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Date Saturday 13 October For County's first game in two weeks David Smith was dropped from the starting lnie-up in favour of Petri Helin, and new loan signing Lee Sandford came in to the back four for the injured Leo Roget, Shefki Kuqi also came in for Scott Taylor. County were buoyed by a vocal following from the first whistle for this Maine Road derby game, and Shefki Kuqi was the first striker from either side to get a sight of goal, but his attempted shot was blocked, and the ball then hit him for a goal-kick. The first moment of controversy came just later. A long clearance from the back had back-spin on it and Pegguy Arphexad raced out to atempt to shepherd in out, however Darren Huckerby dispossessed him and curled the ball in, but the goal was disallowed after the linesman flagged that the ball had gone out of play. Huckerby was booked for his protests. City's danger man Ali Benarbia was being manmarked by Karim Fradin, but still managed to get a couple of dangerous passes in to the County box, and put one shot just past the post. Meanwhile the referee was doing little on endear himself to either set of fans, after ruling out City's legitimate-looking goal, he now seemed determined to give every 50-50 decision to the home team, but neither side could force a goal in the first half. There wasn't long to wait for a goal though, just two minutes in to the second half in fact, and it was County who scored it. Fradin's cross was flicked on by Petri Helin towards Shefki at the back post, and his header across was met by Glynn Hurst who forced the ball in to the net to give County the lead. This lead lasted just two minutes. City broke up County's left-side with Richard Dunne getting the ball to the edge of the area, and the ball deflected off the toe of Benarbia, and past Arphexad at the near post. However, the on-loan Liverpool stopper could not be blamed for the goal. At this point it appeared that the next goal would be crucial, with both sides hustling in the midfield area, with the battle between Danny Tiatto and Helin being particularly well-fought, with the Finn enjoying his best game for County so far. City then shot themselves in the foot by giving away a penalty in the 69th minute. Glynn Hurst seemed likely to connect with a ball in from the left, but was bundled over by Tiatto, who escaped with only a yellow card. As Shefki Kuqi stepped up the comparisons with County's last derby victory were obvious, and like Dinning he scored past Nick Weaver. As expected the manchester team then piled pressure on to the County rear-guard, where Lee Sandford and Mike Flynn were shackling the aerial threat of Shaun Goater, but Darren Huckerby managed to escape a couple of times, once forcing Arphexad in to a low save at his near post, and then hitting wide, again from the inside-left position. Eventually, though County's resiliance ran out. Substitute Shaun Wright-Phillips got down the County left and met a ball from Tiatto, turning it back in to the danger zone where Shuan Goater hooked the ball in to the roof of the goal, with only six minutes to play. In the closing stages City's desperate home support made appeals for a couple of handballs against Van Blerk, but both were clearly instances of ball-to-hand. County then succeeded in wasting away most of the four minutes of stoppage time to come away from Maine Road with a point after another creditable derby performance, one bettered only this season by the Bradford win. Manchester City: (5-3-2) Weaver; Dunne (Wright-Phillips), Wiekens (Mettomo), Pearce, Howey, Granville (Berkovic); Etuhu, Benarbia, Tiatto; Goater, Huckerby. Not used: Nash, Horlock.
County: (4-3-3) Arphexad 6; Gibb 7, Sandford 8, Flynn 8, Van Blerk 7; Helin 9, Fradin 8, Sneekes 7 (Smith 7); Wilbraham 6 (Woodthorpe 7), Kuqi 7 (Taylor 6), Hurst 8. Not used: Jones, Clare.
