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Date Saturday 29 December Damien Delaney was brought back for the normally fruitful visit of Birmingham in place of Jarkko Wiss. Also coming in were Leo Roget for Palmer, Gary McSheffrey for Luke Beckett, Jon Daly for Shefki Kuqi and Andy Welsh for Scott Taylor. The pitch was passed fit to play after a reputed two inspections, although there was a patch on the corner of the Railway End penalty area that remained icy all through the match, as Palmer's threat to play youth over more experienced campaigners came to pass. Just 60 seonds in to the game Palmer's youth policy could have had a dream start. Andy Welsh's right-wing corner was flicked on to Gary McSheffrey, who headed over from four yards as the ball struck him, rather than him moving to meet the ball. However, after this minor scare Birmingham quickly took control. The first goal came after a spell of Birmingham pressure in the 18th minute, after forcing a corner that County only half cleared Tommy Mononey got it back in to the box and veteran defender Steve Vickers slotted the ball past Sam Turner. Geoff Horsfield could have doubled the lead later on in the half, but failed to hit the tagret when well placed. County's left winger Andy Welsh was their most effective forward player, his trickery causing some problems for right-back Jeff Kenna, who was linked with a loan switch to County earlier in the season. However, the Scots' end product was not up to his approach play, one shot endangering the corner flag from his least favoured right-foot. So at half-time County were again trailing, and looking toothless up front. The second half began with County only a goal down, but somehow ou knew that this would be quickly added to. It took just four minute after half time for this to happen. A long punt forward from Martin Grainger looped over the County defence and Marcelo was given the freedom of the area, after being well denied by Turner Marcelo was not to miss for a second time to double the Blues lead. About now County fans were starting to wish that the pitch hadn't been passed fit and that the game had been postponed, and it looked like the players were wishing this also. The introduction of 16-year-old forward Chris Williams sounds like it should have been an attacking move, but this was only at the expense of McSheffrey. This move left County with only three players on the pitch who had ever scored for the club (Flynn, Briggs and Roget) and none of them in attacking positions. Almost incredibly Damien Delaney, who in all previous games had looked on the worse side of ordinary was County's most inspired player, attempting to push the troops forward in vain. Birmingham put the game beyond doubt (from their point of view anyway) in the 76th minute, with Tommy Mooney unleashing a curling shot from the edge of the box that went in to the top corner leaving Turner no chance. This chance only came about after Leo Roget had denied Marcelo a clear goal scoring chance with a well-timed tackle. Further bad news for County came with a rather serious looking injury for right-back (?) Aaron Lescott, as he attemped to deny Mooney a run on goal for a fourth goal and twisted his knee. Scott Taylor was sent on as the third substitute. This was another abject showing from County, and 11th home defeat of the season equals the worst season in the club's history, as does eight consecutive defeats. County: (4-4-2) Turner 6; Lescott 6 (Taylor 6), Flynn 5, Roget 6, Clark 6 (Woodthorpe 6); Gibb 6, Delaney 7, Briggs 6, Welsh 6; McSheffrey 5 (Williams 5), Daly 5. Not used: Maguire, Clare.
Birmingham: (4-4-2) Bennett; Kenna, Vickers, Purse, Grainger; McCarthy, Woodhouse, O'Connor (Bak), Mooney; Marcelo (Johnson), Horsfield (Hyde). Not used: Vaesen, Burrows.
ATTENDANCE: 5,827 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
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