The next home game, the Severnside derby with Bristol Rovers saw County's highest gate of the season; Andy Sandell's first-half penalty being enough to take all three points.

With 20 minutes remaining Naylor conceded a penalty which allowed Morecambe to take the lead and eventually win the game.

The new year began in a disastrous fashion: The wettest winter on record in Britain combined with drainage problems with the Rodney Parade pitch caused a rash of game postponements.

County failed to beat bottom-of-the-table Northampton and were denied even one point when Andy Sandell's 88th-minute penalty was saved.

A solitary home win against Oxford United lifted County back to the brink of the play-offs again, but then another terrible run resulted in only three points from the next eight games.

County failed to improve on their recent form as the home side guaranteed themselves a play-off place with a 1–0 win.