ATTENDANCE: 34,214 Date Tuesday 16 October Following County's heroics at Maine Road the only change was the return of Scott Taylor, in for Shefki Kuqi who took a knock on his ankle during Saturday's game. On Gary Megson's second return to Edgeley Park he saw his West Brom side almost take the lead in just the third minute. Centre-back Darren Moore was forward for a set-play, but hooked the ball over the bar. The following goal-kick was greeted with ironic cheers by County fans, mindful of the 'keeper's atrocious kicking on Saturday, as it sailed straight down the middle. West Brom did get the early goal on ten minutes through a veteran striker. Former County player Derek McInnes chupped the ball in to the penalty area, and the ball rebounded off the back of Lee Sandford straight in to the path of Bob Taylor, who neatly placed the ball beyond Arphexad's reach in to the top corner. Scott Dobie, the Baggies top scorer this season was then presented with a chance by some hapless keeping from Arphexad, who missed a through ball, but a superb sliding tackle from Mike Flynn stopped the former Carlisle man netting his what would have been his 10th of the season. County then porduced more poor defending from a corner, allowing Bob Taylor to get at the ball first at the near post. An incredible melee the ensued, with the ball apearing to hit the post before eventually going clear. This was after just 20 minutes, in which time County could have been four down. County finally got a shot on goal in the 37th minute, Scott Taylor cutting in from the left with his shot being tipped round the post by Russell Hoult. Then from the resulting corner Lee Sandford got his head to the ball, but a Baggies defender stopped the goalbound shot with a diving header. Despite this, it was an awful first half display from County, failing to string together more than two passes and whacking the ball forward too early to strikers who looked dis-interested. One of those strikers, Aaron Wilbraham, was pulled off at half-time along with 'keeper Pegguy Arphexad, Shefki Kuqi and Lee Jones came on. Scott Taylor hit a bending shot just over the bar five minutes after half time, and Glynn Hurst could have done better with a header shortly after, but a West Brom goal on the hour mark killed off what little County resiliance there was. Wing-back Neil Clement incredibly got above the County defence to head goalwards, Jones stuck out a hand and made the save, but Bob Taylor seemed to have all the time in the world to pick up the ball in the six-yard box and fire it home. One of County's two former West Brom players, Richard Sneekes, was then taken off, applauding the West Brom fans as he went, which did not go down well with some County fans, who made their feelings known by booing the Dutch midfielder. Larus Sigurdsson should have put West Brom three in front with twenty minutes to play, after being left entirely unmarked from a free-kick, but his header lacked some power and Jones was able to reach to save it. County produced their best football of the entire game in the last five minutes, stringing together six passes in midfield, before inevitably giving the ball away. Somehow County got a goal with two minutes of normal time to play when Ali Gibb's corner was headed against the post, and Karim Fradin managed to force the ball three yards in to the net. Despite this, County were never able to get in to the game, and deserved nothing for a dire performance, especially in midfield, where Saturday's heroes were outplayed by their West Brom counterparts. County: (4-3-3) Arphexad 5 (Jones 6); Gibb 6, Sandford 6, Flynn 6, Van Blerk 6; Helin 5, Fradin 6, Sneekes 5; Taylor 7, Wilbraham 5, Hurst 6. Not used: Bryngelsson, Clare.
West Brom: (3-5-2) Hoult; Sigurdsson, Moore, Gilchrist; Lyttle, Johnson, McInnes, Appleton, Clement; Dobie, Taylor. Not used: Jensen, A.Chambers, Cummings, Fox, Butler.
ATTENDANCE: 6,052 Date Saturday 20 October Lee Jones returned in goal after substituting Pegguy Arphexad at half time on Tuesday and both David Smith and Keith Briggs returned to the side, for Richard Sneekes and Petri Helin. County fans were expected an improvment from the performance against West Brom, but there weren't too many signs of this early on. Shefki Kuqi robbed former County defender Martin McIntosh, but couldn't get his shot on target, whilst at the other end Rotherham threatened the County defnce through Rob Scott, however Jones covered his shot. Rotherham's front-line of Mark Robins and Alan Lee both could have scored before the half-hour, Lee Sandford having to block a right-wing cross to stop it reaching the un-marked Robins, and a long-range drive from Lee had Lee Jones scrambling, although he seemed to have it covered by the time it went wide of goal.. County's best move of the game, and of a few before it came on 36 minutes, they strung a number of passes together following Lee Jones' long throw, before Scott Taylor's cross didn't reach Glynn Hurst. It was the visitors who took the lead three minutes before half time. Chris Sedgwick got in behind Jason Van Blerk following the Aussie losing the ball inside the Rotherham half, and crossed towards the back post, this took a deflection off Keith Briggs and looped in to the path of Stewart