able to continue with the game until half-time, when Coventry were booed off by their supporters. No substitutions at half-time, but Palmer emerged from the dresing rooms with a cast on his left forearm and what looked like a damp cloth in his right hand, looking like he should be on a hospital ward rather than a football field. Coventry's winger Laurent Delorge could have got them in front just a minute in to the half, but couldn't keep his shot below the bar. Dibble then had to parry away a shot from Mills as Coventry's expected attacks materialised and County were penned back. Dibble then produced his best save to date from Lee Carsley, tipping brilliantly over the bar to deny the former Blackburn midfielder. Colin Woodthorpe then deflected a point-blank shot from substitute Julian Joachim over the bar from the resultant corner. There were then two momets of brief respite for County fans. First, palmer dribbled the ball out of defence, tricking his way past three or four Coventry players before winning a throw midway inside the home side's half. Challinor then took this short, Gibb crossed and Keith Briggs' shot went narrowly between Luke Beckett and the far post to go out for a goal-kick. The last 15 minutes then went without any really incident until the last of them, substitute Chris Williams producing an incredible flick to send Jon Daly through, but the County striker's legs could not carry him clear of Gary Breen, and under pressure his final shot was tame. However, Coventry were not able to score and the reception from the County following was more akin to a victory rather than a 0-0 draw, but coming over two months after County's last point, this was what it felt like. Coventry: (4-4-2) Hedman; Shaw, Breen, Konjic, Hall; Delorge, Carsley, Betts (Quinn), Thompson; Mills, Martinez (Joachim). Not used: Antonelius, Bothroyd, Hyldgaard. County: (3-5-2) Dibble 8; Clare 8, Palmer 8, Challinor 8; Gibb 7, Delaney 7, Briggs 7, Lescott 7, Woodthorpe 6; Beckett 6 (Williams 7), Daly 7. Not used: Helin, Hancock, Welsh, Turner.
ATTENDANCE: 12,448 Date Tuesday 29 January County had only one change from the side that stopped the rot at Coventry ten days previously, Neil Ross coming in for his first start for the first-team in place of the suspended Jon Daly. The windy conditions at Priestfield were always going to make for an interesting night of football, and so it proved in a game full of incident, especially in the opening 45 minutes. The wind came in to play after just three minutes of the game, Ali Gibb swirling over a right-wing cross which had Vince Bartram temporarily worried, but it then drifted over the bar without any need for the intervention of the former Arsenal 'keeper. There wasn't long to wait for the first goal though, which came from the boot of a County player. Eleven minutes were gone when Simon Osborn took a quickly taken free-kick in to the penalty area, and Colin Woodthorpe was only able to put it in to his own net under pressure from Barry Ashby. Gillingham then put continued pressure on the County back-line, Carlton Palmer having to put some timely interventions on both Paul Shaw and Iffy Onuora to prevent the home side from doubling their lead. County got back in to the game on 27 minutes on a rare foray in to the Gillingham half. palmer put in an interception on halfway, and stabbed it through to Luke Beckett, who finished in to the bottom corner of the net. This sparked a period of County possession inside the Gills half as they looked to get a second goal, but it was Gillingham who got the next goal. There were just nine minutes to go to half-time when Andy Dibble denied Marlon King, but Rob Clare only half cleared the ball to Simon Osborn 30 yards out, who produced a cracking shot that went in off the underside of the bar without Andy Dibble moving. Within sixty seconds though, County had produced a second equaliser. Gillingham 'keeper Bartram was only able to parry out Aaron Lescott's drive and Luke Beckett shinned in the rebound for his second County goal, coming only 12 minutes after he had opened his County account. Just in to stoppage time, with the game standing at 2-2, Iffy Onuora broke through in to the box and was brough down by Andy Dibble as he moved away from goal. Dibble was booked for the challenge and King sent the Welshman the wrong way from the spot. The half-time whistle was blown shortly after which led to Dibble and Palmer leading the protests to the referee and Onuora about the penalty decision. Just after half-time County full debutant Neil Ross got his first shot on goal of the game, which Bartram had to turn round the post for a corner. From this resultant corner Colin Woodthorpe swung it in and it was Ross who got his head to the ball, nodding it past Bartram for his first senior goal. On 57 minutes a right-wing cross from Nosworthy went loose in the penalty box, but Dibble pounced on it before any of the Gillingham forwards. Paul Shaw could have scored shortly afterwards, but his flick from King's cross drifted just wide of the post. Then, on 70 minutes, came the game's most controversial moment. Dibble was booked for a second time for respotting the ball for a goal-kick after it appeared to blow for its original position. The referee deemed it time-wasting and dismissed the player, meaning Lee Jones had to be brought on at the expense of Neil Ross. This meant that County had 20 minutes to last out with only ten men, but despite a few shaky moments from Lee Jones, the County players hung on for a battling draw, whih typified the fighting spirit that suddenly seems to have been put in to the County side. County: (3-5-2) Dibble 7; Clare 7, Palmer 7, Challinor 7; Gibb 7, Briggs 6, Lescott 6, Delaney 6, Woodthorpe 6; Beckett 8 (Roget 6), Ross 7 (Jones 6). Not used: Williams, Smith, Hardiker.
Gillingham: (4-3-3) Bartram; Hope, Ashby, Smith, Perpetuini; Browning (Gooden), Osborn, Nosworthy (Patterson); Onuora, King (Ipoua), Shaw. Not used: Butters, Saunders.
ATTENDANCE: 7,217
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