Town's Carling Cup campaign came to an abrupt end as the Blues bowed out 2-1 to Second Division Notts County. The decisive goal in the 11th minute came via a hugely debatable penalty won and converted by County striker Mark Stallard.

Joe Royle was forced into a number of changes for the visit to Meadow Lane. Darren Bent and Drissa Diallo missed out with medial ligament injuries while Chris Bart-Williams was denied permission to play by Charlton.

In came Dean Bowditch, Richard Naylor and Ian Westlake while Alun Armstrong dropped to the bench, Pablo Couñago taking over up front. In midfield the Town manager unexpectedly played Mahon on the right, Westlake on the left and Wright in the middle with Magilton.

Virtually all of the match action took place within the first 11 minutes. In the second Westlake played a ball for Bowditch to chase on the right which drew keeper Steve Mildenhall a long way out of goal.

Bowditch crossed into the area and Westlake headed towards the empty goal only for a defender to clear off the line. Even then the chance wasn't gone, Jim Magilton putting an effort over the bar.

A minute later County were ahead. Stallard broke away on the left beyond Wilnis, beating Santos in a challenge inside the area. He hit his shot across Davis who palmed it away to his left, Simon Baldry reacting quickest and stabbing the ball in off Matt Richards by the post.

On 7 Couñago laid the ball off the Mahon 25 yards out. The Irishman struck a fierce shot which cannoned off the post and away. Couñago brought the ball back into the area on the left and was felled, the linesman flagging for a penalty and referee Paul Taylor agreeing with him.

Couñago himself took the kick, the ball going to his right and keeper Mildenhall to his left.

The ref's book was out for the first time on 8, former Manchester City man Nick Fenton clattering Bowditch from behind on halfway.

County went ahead once again in the 11th minute in highly controversial circumstances. Stallard again did well on the left, cutting into the area. As he went past Wilnis the two collided, neither player going to ground.

For Mr Taylor it looked a straight choice between awarding nothing or an indirect freekick for obstruction, however he surprised everyone in the ground by pointing to the spot.

Once he had got over the shock of the penalty award Stallard put his spotkick to Kelvin Davis' right, the keeper going the wrong way.

The rest of the half was an anti-climax after such a dramatic start. Alan Mahon was proving as dangerous on the right as he had on the left on Saturday. In the 19th minute the loan player struck another 25 yarder, Mildenhall doing well to tip it over the bar.

There was danger for Town just after the half hour when a Darren Caskey corner flashed across the face of the Town goal, no one managing to get a head on it.

Mahon, Town's most dangerous player up to now, was replaced on 36 having picked up a groin injury. Matt Bloomfield replaced him, making his first senior appearance.

On 40 Matt Richards hit a 35-yard shot not far away after Couñago had laid the ball back to him from the edge of the box.

Town had been largely unimpressive in the first half but made no changes at the break. However, Matt Richards, who was suffering with blurred vision after a blow to the face just before half-time, was switched for Alun Armstrong on 48.

Armstrong's introduction saw Westlake go to left-back, Town moving to a three-man attack.

Dean Bowditch's cross from the right almost deflected into the net on 53. The ball was half cleared at the back post for Pablo Couñago who took the ball across the box before his shot was blocked. The ball ran to Fabian Wilnis but he failed to get a decent contact and Mildenhall gathered without trouble.

A minute later Bowditch set up Westlake for a shot from a tight angle on the left which he sent powerfully across the face of goal.

Town were looking more like getting a goal back than at any previous spell during the game, however County's Clive Platt beat the Blues' offside trap on the hour. With a number of Town defenders bearing down on him, he hit a weak shot to Kelvin Davis.

Davis made a more impressive save shortly afterwards, Simon Baldry cutting past Georges Santos and shooting from the right edge of the box, Davis tipping over.

On 64 Sam Morrow replaced Dean Bowditch up front. Soon after Stallard shot wide of Kelvin Davis' goal.

New man Morrow, making his first senior appearance, came very close to an equaliser in the 70th minute. Jermaine Wright did well on the right flank but his cross was cleared back to him. He tried again, sending a ball to the back post where Morrow headed down but agonisingly across the face of the County goal.

As the game moved into the last 10 minutes Town seemed suddenly to realise that they could lose the game and there was a greater urgency about their game. In addition, Georges Santos was thrown forward as a fourth striker.

Jim Magilton quickly took a freekick just to the left of the box, on the byline after a foul on Fabian Wilnis. Pablo Couñago completely missed Magilton's pass and a more than decent chance was wasted.

The Blues were playing a risky game in order to push for the goal, Richard Naylor on one occasion being the only defender back to challenge a ball cleared from the County box.

But despite the number of players thrown forward Town couldn't get themselves another chance, let alone the goal which would have put them back on terms, and after three minutes injury time the referee blew his whistle.

A very poor performance from a Town side which seemed to think they would eventually get the goal which would put them on terms without putting in too much effort. There was a lack of urgency until the latter stages and the failure to carve open the defence of a Second Division side like Notts County.

The penalty which led to the winning goal was a joke but was typical of referee Paul Taylor's thoroughly inept display.

Neither set of fans could have been happy with his evening's labours. He demanded all freekicks be taken exactly where the offence had been committed, never once played the advantage and failed to show cards - particularly a second yellow to Nick Fenton who committed a innumerable fouls, notably one on Westlake, after already receiving a first yellow card in the first half.

Despite the referee, Town can have few complaints, County were organised and defended well, broke quickly and moved the ball around well at times.

Perhaps the biggest concern must be the lack of strength in depth currently available to Joe Royle at present, particularly with more injuries appearing to have been picked up tonight.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Richards (Armstrong 48), Santos, Naylor, Magilton, Mahon (Bloomfield 36), Westlake, Wright, Bowditch (Morrow 64), Couñago.

Photo: Action Images

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