It really is going from bad to worse at Notts County, as the Magpies fell to a record-equalling ninth consecutive league defeat on Monday against Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium.

It wasn't a case of a near-miss either - it was a shambolic performance which saw ex-Notts boss Shaun Derry's charges put four goals past his old side for a 4-0 final result.

The opening goal, on 19 minutes, set the tone perfectly for what was to come as Adam Collin fired a clearance into Luke Berry and the ball rebounded into the empty net.

It was very similar to a similar error made by Roy Carroll last season, and the travelling Notts fans, already in low spirits as it was, could not have been faulted for expecting the worst on the day.

Indeed, Uche Ikpeazu made it 2-0 just before the hour, slotting the ball under Collin following ex-Magpie Blair Adams' surging run out of defence (Derry, Adams... there really seems to be a running theme here).

And four minutes later, on 61, it was 3-0 as Berry grabbed his second when he reacted quickest to force the ball in from close range after seeing his initial strike saved by Collin.

On 69 minutes Piero Mingoia added a fourth, benefiting from another defensive error as Harrison Dunk robbed Louis Laing and allowed Mingoia to finish easily beyond Collin.

Could this be the season where Notts finally exit the Football League, after dodging the bullet on numerous occasions since the turn of the century?

Unless we get immediate surgery - and at least, with Alan Hardy coming in, there may be a glimpse of salvation - then the deteriorating entity that is Notts will become a non-league club.

And in case you're wondering about the title - well, it's pretty much copy-and-paste at the moment, isn't it?

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Notts County have suffered an eighth straight defeat in League Two to cap off a dreadful 2016 as Carlisle United left Meadow Lane with all three points in a 3-2 win on New Year's Eve.

John Sheridan's charges continue to be weak at the back and this was the case once again as Charlie Wyke headed in from close range after Notts failed to deal with a Nicky Adams corner in the 10th minute.

Michael Raynes went close to adding a second, but Notts levelled on the half-hour mark when Jon Stead thumped a header into the Cumbrians' net from Michael O'Connor's free-kick.

Much to the shock and delight of the Black and White faithful, the Magpies actually took the lead when Jonathan Forte dispossessed a hesitant Shaun Brisley before firing beyond Mark Gillespie via the inside of the post six minutes before the break.

However, this was to last as Carlisle ended the first half level, Adams being given too much space on the left to send a cross into the box and an unchallenged Jabo Ibehre converting with a header.

Both sides went in search of a decisive third goal after the restart and it was Carlisle who almost made the breakthrough when Ibehre forced a stunning save from Scott Loach.

Notts had their moments too and Rob Milsom should have done better when he was unmarked at the back post, but he volleyed into the ground and into the arms of Gillespie.

Eventually that old chestnut of poor Notts defending came up once again when Jason Kennedy was able to flick home from Tom Miller's long throw to condemn Notts to yet another loss, leaving them 22nd in the League Two table and just one point above the drop zone.

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Notts County have slipped to a seventh consecutive League Two defeat after Doncaster Rovers came to Meadow Lane and left with a 1-0 win on Boxing Day.

The Magpies put in a good performance as they stifled their opponents in the first half thanks to a 4-4-2 diamond formation, like-for-like against the visitors.

Doncaster forward Liam Mandeville carved out a decent chance on four minutes when he clipped a diagonal ball into the box where Andy Williams had sight of goal, only for Scott Loach to race out and smother the effort.

The first real opportunity for the hosts saw Jon Stead flick a header on goal only for Marko Marosi to claim on his line, while Carl Dickinson curled a free kick from 25 yards which Marosi held.

Perhaps the best chance of the half came in the dying seconds as Stead surged into the box and whipped a cross towards Jonathan Forte, only for defender Craig Alcock to get a vital block.

Doncaster boss Darren Ferguson then made a tactical switch at half time, making two substitutions and changing to a 3-4-3 system.

Soon enough the visitors enjoyed more space and they eventually took the lead on the hour through Williams, who headed Tommy Rowe's cross beyond Loach.

Matty Blair could have doubled Doncaster's lead minutes later when he headed another cross from the left on to the foot of a post.

