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Date Saturday 1 December Carlton Palmer brought in two debutants for this game; Kevin Ellison from the start and loan signing Gary McSheffrey on the bench. There were two other changes to the starting line-up with Glynn Hurst and Jon Daly being promoted from the bench. Jarkko Wiss, Aaron Wilbraham and the suspended Ali Gibb missed out Having only scored two goals since the two teams met some five weeks ago, Carlton handed Jon Daly his full league debut alongside Glynn Hurst up front. However it was Dario Gradi's team that had the best early chances with centre-back Efe Sodje testing Lee Jones early on with a header from a set-piece with the County stopper turned round for a corner. Jones has called on again twice more in the opening half-hour firstly to save from Rob Hulse and then from Dave Brammer's drive from the edge of the area. However, it wasn't all Crewe as Scott Taylor's 25-yarder midway through the half flew just over the top of the bar and debutant Kevin Ellison hit a good angled drive that Clayton Ince had to tip round for a corner. County then came the closest that they got to netting for only the fourth time in ten games. Jones' long punt forward got though to Glynn Hurst who approached the edge of the Crewe area, and lobbed it over the advancing Ince, but he was able to turn and palm the ball away from the goal. As the teams went in at half-time Palmer moved to tell forgotten striker Shefki Kuqi that he would be brought on, and the Finn received a warm reception as he emerged a minute later for what could best be described as a brief warm-up. Kuqi was duly brought on for Jon Daly, and Petri Helin replaced Keith Briggs. For the opening quarter of the second half County looked truly threatening with Kuqi seeming to upset the Crewe defence, and working well in tandem with Glynn Hurst's pace. However, County failed to force a meaningful save from Ince and this was to prove crucial. Lee Jones had to make a rare save from Dean Ashton, racing outside his area to slide the ball away from the Crewe frontman on 56 minutes, but could do nothing about Crewe's opener on 67 minutes. Kenny Lunt's corner landed on the edge of the six-ayrd box and seemed to spin loose away from the main crowd of players, and Stephen Foster pounced on it to fire it past Jones. Just two minutes later Alex could have doubled their lead, Jones making another good save and the ball running out to the edge of the penalty box where Phil Charnock fired it back in, only to see his goalbound effort blocked by Mike Flynn, though how much he knew about it was questionable. Rob Hulse broke through one-on-one with Jones, but saw his hoodoo against County continue as Jones denied him when it looked as though he must score. County made their third change 13 minutes from time with Gary McSheffrey coming on for Scott Taylor, and he made some flashing runs showing his undoubted pace without ever coming close to scoring. Crewe got through the final minutes of the match without too many scares and became the ninth team of 11 to take the three points away from Edgeley Park this season. County players have also only scored two goals in the last ten games meaning that an instant impoteus is required if they are to even look like avoiding the drop. County: (4-4-2) Jones 8; Briggs 5 (Helin 8), Flynn 6, Roget 6, Woodthorpe 6; Taylor 6 (McSheffrey 6), Palmer 6, Lescott 5, Ellison 6; Hurst 6, Daly 5 (Kuqi 6). Not used: Delaney, Turner.
Crewe: (4-4-2) Ince; Foster, Wright, Sodje, Smith; Lunt, Thomas, Brammer, Charnock (Sorvel); Hulse, Ashton. Not used: Bankole, Little, Jack, Macauley.