Talbot, who headed past Jones. County were then booed (deservedly) off at half time, with manager Andy Kilner aiming a two-fingered gesture at a section of the home support as he disappeared down the tunnel, he was thenn rowdly booed when he re-appeared for the second half. There was another show of disapproval seven minutes on to the second half when Glynn Hurst was withdrawn to be replaced with Wilbraham. Hurst made his feelings clear to the bench before disappearing straight down to the tunnel, to a standing ovation from many Main Stand fans. Back to the action, what little of it there was, and Aaron Wilbraham forced Mike Pollitt to get down low at his near post, to make his first real save of the game. What little threat County posed was coming from set plays, and one of these almost brought them level. Ali Gibb whipped the ball in and as Wilbraham ran in on the goalkeeper the net rippled, but the ball was cleared as it was only a Rotherham player who had gone in to the net. Jones kept County in the game with a double save with ten minutes left. Firstly he kept out Rob Scott, and then John Mullin also saw his shot turned away by the Welsh number one. County's last chance came in the first minute of stoppage time. Mike Flynn lofted the ball forward from halfway and with Rotherham defending deep, Wilbraham got his head to the ball, but it hit Pollitt as he dived, and went to safety. At the end of the game the fans again made their feelings felt towards the manager, and after the game the game a small crowd of supporters gathered outside the players entrance, calling for the sacking of the manager. Questions now have to be answered, such as why was Chris Williams not brought on, 1-0 down with only two substitutes used the situation seemed to be crying out for the young forward, but he remained on the bench. If he was not used in this circumstance, why was he on the bench at all? County: (4-3-3) Jones 7; Briggs 6, Sandford 6, Flynn 6, Van Blerk 5 (Woodthorpe 6); Gibb 6, Smith 6, Fradin 6; Taylor 6, Kuqi 6, Hurst 6 (Wilbraham 7). Not used: Turner, Helin, Williams.
Rotherham: (4-4-2) Pollitt; Hurst, Swailes, McIntosh, Daws; Sedgwick, Talbot (Mullin), Scott, Monkhouse; Robins (Barker), Lee. Not used: Gray, Watson, Beech.
ATTENDANCE: 6,616 Date Wednesday 24 October Fredrik Bryngelsson received a suprising recall in central midfield, and lined up alongside the returning Petri Helin and Karim Fradin in a three-man midfield. Rookie 'keeper Sam Turner was called in following a training injury to Lee Jones, Keith Briggs and Glynn Hurst were dropped. Fears that only a small number of County fans would turn up for the game proved untrue as they turned out in numbers, and set about supporting the team from the first whistle, and for once the team responded. There were worries about Conuty's 'keeper, who seemed to be diving for every shot, although Dean Ashton's early effort went wide, but Crewe's, Ademola Bankole, seemed even more inept. The left-back took his goal-kicks, and he missed an easy ctach completely, not even touching the ball as it went out for a corner. However, he redeemed himself after Shefki Kuqi capitalised on a defensive slip, but ws denied at point-blank range by the Nigerian 'keeper, Kuqi has still not scored a league goal from open play this season. Then came the first of two horror misses from Crewe striker Rob Hulse. Firstly, the County defence was cut open as Efe Sodje flicked on a long free-kick, and with an open goal facing him the Crewe frontman didn't get enough on the ball, and it skewed off his boot for a throw-in. Then, five minutes before half-time the ball was played acorss the County six yard box, but this time Hulse pulled his right-footed shot wide. In between these two misses County had the better of the play, stroking it around well in the midfield, with Petri Helin hitting two long range shots, one of which went over the bar and the second was saved. Meanwhile, at the back Ali Gibb was doing a man-marking job on Rodney Jack, depsite fouling him and getting booked early on. County went in satisfied with their performance at 0-0. The second half as a whole had less goal action with than the first, and it was Hulse who came the closest to breaking the deadlock again. He got on to a through ball from Jack and lifted the abll over Turner, but Lee Sandford got back to clear the goalbound shot. Freddy Bryngelsson, quietly assured in his new midfield position, came close to scoring from 35 yards, but his stinging low shot went wide of Bankole's right-hand post. There was then one nasty moment from Turner as he advanced too far from his goal-line, Ashton's shot was deflected and was looping in to the goal, but Turner got back in time to catch the ball. Shefki Kuqi could have won the game for County as it moved towards its conclusion, but the ball was whipped off his toes by Efe Sodje, after Scott Taylor's pass. The game finished with County pressing deep in Crewe's third of the match, stringing passes together, and in many ways this was typical of the match, whne for most of the first half County had out-footballed Crewe. Crewe Alexandra: (4-3-1-2) Bankole; Foster, Sodje, Walton, Smith; Lunt, Brammer (Thomas), Sorvel; Jack; Hulse, Ashton. Not used: Ince, Wright, Tait, Rix.