Rovers had two opportunities late in the game to further their advantage as Williams broke away on the counter-attack five minutes from time, only to pull his effort wide.

Then Mandeville found himself in behind the Notts' defence deep in stoppage time, but he squeezed the ball wide from a tight angle.

Despite seven minutes of injury time, John Sheridan's side could not find a way back into the game, and so they slipped to a seventh league defeat on the trot that saw them slip to 21st in the table, just a point above the drop zone.

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Notts County have missed out on the chance to play Chelsea in the third round of the FA Cup after Peterborough United emerged as 2-0 winners in their second-round replay at the ABAX Stadium.

Following a 2-2 draw in the original fixture, Posh wasted no time in surging into a two-goal lead inside the opening eight minutes.

First Gwion Edwards netted in the second minute by connecting with a pinpoint cross and thumping a free header past Scott Loach in the visitors' net.

Six minutes later Paul Taylor doubled their lead after cantering through the Notts defence before unleashing a piledriver of a shot that soared into the top corner.

John Sheridan's side had the chance to pull a goal back before half-time after winning a penalty, but Jon Stead failed to convert from the spot.

Magpies forward Jonathan Forte came closest to scoring in the second-half, but his lob from 18 yards bounced back off the bar.

Ultimately Notts could not launch a comeback and they left Peterborough with the sole consolation of being able to fully concentrate on their awful League Two form.

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Notts County have fallen to a sixth successive League Two defeat after Colchester United claimed a 2-1 win in Saturday's clash at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

The Magpies took the lead just after the quarter-hour mark when Richard Duffy flicked on a Carl Dickinson corner and Elliott Hewitt snuck in to nod home from close range.

Colchester were level within just seven minutes, however, as Denny Johnstone whipped a cross into the path of Kurtis Guthrie, who headed past Adam Collin into the Notts net.

Tom Eastman nodded over in the opening stages of the second half for Colchester while, at the other end, U's keeper Sam Walker denied Dickinson at his near post.

In a game of few concrete scoring chances, it took an own goal to settle things as Owen Garvan curled a free kick into the visitors' box in the 75th minute.

John Sheridan's defenders struggled to cope as a scramble ensued, but the ball ultimately came off Duffy and rolled into the net, putting the U's in the lead for the first time.

Notts threw everything forward in a bid to claw back at least a point, including the goalkeeper, but the hosts saw the game out and condemned the beleaguered Magpies to another loss.

The result means Notts sit 20th in the League Two table, just one point outside the bottom two.

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Notts County have slipped to their fifth League Two defeat in a row as Wycombe Wanderers claimed a 2-0 win at Meadow Lane in controversial circumstances.

The visitors began brightly, with Luke O’Nien playing Scott Kashket through in the first minute, but the former Leyton Orient man couldn’t get the ball under control.

John Sheridan's charges created their first chance on the quarter-hour mark when Matt Tootle cut inside and curled a shot from the edge of the area just wide of Jamal Blackman’s left-hand post.

Returning striker Jon Stead then had the best chance of the game so far on 22 minutes when he evaded Aaron Pierre and lashed a shot inches away from the target.

Jonathan Forte had a goal disallowed just before the half-hour mark when he rounded Blackman after an excellent pass from Stead, but the effort was wrongly ruled out for offside by Eddie Ilderton.

The Magpies would go on to rue their missed opportunities when Wycombe then took the lead on 37 minutes, Joe Jacobson whipping in a cross which was headed home by Adebayo Akinfenwa.

Notts were further hindered when skipper Michael O'Connor was shockingly sent off on the stroke of half time after a 50-50 tackle with Paris Cowan-Hall, prompting a chorus of boos at the break.

Wycombe then doubled their advantage on 55 minutes when Cowan-Hall squared for Kashket who slotted home and, despite being offside, the goal stood, infuriating Sheridan who was then sent to the stands.

Both sides finished the game a man down after Akinfenwa was also shown a red card - a second yellow - for persistent fouling.

Nonetheless, the visitors were able to see the game out and condemn Notts to a fifth league loss on the trot and a drop to 20th place in the table.

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Notts County fought back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Peterborough United in Sunday's FA Cup second-round clash at Meadow Lane.