ATTENDANCE: 5,308 Date Saturday 8 December Finn Petri Helin returned at right-back after a promising second-half performance against Crewe, with Keith Briggs stepping down. Fellow countryman Shefki Kuqi returned in place of Glynn Hurst and Aaron Wilbraham for Jon Daly. Ali Gibb also came back from suspension. Fomer County winger Kevin Cooper received a great reception from around the ground as his name was read out before the kick-off from the County supporters, but he silecnced these same fans just 32 seconds in to the game. David Connolly got the ball past Petri Helin and Cooper raced on to it before placing the ball past Jones in ot the far corner. Not only was it the quickest goal of the season, but also the 50th put past County in league competition this season. Shortly afterwards Wimbledon's Swede Hakan Mild was forced from the pitch with a head wound after an innocious looking clash, but even down to ten men the Dons still looed o be the better side, with Cooper causing the County defence problems on the left, and Michael Hughes should have done better when he go through on to the edge of the area, but he chose to shoot with the outside of his right foot, rather than the left meaning that the ball flew wide without troubling Jones. Wimbledon did get their secon goal in the 32nd minute, as the game started to descend in to a more physical battle between the two teams. Leo Roget commited a foul on the edge of the County area and with the wall still being lined up Neal Ardley took it quickly, lifting it over the wall to David Connolly who fired it past Jones. County's Leo Roget and Aaron Lescott were both booked shortly after, and the County defender (Roget) should have found himself walking from the field before half-time after aiming a kick at Connolly on the edge of the area, who then exacted revenge with a scything tackle on the groin of Roget. County found themselves unexpectedly back in the game just three minutes before half-time from a right-wing Kevin Ellison corner. Ellison seemed to mis-kick the corner, but it hit the back of a Wimbledon defender's head and found itself with Aaron Wilbraham, stood all alone six yards out. I looked across at the linesman who, rightly, kept his flag down, but then as Alby swivelled at shot in he immediately raised the flag. However, after consultation with the referee the goal rightly stood, and County had hope at half-time. Mike Flynn had the best County chance immediately after the start of the second half, but his volley from the edge of the area folowing a corner was saved by Dons keeper Kelvin Davis. However, as the second half went on it seemed that the Wimbledon defence go to grips with the Alby and Kuqi forward line, and so Wilbraham was withdrawn in favour of Scott Taylor midway through the half. However, this move had little effect as Taylor took up some good positions but was uable to puncture through the rearguard. Wimbledon, despite being mostly penned back were looking dangerous on the break, especaially after Damien Francis was introduced for the uncompromising Mild. County' best chance of the last few minutes came through Kevin Ellsion, but Davis held his drive well infornt of the goal and County's ten home defeat of the season was duly chalked up. It was probably the best performance since the Norwich win, but it was still not good enough against the Wimbledon side, still undefeated at Edgeley Park. County: (4-4-2) Jones 6; Helin 6, Flynn 6, Roget 6, Woodthorpe 6; Gibb 7, Palmer 5 (Delaney 6), Lescott 6, Ellison 7; Wilbraham 7 (Taylor 6), Kuqi 6. Not used: Turner, Hurst, Welsh.
Wimbledon: (4-4-2) Davis; Holloway, Cunningham, Brown, Darlington; Ardley, Hughes, Mild (Francis), Cooper (McAnuff); Connolly, Shipperley. Not used: Agyemang, Willmott, Feuer.
ATTENDANCE: 4,673 Date Saturday 15 December New signing Luke Beckett had to content himself with a place on the bench as Gary McSheffrey started up front alongside Shefki Kuqi. In another change Damien Delaney came in as Carlton Palmer opted to drop himself. After last week's Kevin Cooper goal County came up against two more of their former players with Graham Branch and Ian Moore both lining up for the Clarets. County started the game promisingly and could even have taken the lead inside 90 seconds. Shefki Kuqi got past Arthur Gnohere on the left and his cross got to Ali Gibb, who knocked it back in for Gary McSheffrey, but he headed over from eight yards. County still had the better up until nine minutes, when Burnley broke in to the County half for literally the first time. Glen Little it towards the corner of the penalty area where Gareth Taylor got to the ball, and was going away from goal when taken out by Damien Delaney for a clear-cut penalty. Glen Little took it and as Lee Jones did everything bar putting up a sign to show which way he was going, Little slotted it in the opposite side to give Burnley and undeseved lead. However, within two minutes County were level through the striker on loan from Coventry. Mike Flynn's long free-kick was laid off by Shefki Kuqi to Ali Gibb. Gibb's cross looped up in to the penalty area and Kuqi headed it away from the goalkeeper towards McSheffrey whose diving header fonud the far corner of the unguarded goal. The rest of the first half continued on an even keel with Lee Jones having to be at his best to deny an Alan Moore shot on the half hour and Shefki Kuqi chased a long ball over the top before going in to the Burnley 'keeper Nik Michopoulos, meaning that the Burnley 'keeper required treatment. Kuqi was then bizaarely booked just before half-time when he went for a header from a corner, failing to make contact with the ball or seemingly any