County: (4-3-1-2) Turner 7; Gibb 7, Sandford 7, Flynn 7, Van Blerk 7; Helin 8, Bryngelsson 7 (Woodthorpe 7), Fradin 9; Taylor 8; Kuqi 7, Wilbraham 7. Not used: Spencer, Sneekes, Smith, Welsh.
ATTENDANCE: 6,679 Date Saturday 27 October Andy Kilner started with the same ten outfield players that started against Crewe, but former England goalkeeper Tim Flowers was brought in to goal in place of Sam Turner who, despite keeping a clean sheet, was dropped. County's Finnsh midfielder Petri Helin suffered a nasty looking injury in the first five minutes of this game, appearing to lose consciousness for a brief period after an aerial challenge with Steve Claridge, however after a few mintues of treatment Helin was able to return to the game. County's best opening of the entire half came inside ten minutes, when Tony Warner in the Millwall goal had to be alert to keep out Fredrik Bryngelsson's flick-on from Mike Flynn's long throw. Not long after this, County fell behind. Richard Sadlier got down the left side and played it behind the frontmen to midfielder Tim Cahill, who guided it in to the far corner. After this County seemed to fall apart, and one became two in the 29th minute. Millwall got a free-kick in a central area around thirty yards out, and Steven Reid drilled it below the three-man County defence, and Flowers couldn't prevent it from going in. It was a soft goal, which a former England 'keeper might have been expected to stop. At the other end Shefki Kuqi's cross was too high for Scott Taylor, and Karim Fradin was forced off by injury to compound County's woes, replaced by Colin Woodthorpe. More defensive mishaps led to Millwall's third on 39 minutes, Petri Helin should have cleared Sadlier's pass but completely missed the ball, which ran in to the path of Steve Claridge who simply lifted the ball wide of Flowers in to the net. Incredibly it could have been even worse for County before half-time. Richard Sadlier's header from a corner was goalbound, but Flowers pulled of a good save to prevent County from going in at the break four down, three was more than enough though. County brought on young winger Andy Welsh at half-time for the dazed Helin, but he didn't start to effect the game until after Millwall's fourth. They were awarded a soft-looking penalty for an alledged pull by Lee Sandford as the on-loan defnder fell to the ground himself, and Claridge stroked the penalty away with the minimum of fuss. Andy Welsh produced a couple of lovely runs down the left before being put hrough by Scott Taylor as County broke from a Lions corner, but Warner closed down the angle and saved the shot. County then came the cloest they got to scoring when Colin Woodthorpe's shot from 25 yards hit the top of the bar around the hour mark. Substitute Neill Hardy should have at least got County on the scoreboard, but headed wide from four yards out. Welsh continued to tease his full-back for the rest of the game, and Warner had to make a save low down by his post, but Sadlier could have made it five more Millwall twelve minutes from time, only to see his shot saved by Flowers. At the end of the game the County players were booed from the field, all except Andy Welsh, whose debut enlightened another dour home showing from County, who long can this go on for? County: (4-4-2) Flowers 6; Gibb 6, Sandford 5, Flynn 6, Van Blerk 5; Helin 5 (Welsh 9), Fradin 5 (Woodthorpe 7), Bryngelsson 6, Taylor 6; Wilbraham 5 (Hardy 5), Kuqi 6. Not used: Turner, Sneekes.
Millwall: (4-4-2) Warner; Green, Nethercott, Dyche, Bull; Reid (Ryan), Livermore, Cahill (Ward), Bircham (Ifill); Claridge, Sadlier. Not used: Guéret, Savarese.
ATTENDANCE: 5,371
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