The deadlock was broken after just three minutes when a Marcus Maddison corner fell to Leonardo Da Silva Lopes and the teenager rifled a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Posh then doubled their lead on the quarter-hour mark as Paul Taylor's cross was cleared into the path of Gwion Edwards, who was on hand to drill home past Adam Collin's reach.

It looked like it was going to be yet another long afternoon for the Black and White Army, but not long before the break, Adam Campbell halved the deficit when he lashed past Luke McGee from the edge of the box.

Things got worse for the visitors when first-half stoppage time saw Lee Angol shown a straight red card for shoving Matt Tootle in the face by the touchline.

The second half saw John Sheridan's side up their game and the likes of Jonathan Forte, Michael O'Connor and Aaron Collins all coming close.

County's patience was then rewarded in stoppage time when Louis Laing squeezed home a shot after Peterborough failed to clear a corner kick, and the final whistle blew to signal a replay at the ABAX Stadium in just over a week's time.

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Notts County have slumped to a fourth consecutive loss in League Two as they left Barnet on the receiving end of a 3-2 defeat on Saturday.

John Sheridan's struggling charges took the lead after 15 minutes when skipper Michael O'Connor curled the ball into the far corner of the net following a short corner routine.

The Magpies were dominant and could have added to their opener on a number of occasions, but Vadaine Oliver and Genaro Snijders failed to score from good chances.

However, the hosts equalised at the Hive on the half-hour mark when John Akinde turned inside the box and forced a save from Adam Collin, before Bira Dembele drilled home the rebound.

Luke Gambin then put the Bees ahead in the 64th minute with a deflected effort and claimed his second, and his side's third, ten minutes later by crashing into the top corner on the run.

Notts did not give up, with Jonathan Forte scoring from close range in the 77th minute to make it 3-2, but it was too little too late for the visitors.

The result puts the Magpies 19th in the League Two table, four points above the drop zone.

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Notts County's poor form continues as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Cambridge United in Tuesday night's League Two clash at Meadow Lane.

The first chance of the game fell to U's forward Uche Ikpeazu, who made the most of a deflection in his favour but was unable to find the target from 18 yards.

Shaun Derry's charges, however, continued to impress, and they duly took the lead on 26 minutes when Ikpeazu bumped off Louis Laing before playing COnor Newton through on goal to sidefoot past Adam Collin.

Genaro Snijders should have equalised for Notts when he raced clear through on goal but dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Cambridge, however, continued to dominate, and caused another scare when Mark Roberts had his half-volley ruled out for offside.

In the second half, Notts had the bulk of possession but found chances hard to come by until the death.

Their best opportunity came when Matt Tootle headed into the box, which forced Will Norris to punch back into the area.

The ball dropped to Aaron Collins but his shot hit a defender on the line and bounced off the back of Norris for a corner.

Cambridge were able to clear the set-piece as Derry's side held on to claim all three points for the third time in a row since he became U's manager.

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Notts County have fallen to a second humiliating league defeat in quick succession after Newport County, League Two's bottom club, left Meadow Lane with a 3-0 win.

The Exiles took the lead in the 34th minute when Rhys Healey was fouled inside the Magpies area by Richard Duffy, prompting the referee to award a penalty.

Although Sean Rigg's shot was saved by goalkeeper Adam Collin, he latched onto the rebound and fired home from close range.

Six minutes later John Sheridan's former side had doubled their lead as Healey went on an unopposed run and struck his third goal in a week.

Josh Sheehan also notched up his third strike in as many games as he lashed a half-volley beyond Collin in the 62nd minute.

Tom Owen-Evans then forced Collin to tip over the bar with a shot from 30 yards as the afternoon threatened to turn even worse for the Magpies.

Notts mustered little in front of goal all afternoon and remain stuck on just one league win at Meadow Lane all season, to the chagrin of the long-suffering fans.

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Notts County have booked a date with Peterborough United in the second round of the FA Cup after overcoming Boreham Wood in Tuesday night's first-round replay at Meadow Lane.

The Magpies had to fight back from two goals down to seal a 2-2 draw in the original tie, but goals from Jonathan Forte and Aaron Collins were enough to secure a 2-0 win over the plucky non-league side.

