AUGUST
County's season started on August 10th, when 540 away fams made the arduous trip to Colchester, only to see County return pointless after a 1-0 defeat, for which new record signing Ben Burgess started on the bench. For the record the only goal was scored by Thomas Pinault.

County's first home game followed three days later, an early test against one of the pre-season promotion favourites in the shape of QPR. Luke Beckett scored County's first goal of the season in the 61st minute, only for the lead to be cancelled out by a penalty as the game finished all square.

A penalty then also proved crucial in County's next game, a lifeless 0-0 draw with Notts County enlivened only by Luke Beckett's penalty striking the post, and Ben Burgess' follow-up then striking the opposite upright. Beckett now has three misses from three penalties in County colours.

County then embarked on the August Bank Holiday weekend, with games against Port Vale (away) and Mansfield at EP within 48 hours. Beckett scored his and County's second goal of the season at Vale Park to register a 1-0 victory against the home side, being skippered by Brett Angell, to give County their first away win under Carlton Palmer at the 16th attempt. Mansfield then pummelled County into submission on the following Monday, before shooting themselves in the foot by scoring for us (a Stuart Reddington own-goal) and allowing Beckett to add a second.

The month was then rounded off with a trip to the County ground, and County ably showed that they had now become the masters of the 1-0 away win, Beckett (still the only County player to score at this point) netting a breakaway goal as County staged an heroic rearguard action.

Record in month: P6 W3 D2 L1 F5 A2

SEPTEMBER
After a ten day gap at the start of the month, owing to County's three Ireland Under-21 internationals being required on the first Saturday, County sauntered in to Worthington Cup action at Sincil Bank, Lincoln anxious to avoid embarassment. This was duly accomplished with Rob Clare and Carlton Palmer netting along with Beckett getting his customary goal. Former County player Adie Mike made thnigs nervy by scoring for the home side.

County then went in to a top-six clash (the only time that could be said all season!) with Cardiff with the best defensive record in all four leagues, having conceded only two goals. However, this defence kept Robert Earnshaw out for only a minute and conceded again after Beckett had scored for the fifth consecutive game to end County's run of four straight wins.

A four consecutive away game then followed, a short trip to Saltergate, the first there since County sealed promotion on the ground in 1997. With former Spirite striker Beckett having scored in his last five games, surely he would be able to make it six here, but instead he only got booked as County laid siege to the home goal, without finding the back of the net. Maybe it was an unlucky single-goal defeat, maybe it was payback for the luck we had against Mansfield and Swindon.

Back on home turf for the first time in 26 days, the Hatters turned in an abject first half showing against Barnsley, gonig in behind to a Rory Fallon goal, County then produced a remarkable second half display finding the Tykes' net four times. The unlikely hero of the rout was Jim Goodwin, netting his first two County goals within nine minutes of each other, with Beckett proving a far more likely hero with two goals of his own.

In the week leading up to the next game, at Tranmere, County made their first signing of the season, bringing in Antony Tonkin from Yeovil He was played in the left wing-back position, but failed to inspire County who crumbled to a 1-0 defeat after an early goal from Simon Haworth.

Record in month: P5 W2 D0 L3 F8 A6

OCTOBER
Having beaten Lincoln in the first round of the competition, County were then paired with Gillingham on the first day of October in the second round of the Worthington Cup. Not viewed as a glamour tie, only 2,396 people turned up to watch County run a higher division club pretty close. County led for a period after a Jon Daly goal, his first of the season, before Guy Ipoua equalised. The game then went in to extra-time, and just as penalties were looking possible Tommy Johnson netted the winner in the 111th minute.

This then left County to concentrate on what, on paper, looked a hard month in the league with Luton the first visitors to Edgeley. Looking back this was something of a landmark game, County's defensive frailties were brutally exposed. All looked well in the first half, when County despite falling behind early recovered to lead 2-1 through Beckett and Daly. However, in the spcae of four second-half minutes a win turned in to a defeat, with the player-manager handing the winner to Andrew Fotiadis with an under-hit back-pass before promptly blaming Lee Jones for the incident. This may have been the point at which County fans realised that Palmer wasn't good enough and more, unfortunately for us he didn't share this view.

County were now free-falling down the lead, four league defeats out of five meant that the team with the best defence in the country were now in 17th place and shipping goals like nobody's business. The re-arraged game with Peterborough was next u for which County changed to a 4-4-2 formation. They played well enough for an hour, holding a two goal lead through Beckett and er... Beckett, but then they fell victim to the "midfield-must-play-in-defence-when-winning" mentality. This let Peterborough, and in particularly Jimmy Bullard, back in to the game. He almost single-handedly rescued a point for the visitiors, with the final whistle rescuing County at 2-1.

For the visit of Crewe Palmer suddenly decided he was a tactical genius, and could of course outwit a manager who was just approaching his 1000th game in the job. Needless to say he didn't, his tactics involved putting Ali Gibb in to central midfield and bringing Andy Welsh back from a loan spell at Macclesfield to play on the right wing (but he's left-footed...) anyway, after Dario had stopped laughing his team romped to a 4-1 win (daly scoring for County after they'd returned to two up front). Palmer apologised for this game, rightly too.

If Crewe were a tough nut to crack at home, Wigan, already opening a gap at the top of the league, could be nigh-on impossible. Yet, desipte the loss of Ali Gibb to a nasty head injury, County led at half-time, 1-0 through that man Beckett (his 12th of the season already). However, Wigan then overwhelmed County in the second half, doing enough without looking particularly great doing it to keep the three points at the JJB.

