Are there many worse feelings than waking up to the news that your match is off? Whilst Weymouth's grudge match with Frome Town in the Southern League being postponed due to a frozen pitch was hardly a big surprise, it was still dissapointing after spending half the week looking forward to it. Whilst that wasen't surprising, the news that the Magpies home clash with Sheffield United WOULD go ahead was certainly a surprise. Massive credit has to go to the groundstaff of both Notts County and Nottingham Rugby, along with the countless volunteers for their hard work, particularly on Friday and Saturday morning. They did the club proud, and certainly proved a lot of people wrong! I wonder if they were wondering why they bothered after seeing Notts fall behind just two minutes into the game against an out-of-form Sheffield United side. Listening to Colin Slater and Dean Yates commentary on Magpie Player certainly wasen't a pleasent experience for the first ten minutes of the game, with Notts seemingly struggling to get the ball out of their own half. And just when the home side were beggining to find their feet and come into the game a bit, we recieved a second sucker punch when Francois Zoko got himself sent off. Initially he was given a yellow card for a foul, but he took his protests too far and was then sent off. Some Notts supporters defended Francois claiming it was never a foul in the first place. Having seen it a couple of times now I think it's one of those things whereby we've seen them given, and we've seen them not given. Either way, Zoko should know better than to continue his protests in the manner he did. I for one have never seen an official change his mind on a players word. Manager keith Curle certainly didnt seem pleased with his front man during his post-match interview, and told Radio Nottingham that he would be taking disciplinary action. It must be said that Notts' disciplinary record this season is a cause for concern - SIX red cards so far this season is unacceptable weather they were all the right decision from the official or not. Having conceeded such an early goal, and being reduced to ten men it would have been easy for the Notts lads to buckle and think it was going to be another one of those days, but to their credit they kept fighting and once we got to half time at 1-0, I still felt we had a chance of nicking something from the game. The second half certainly sounded like a tense affair, the next goal was crucial. When the second goal of the game did come ten minutes from time, it fell for ten man Notts. Alan Judge heading home from Sheehan's free kick, sending the Meadow Lane faithful wild; and me in my front room slightly more mad! I should probably apologise to the neighbours for the noise when we got that equaliser.
A point in the circumstances was an excellent result although we had our chances to win the game! Its been no secret that our home form has held us back dramatically this season, but hopefully that battling point against a promotion contender could be the springboard for us to turn the home form around. If Tuesday night's match at home to Oldham Athletic goes ahead, it's certainly a must win game. Their FA Cup 3rd Round victory over the river has papered over the cracks at Boundary Park, with the team falling down the league table. Their latest set-back was yesterday's 2-1 defeat at Coventry City. Despite equalising on 89 minutes, they went and lost it on 95 minutes! I like to remain as positive as possible, and I'm confident that if the match goes ahead we can get the 3 points. Yesterday's result will no doubt give the lads a lot of self-belief which seems to have been missing in recent weeks. We know from earlier in the season what this team is capable of, lets get back on form and start moving up the table. COME ON YOU PIES