On a mild mid-November evening in Nottingham, the 1,762 attendees - most rooting for the home side - saw Notts begin brightly, with Graham Burke testing Grant Smith early on with a stinging effort, before Adam Campbell fired wide from the resulting corner.

Boreham Wood midfielder Kenny Davis did well to charge down Stanley Aborah's shot and sent it wide, while at the other end Anthony Jeffrey blasted a 20-yard effort over.

John Sheridan's charges went on to take the lead in the 25th minute when visiting defender Joe Devera misjudged the bounce of a pass and Forte nipped in to intercept before volleying the ball past Smith.

Notts never looked in much danger of relinquishing their lead, but they wrapped it up at the death when Collins lashed a ferocious effort from outside the box off the underside of the bar and into the net, the final whistle blowing moments later.

The result means that the Magpies will host Posh on Sunday 4 December.

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Notts County were left embarrassed after falling to a 4-0 defeat against Blackpool in Saturday's League Two clash at Bloomfield Road.

The Magpies, buoyed by a large away following out to support their team and enjoy the delights of the town, ended up leaving before the game was over due to a shocking performance against the Seasiders.

Blackpool took the lead after 20 minutes as Kyle Vassell picked up a loose ball after Jamille Matt's shot had been deflected into his path and slotted past Adam Collin from 12 yards.

The hosts continued to put pressure on John Sheridan's charges, who were lucky to reach half time just one goal down.

This was soon rectified by Blackpool, however, as Vassell's shot from 12 yards was parried as far as Colin Daniel, who tapped into the empty net.

Matt made amends for an earlier open-goal miss by thumping home from 10 yards after Vassell's deflected shot broke his way, the Notts defence floundering.

Things would get worse for the visitors as Vadaine Oliver was shown a straight red after 79 minutes for a bad tackle on Tom Aldred.

And to cap things off, the Tangerines struck a fourth when Vassell robbed the ball Louis Laing and placed it past Collin for his 10th goal of the season.

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A two-goal display from Adam Campbell stopped Notts County from going out of the FA Cup to non-league opposition in the first round for the second consecutive year as the Magpies fought from two down to draw 2-2 at Boreham Wood.

This time last year Notts were humiliated on national television as Salford City knocked them out of the competition, and it looked like more of the same 365 days later as the National League side opened the scoring in the first half.

On 31 minutes, former Arsenal and Crystal Palace youngster Morgan Ferrier latched onto an Angelo Balanta through-ball to score his eighth goal in as many games and send the Meadow Park home crowd wild.

John Sheridan's side offered little in response and, when Balanta cleverly controlled and fired home a Bruno Andrade assist to double the lead five minutes after half time, it looked like curtains for Notts.

Just as some fans were marking Saturday 3 December as a date to do their Christmas shopping, up popped substitute Adam Campbell to halve the deficit on the hour with a ferocious shot from range after Matt Paine had failed to clear a long ball forward.

With less than 10 minutes to go, the former Newcastle United forward nodded home from Carl Dickinson's corner to salvage the draw, and Vadaine Oliver could have won it late on, but his goal was ruled out for offside.

Notts will host Boreham Wood at Meadow Lane on Tuesday 15 November in the first-round replay, while the draw for the second round takes place on Monday 7 November.

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Notts County have played out a goalless draw against Luton Town as Vadaine Oliver failed to convert a late penalty in Saturday's League Two clash at Meadow Lane.

In a tight game of few clear-cut chances, Aaron Collins hit the bar with a header in the first half, while for the visitors, Jack Marriott saw an effort fly narrowly wide, before Danny Hylton slipped when trying to shoot.

A foul on Haydn Hollis in the final ten minutes of the game gave the Magpies a chance to edge ahead, but goalkeeper Christian Walton was able to make the save and keep the visitors in the game.

From the resulting corner, Carl Dickinson could have won it but he headed against the bar, while Hylton found himself in a good position late on but was thwarted by a Notts defender as it ended honours even.

The result means that Notts stay sixth in the League Two table on 22 points, though the division is so tight that only six points separate them from Exeter City, Hartlepool United, Wycombe Wanderers and Cambridge United - all hovering above the drop zone.

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Notts County climbed into the League Two playoff places after an impressive 2-1 win at Portsmouth on Saturday.