Then came a new experince for County, the LDV Vans trophy (remembered that kids? It used to the the Autoglass, you do now?) Well County were drawn at home to Darlington and one-nil with a semi-scratch team with Keith Briggs scoring the only game. The game was remarkable for aother thing that would only ever happen to Carlton Palmer. He'd named himself amongst the substitutes, but judged by his attire wasn't expected to come on. However, an injury forced him to do so meaning he had to change out his clothes, even including a gold watch (ever seen a sub. wearing a gold watch?).

The month ended with two more league games, Brentford at home and Blackpool away. Brentford were up first, with James Spencer appearing in goal for the game with Jones out injured. He could do nothing about the first goal, Antony Tonkin having caught Palmer disease and left a back-pass well short, but he could be blamed for goals two and three from set plays. County's replies came in stoppage time at the end of either half, through Beckett and Palmer.

Things were looking bleak then for the trip to the seaside, County had lost their last four away games and Blackpool were pushing for a play-off place and unbeaten at home. County equipped themselves well in the first half on the pitch, cleverly positioned roughly 75 yards fro m the away end, surely they should have had binoculars on the backs of the seats? Anyway, second half and Kevin Ellison netted a screamer from 25 yards, shock, he'd never done before. Then Ali Gibb scored, shock, I never thought he'd do that before! Beckett then lobbed a third, shock, we're going to win. Blackpool netted a consolation but only the most pessimistic observer would think this was a comeback of any description. County had gained their most unexpected victory of the season.
Record in month: P8 W3 D0 L5 F13 A16

MANSFIELD TOWN
Last season: 3rd in Division Three
It would be unfair to say that Mansfield's promotion last season as solely down to Chris Greenacre, but his 28 goals in all competitions will be sorely missed after his move to Stoke. The squad is currently threadbare, and unless they make use of the loan system when injuries start to kick in, it could be a long, hard season.
Prediction: 23rd

NORTHAMPTON TOWN
Last season: 20th
Narrowly avoided relegation last season, although the main talk over the summer has been about a possible takeover by a consortium lead by John Fashanu. If the takeover comes off, and injection of money in these troubled times might see them towards the top half, but even without this they have enough to stay up.
Ian's prediction: 16th

NOTTS COUNTY
Last season: 19th
Billy Dearden raised a few eyebrows when he left promotion-bound Mansfield for struggling Notts County, and his main task over the summer has been to keep hold of 25-goal striker Danny Allsopp, his success in this looks like translating in to a relatively comfortable season for the Nottingham side.
Prediction: 18th

OLDHAM ATHLETIC
Last season: 9th
Sacked Andy Ritchie when still in the top tem last season, then went through a second manager before settling on all County fans favourite other player, Iain Dowie. Dowie, though has made the move in to management assuredly and has also made astute loan and permanent signigns, making Oldham a real force this season.
Prediction: 2nd

PETERBOROUGH UNITED
Last season: 17th
I for one never thought I'd see the day when barry Fry was one of the longest serving managers in the league, but his assocaiotion with the Posh now spans six years. Their pitch was a major cause for concern last season, with Leon McKenzie the best player to have the misfortune to be a regular on it.
Prediction: 19th

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Last season: 1st in Division Three
Took Division Three by storm last season, conceding just 28 goals and earning 102 points under Scotsman Paul Sturrock. At the same time Home Park was turning in to a 17,000 all-seater stadium showing that the club is more than equipped for Division Two.
Prediction: 5th

PORT VALE
Last season: 14th
Finished strongly last season after looking in trouble for much of the season, but their season was much overshadowed by the promotion of rivals Stoke. The retention of Marc Bridge-Wilkinson for the coming season was important, and should help them to mid-table again.
Prediction: 13th

QPR
Last season: 8th
Ian Holloway turned round QPR last season after they had left Division One in administration. This season they will have Fulham as tennants, which although they have now got rid of London Wasps, will still mean more games being played on the pitch. Expected to impress, but may struggle slightly if the pitch deteriorates.
Prediction: 12th

STOCKPORT COUNTY
Last season: 24th in Division One
Last season was pretty much the worst in County's history, only six wins and the concession of more than 100 goals. However, the outgoing of many of the clubs highest earners has meant that County were able to buy over the summer rather than sell, putting them in better shape than most, though the play-offs may prove out of reach.
Prediction: 9th

SWINDON TOWN
Last season: 17th
Have added a couple of players in the final week of the season including Sam Parkin from Chelsea and now look set to get rid of Neil Ruddock to ease the wage bill. Will look forward to a new local derby with Cheltenham, and still have the best named player in the division in Danny Invincible.
Prediction: 17th

TRANMERE ROVERS
Last season: 12th
A disappointing first season in Division Two last time out, and their summer has been punctuated with Dave Watson losing his job. Ray Matias is in temporary charge, and in his only Division Two season he guided Wigan to the play-offs. Can't see him doing the same with Tranmere though.
Prediction: 15th

WIGAN ATHLETIC
Last season: 10th
Always backed to do well at the start of the season due to chairman Dave Whelan's deep pockets, but always seem to fade towards the end of the season when rugby starts to take its toll. They should improve on last season's showing with the recent addition of Nathan Eliington but will have to settle for the play-offs.
Prediction: 3rd

WYCOMBE WANDERERS
Last season: 11th
Have taken Craig Faulconbridge from the relegated Wrexham to attempt to better the 11 goals of top scorer Andy Rammell last season. Like Tranmere they have become better known for their Cup exploits, but a bit of focus on the league this term would result in a mid-table finish.
Ian's prediction: 14th

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