Notts County slumped to their twenty-second defeat of the season in a 2-1 loss to promotion-chasing MK Dons at Meadow Lane on Good Friday.
Second half goals from David Wheeler and Chuks Aneke left the Magpies bottom of the table, two points from safety with three games left to play.
A late Ben Barclay effort was little consolation for County who once again failed to capitalise on defeats for relegation rivals Macclesfield and Yeovil.
The result means the Magpies have failed to register a win at home since they ran out 1-0 winners over local rivals Mansfield on 16 February, indeed County have now lost ten matches on home soil this season.
Their remaining fixtures see them travel to Crawley Town on Easter Monday before entertaining Grimsby Town the following Saturday. County’s final game of the season is away at improving Swindon Town.
Speaking after the game, Magpies boss Neal Ardley told the Nottingham Post the disappointing result meant that ‘We will now probably need to win two.’
County’s third manager of what has been a chaotic season, both on and off the pitch, added. ‘Who knows what is written in the stars over the next three games, but the one thing we know is that we have got to recover really quickly and go again if we want to take this down to the wire and save our season.’
Magpie fans soon took to Twitter to react to another home reverse with Ardley’s management coming under fire and Alan Hardy’s ownership heavily criticised.
Most seemed resigned to watching National League football next season.
Here is a small selection of their responses.
Can the last one out please turn off the light and lock up. If that's not to much to ask?
— Mancpie (@skinio) April 19, 2019
The graft was there… the craft wasn't.
Rose MOM.— Tim (@mrcuthers) April 19, 2019
Ardley tactically inept, Hardys decisions have killed Notts County football club.
157 years of football history will very shortly disappear WoW ?— OURclubNottsCounty (@1862nottscounty) April 19, 2019
So if @thesilkmen win at home Mon & we don’t at @crawleytown then means we will need to win final 2 league to stay up, & hope they don’t get another win. Shambolic & thanks a lot @Bigalanh5 our great @Official_NCFC is teetering on point of oblivion, supporters don’t deserve this
— ConcernedPieNCFC (@NcfcPie) April 19, 2019
Another week… another loss…. and the visitors take the points again.
— Andy Martell (@granthampie) April 19, 2019
— Charlie (@charliecraner1) April 19, 2019
Ardley's a clown of a manager and an even worse tactician. His best strategy was to take the boys out for a coffee. Won't look outside a core of 11-12 players and throw in some desperately needed fresh legs & minds. Relegation's on you Neal.
— Adam Reddish (@adamjamesred) April 19, 2019
What we deserve for playing 3 defensive midfielders, 2 full backs who can’t run forward, an isolated striker and time wasting from 5th min. Had so many chances to get out this mess. Shambles. ??♂️
— Jonny Upton (@jonnybwana) April 19, 2019
Stick some of the reserves in they’ll give you a good game
— Ben Mellor (@BenMellor07) April 19, 2019
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