The hosts began brightly at Fratton Park but John Sheridan's charges went on to take the lead in the 21st minute through Adam Campbell.

A good ball from Richard Duffy allowed the former Newcastle man to coolly loft the ball into the far corner of the net.

County's defensive flaws flared up once again six minutes later as Conor Chaplin latched onto a neat cut-back from Gary Roberts and confidently guided the ball home for the equaliser.

Kyle Bennett then had the chance to give Pompey the lead five minutes into the second half but his header from a Carl Baker cross flew just wide.

In the 71st minute the visitors were ahead again when Jonathan Forte ran clear and played an inch perfect pass into Campbell, made the most of sloppy defending to bury the ball into the bottom corner.

Pompey were given hope when the Magpies were reduced to 10 men with 13 minutes left after Collins flew in late on David Forde and got a red card for his troubles.

However, Notts hung on to clinch their fifth away win of the season and climb to sixth in the table.

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Notts County have claimed a point in a 1-1 draw against Crewe Alexandra at Meadow Lane, but fans were once again left disappointed as an overall tame performance gave way to a defensive collapse for the visitors' equaliser.

The visitors were brightest from the off as they forced a succession of early corners but soon the action turned into little more than a dirge as goalmouth action was infrequent right until the half-time whistle.

At the break, Aaron Collins replaced Jon Stead, who was withdrawn after taking a knock, and the loanee soon helped the Magpies become more threatening on the pitch.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers winger forced goalkeeper Ben Garratt into a save and then carved out a good chance, volleying over the bar.

An exchange of passes between Collins and Adam Campbell went to waste when the former Newcastle man miscontrolled in a good position.

He made amends soon after, however, when he crossed into the box and, with Crewe failing to clear their lines, Jonathan Forte was able to fire home.

This was in the 80th minute and, sadly for the Meadow Lane faithful, their cheers turned to groans within 60 seconds as Alex Kiwomya - nephew of former Notts boss Chris - sending a composed finish into the Magpies net.

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All the goodwill from Notts County's decent run of form, which saw them flying high in League Two, appears to have all but evaporated as the Magpies slipped to a second consecutive defeat, this time a 2-1 loss at Meadow Lane against Morecambe.

Fresh from the painful 3-1 derby defeat at Mansfield Town last Saturday, it was hoped that it would just be a blip, but now the worry is that, much like last season, the Stags defeat will be the unravelling of County's season.

The first goal in the rescheduled game came just after the quarter-hour mark through striker Tom Barkhuizen, a volley that squeezed under Adam Collin from Michael Rose's cross.

John Sheridan's hopes of getting back into the game then crumbled 10 minutes into the second half when the referee spotted a handball in the area.

Barkhuizen took responsibility for the spot kick and rifled the ball down the middle to put the visitors two goals up, much to the chagrin of all the Notts fans at the Lane.

Vadaine Oliver scored his first goal in a Magpies shirt in injury time, but it proved too little too late as the Shrimps held out, former Nottingham Forest keeper Barry Roche in inspired form for the visitors.

The result sees Notts slip to 10th in the table, but another home game awaits as Crewe Alexandra visit NG2 at the weekend.

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Notts County were left to rue a host of missed chances as they were beaten 3-1 by Mansfield Town in Saturday's derby at Field Mill.

The Magpies began brightly and came close to scoring within the first 20 minutes as, 10 minutes in, Jonathan Forte cut in from the right and forced goalkeeper Scott Shearer to turn the ball onto the near post and out for a corner.

In the 18th minute, the home side failed to clear a free-kick and Jon Stead turned well to fire goalwards, only for Stags captain Lee Collins to head off the line.

Despite their first-half pressure, Notts were level at the break and, on 54 minutes, substitute Matt Green scored with his first touch when he reached a Pat Hoban knockdown in the box and saw his effort find the net off a deflection off Richard Duffy.

It seemed like John Sheridan's charges had rescued a point when Alex Rodman scored with another deflected finish from a Vadaine Oliver ball eight minutes from time.

But in the 90th minute, Matt Tootle tripped Mal Benning in the box and Green dispatched the penalty high into the top-left corner to register his brace and put Mansfield within touching distance of a win.

