We travelled to Meadow Lane in the hope that last week's disappointing defeat at home to Brentford would be cast aside as nothing other than a blip. In truth, we were sloppy again and whilst we could have snatched a point, we were far from deserving of all three.
We didn't get going from the start and Montano got in behind Westlake after less than five minutes before hitting the post. A couple more close shaves followed as we struggled to get to grips with Lee Hughes and his sharpness in and around the box. However tarnished his past, he's as good a striker as we'll face this season.
By this time, Gnakpa had been replaced by Nicholls after picking up what looked like a hamstring injury. This undoubtedly hampered our game plan, leaving us with no aerial threat in the final third.
Inevitably, it was Hughes who scored the opener after a sharp swivel and volley. We looked completely off the pace as we struggled to clear our lines from the back and the midfield failed to link any play into the opposition half. We went into half time behind and deservedly so after a desperate struggle.
In fairness, we started the second half with more purpose and a couple of efforts gave Notts County food for thought before Butler got on the end of Taundry's excellent curling free kick to equalise.
For five to ten minutes, we looked like we'd found our feet. We kept the ball well in their half and started getting balls into the box. Too good to be true for an away performance? It was, as a poor defensive header by Westlake gave Montano the chance to ghost in behind and dispatch a routine through ball past Grof.
We could have equalised again, of course. Smith had a header cleared off the line and we looked likely from set pieces. Nicholls wasted another good chance after doing all the hard work in cutting in from the left and Macken lashed at a great chance in injury time.
Whilst we could well have claimed a point, we can't expect to play like that and get any reward. Too many players seemed to cruise through the game without making their mark, as per last week.
Smith has a lot to think about for Tuesday's game. Westlake got caught out twice, Smith again gave the ball away all too often with aimless punts forward, and both Nicholls and Hurst lacked any punch when given the ball.
Macken and Jarvis worked surprisingly well for me, but with nothing coming through the middle from Taundry and Chambers, they were always feeding from scraps.
So it's back to the drawing board after another disappointment as far as I'm concerned. The same players who set high standards in the opening weeks of the season have failed to match those standards yet again.
A discussion on team selection and tactics is probably one for another post, but rest assured, our last two performances warrant nothing more than another releagation struggle.
By: Rob Jones