players, but the referee still took exception and issued the card. At half-time the fans were well pleased with the performance of the players, as they matched the Burnley side throughout the half. At half-time Palmer took off Aaron Lescott, quiet during the first half, and brought on Keith Briggs to an unfamiliar central midefield role. However, this move seemed to have a positive effetc on the County side as they penned back the Burnley team in their own half for at least the first twenty minutes. The best chance of this period fell to Kevin Ellsion after his initial pass put Shefki Kuqi through over the top, Kuqi's shot was blocked by Michopoulos and the rebound came out to Ellison, whose shot whistled just past the post. In fairness to Ellison newly-introduced substitute Luke Beckett crossed his path just before he shot. However, this effort was to cost County as Burnley caught them with a two-goal sucker-punch. First Ian Moore got to the by-line, pulled the ball back to Little whose cross has met by the head of Gareth Taylor, who towered above Petri Helin and headed across Jones in to the corner. That was on 66 minutes, and just five minutes later the game was up for County. It was Little again who got past Helin, and curled the ball in to the six-yard box where Ian Moore's shot looped over Jones in to the net. There were suspicions of offside in the build-up, but subsequent replays prove that the linesman was correct to keep his flag down. Meanwhile, at the opther end the referee was continuing his personal vendetta against Shefki Kuqi, blowing the whistle for a Burnley free-kick every time the Finn went near the ball. County's desperation level then rose, and Colin Woodthorpe was booked for a tackel from behind as Burnley played keep-ball inside the County half. County did however add a more realistic slant to the scoreline in the second minute of stoppage time. The referee, who overall booked four County players and one from Burnley, gave County a penalty for a crafty handball by Gareth Taylor, who attempted to punch the ball away from a corner. Shefki Kuqi stepped up after seemingly having an argument with Leo Roget as to who was to take it, and scored in to the top corner, but this came too late for County whose play overall deserved a point and would have earned it but for more shoddy defending. Burnley: (4-4-2) Michopoulos; West, Cox, Gnohere, Branch (Armstrong); Little, Briscoe, Ball, A.Moore (Weller); Taylor, I.Moore (Papadoppoulos). Not used: Maylett, Cennamo.
County: (4-4-2) Jones 6; Helin 6, Flynn 5, Roget 6, Woodthorpe 6; Gibb 6, Lescott 6 (Briggs 7), Delaney 6, Ellison 7; McSheffrey 7 (Beckett 6), Kuqi 7. Not used: Palmer, Taylor, Turner.
ATTENDANCE: 15,526 Date Saturday 22 December Luke Beckett came in for his first start at the expense of Gary McSheffrey and Keith Briggs returned to the County starting line-up for the transfer-listed Petri Helin. Peter Clark also came in at left-back for Colin Woodthorpe. County lined-up 3-5-2 for this game for the first time under Carlton Palmer as Keith Briggs played in centre midfield with Aaron Lescott being asked to do a man-marking job on the Croatian Robert Prosinecki. However it was the Portsmouth team who seemed to benefit most from this County formation, with right winger Kevin Harper finding a lot of room in behind Kevin Ellison. Throughout the first-half it was the Portsmouth team who were on top with Harper's crosses just failing to produce any real hances for the Portsmouth front line. The best chance of the first half came for Stuart Lovell, his shot deflected off Leo Roget and was going towards the top corner of the goal before Lee Joens reached back to palm it away. This was only one of at least three top drawer saves that Jones made through the half, also denying Peter Crouch from point-blank range. County would have been pleased to go in at half-time still on level terms with their hosts, despite being mostly on the back-foot for the most part. At the very start of the second half County had their best chance of the whole game with Shefki Kuqi taing advantage of a mistake by Linvoy Primus but then being denied by a challenge from Carl Tiler just as he was about to shoot towards Kawaguchi's goal. Luke Beckett could also have scored in the opening fifteen minutes of the second half, but he failed to turn the rebound from a Kuqi shot towards goal as it went wide. Lee Jones then produced another briliant save from Kevin Harper's headed after a Prosinecki free-kick, diving to his right to palm the ball away, and also denying Crouch by spreading himself inside his own six-yard box. However, County's stubborn resistance eventually caved-in on 71 minutes. harper was released down the right-hand side and he powered the ball across the six-ayrd box where Peter Crouch met it with his left fot from six-yards to beat Jones. Stuart Lovell could then have doubled the lead three minutes later when upt clean through, but steered his shot wide of the post. He did make amends for this miss eight minutes before full-time however when he skipped past Mike Flynn and then lifted the ball over Lee Jones from a quite acute angle to score only his third goal for Portsmouth, and his second against County. This left County merely hanging on in the final stages, as they were forced to again return from the south coast after another long, pointless journey. Boss Carlton Palmer was also not happy with the performance, branding it "very poor", not surprising as he is now the manager of a team 10 points behind any other in Division One. :Portsmouth: (3-4-1-2) Kawaguchi; Primus, Tiler, Buxton; Harper, Barrett, Quashie, Pitt (Vincent); Prosinecki; Lovell, Crouch.