In fact, there was still time for fellow sub Darius Henderson to outmuscle two defenders in the box and steer home his first goal for the club.

The result means that County's run of four straight away wins has been brought crashing to a halt.

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Notts County have succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Rochdale in their EFL Trophy Group F clash at Spotland.

The Magpies took the lead in the 25th minute when a free-kick from the right was turned goalwards by Haydn Hollis and saved by Josh Lillis, but in the scramble that followed, the ball was bundled over the line by Jonathan Forte.

John Sheridan's side took their one-goal lead into half time, but Dale began the second half more brightly and grabbed an equaliser just after the hour mark.

A Steven Davies header was blocked out to the edge of the area and picked up by Oliver Rathbone, who picked out Davies on the left of the area with a measured pass.

Davies then found space to square the ball for Sanmi Odelusi who slid in to direct the ball home.

From then on Rochdale turned the screw and were ahead seven minutes later when a long ball into the box was pulled down by Davies and he slotted beyond goalkeeper Scott Loach.

Notts tried desperately to claw back another goal that would have forced penalties, but the hosts held firm and secured the win.

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Notts County have edged into the League Two playoff places after claiming a 2-0 win at Exeter City on Tuesday night, thanks to Jon Stead's brace.

John Sheridan's charges got off to a dream start just two minutes in as Exeter's Luke Croll missed his tackle, allowing Alex Rodman to run through on goal.

The 29-year-old then squared the ball for Stead to fire into an empty net and take the lead to a silent St James' Park.

From then on the visitors continued to dominate in Devon, although Magpies goalkeeper Adam Collin had to be at his best to deny Jack Stacey at the near post.

Exeter were struggling to do anything of note, with County containing them easily, and they went on to double their lead on 34 minutes.

A free kick into the box from a foul on Jonathan Forte was not dealt with by the Exeter defence and the prolific Stead was on hand to poke home the loose ball from close range.

Notts then soaked up pressure in the second half and Collin had to be alert to keep Exeter at bay, in particular from Reuben Reid's excellent free kick in the final stages.

Ultimately the Magpies were able to see the game out and even claimed a clean sheet for their efforts, which saw them rise up to fifth in League Two - level on points with second-placed Luton Town.

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Notts County have finally secured a first home league win of the season, and it came in convincing fashion as Leyton Orient were defeated 3-1 in Saturday's League Two clash at Meadow Lane.

The first half yielded no goals for either side, with both sets of players effectively cancelling each other out, although Jay Simpson, Harry Cornick and Jon Stead all weighed in with dangerous chances.

John Sheridan's side, however, would go on to break the deadlock on 53 minutes, as a ball in from the right by Matt Tootle found the unmarked Jonathan Forte and, while Alex Cisak got a hand to it, the officials confirmed it had crossed the line.

Notts were then two up within a minute of the restart, with Stead cuting in on his left foot and lashing a ferocious drive from 20 yards out past the Orient keeper.

Louis Laing's dismissal for a second booking on 69 minutes and Paul McCallum's close-range header four minutes from time set up a nervy finish for the hosts.

However, substitute Aaron Collins' superb counter-attacking goal in stoppage time put the result beyond doubt.

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Notts County have claimed an emphatic 3-2 win at Cheltenham Town in Saturday's League Two clash at Whaddon Road.

John Sheridan's charges took the lead after just four minutes when a ball by Carl Dickinson fell to Jonathan Forte, who had enough space to fire a half-volley beyond Robins goalkeeper Russell Griffiths.

The lead did not last long though, and in the 24th minute the hosts were level when Harry Pell whipped in a cross for Danny Wright to equalise with a close-range header.

Notts were back in front four minutes before the break, however, when Stead cut inside two defenders and curled shot into the net from inside the area.

Pell had the hosts level again 10 minutes after the restart, controlling a knocked-down free-kick on his chest before firing home.

Just when it seemed like Notts would have to start again from square one, Stead squeezed a shot beneath Griffiths to make it 3-2 just a minute later.

Substitutes James Dayton and Billy Waters both went close for Cheltenham, but the hosts could not find an equaliser as Notts were left exhausted but jubilant at the final whistle.

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