Personally, I have just returned from the other side of the world. As well as the sun, the beaches (and the ladies) there was the added bonus that I was fortunate enough to be out of town, as Chester City went on their crazy run of something like 7 defeats on the trot. I lost count somewhere down the line. However, I come home at 6am on the Monday morning, sleep all day and all night, the sun shines on Tuesday, and Chester cap a great day by ending that barren run with a 'well deserved' win against Mansfield. I didn't see that game, but I'm made aware it was a good performance from the blues, and for the days leading up until Saturday, I prided myself as the good luck charm of Chester City FC!

Dudes, then I payed £6 to see us yesterday...

The last time I saw the like of Lowe, Davies, Drummond, we were toppling the likes of mighty European Cup Champion's Nottingham Forest, and not so mighty European Cup Champions Leyton Orient. But this is a shadow, right now, of those glory days.

It appears that Curle is facing something of a Leroy Rosenoir situation...and he was fired from his job last week. I'm never suggesting Curle be sacked, whooa, don't go there! But as an inexperienced manager who has experienced little but highs in his short but successful (managerial) career, he is for the first time faced with a spell of bad luck and under performing, under confident players, and on a consistent basis. In almost three years of management, Curle has never lost more than two on the bounce. Now he must chew on 8 defeats out of 9 for size.

The latest one of those defeats was an unconvincing performance where two penalties seperated either side. It was a disappointing match to come home to on a personal note, and Chester were unable to build on their midweek win. Asamoah was one of the few bright sparks in Chester's team, his pace more than making up for his pint sized stature. Drummond was man of the match, after producing an average performance in midfield - the guy rarely seems to have a bad game. And stand-in captain Scott McNiven was a solid addition at right back. But to look elsewhere, Ben Davies and Ryan Lowe, recently the attention of Paul Merson's eye at Walsall, were quiet or misfiring, and given that was the case, it appears the rest of the team had little influence from which to reach their full potential.

Instead, Luke Dimech needlessly handballed - inside the penalty area - and Julien Baudet bagged the first goal for Notts from the spot. That was on 65 minutes, and 20 minutes later, Chester were finished. Dimech was replaced by Vaughan as Chester moved to three at the back, Euegene Dadi broke through the Chester rearguard, and Dave Artell raced back to hack the hesitating Dadi down. The same player dispatched the kick to Gillet's right, having earlier misjudged a header 1 yard from goal. So, 2 goals down, 5mins+ to go, surely a comeback is on the cards (Darlington, Cheltenham...)? Or perhaps not, after Dave Artell received the most inevitable of red cards for preventing the clearest of goalscoring opportunities. Chester's head had dropped, and the victors were inevitablly known prematurely.

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