County: (3-5-2) Jones 7; Clark 6, Flynn 6, Roget 7; Gibb 7, Lescott 6, Briggs 6 (Taylor 6), Delaney 6, Ellison 6; Beckett 6 (McSheffrey 6), Kuqi 6. Not used: Palmer, Woodthorpe, Turner.
ATTENDANCE: 13,887 Date Wednesday 26 December County reverted to a 4-4-2 formation with Aaron Lescott starting at right-back . Scott Taylor came in for Kevin Ellsion on the left-hand side of midfield with Palmer bringing himself in to the back four for Leo Roget and there was a recall for the transfer-listed Jarkko Wiss at the expense of Damien Delaney. The game went ahead despite a few frosty patches on the pitch and the low sun above the Cheadle End looked set to cause problems for the goalkeeper in the Railway End goal, which in the first half was Kevin Miller of Barnsley. Barnsley started far better than County at pressed home this early advantage on the quarter-hour. Mike Sheron played the ball in to Bruce Dyer and then went for the return on the edge of the box before knocking it past Sam Turner in to the corner. Turner did get fingertips to the ball, and had it been a taller 'keeper he might well have saved the ball. County's best moments of the half both came from set-pieces and both fell to player-manager Carlton Palmer. Midway through the half Palmer's verhead kick followig an Ali Gibb corner appeared to be blocked by the arm of Gary Jones, but the referee allowed play to go on. Then, following a short throw-in Palmer's overhead kick from the ocrner of the penalty box went between the onrushing Jarkko Wiss and the far post. But Barnsley, without an away win so far this season, were the better team in the half domniating County in the midfield areas and creating further good chances, although through a combination of luck and last-ditch defending Barnley did not add to their lead before half-time. However, just four minutes after half-time Barnsley doubled their lead through an unlikely source. Kevin Donovan got away down the Barnsley right and played the ball across trhe six-yard box where Carlton Palmer got in in front of the Barnsley forward, but only succeeded in putting it past Sam Turner in to the net. There then followed the loudest chanting of "ee-aw" I think I have ever heard, it was a popular goal with the Barnsley contingent. County failed to liven up even after this and on two occasions anly vital interceptions from Palmer prevented further goals for the Tykes from Mike Sheron. Barnsley did get their clinching third goal though 11 minutes from time. A left-side corner came in to the box for defender Chris Morgan to prod home from eight yards as snow began to fall at Edgeley Park. Only now did County finally liven up, Shefki Kuqi neting with seven minutes to go for his first goal from open play this season. Kevin Ellsion's cross found the Finns' head and he guided it past Miller, and Luke Beckett was then denied his first County goal by an offside flag following Kevin Ellison's shot from the edge ofd the box being blocked. However, despite this fightback in the last 10 minutes there was no mistaking how the best side on show were, and they deservedly took their first away win of the season, leaving County with their 11th home defeat this season. County: (4-4-2) Turner 6; Lescott 6, Flynn 6, Palmer 7, Clark 6; Gibb 6, Briggs 8, Wiss 5, Taylor 6 (Ellison 7); Kuqi 6, Beckett 6. Not used: Dibble, Roget, McSheffrey, Daly.
Barnsley: (4-4-2) Miller; Mulligan, Morgan, Chettle, Barker; Donovan, Lumsdon, G.Jones, Barnard; Dyer (McSwegan), Sheron. Not used: Ghent, L.Jones, Crooks, Neil.
ATTENDANCE: 6,885
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