Stockport County 0 Blackburn Rovers 1 ( Pre- Season Friendly) Friday 28 July 2023

 

 

County`s penultimate pre-season game, a very useful run out, saw them lose 1-0 to  Championship side Blackburn Rovers last night at Edgeley Park.

There was little between the two sides throughout – Rovers eye catchingly neat passing game mostly matched by County`s pleasing defensive work. They attacked their opponents  with intent at times but there was little in the way of a finish to go with it and that was largely the way it was with the visitors too.

If it was  disappointing to see the match decided by a truly iffy penalty it was by no means a surprise with both sides struggling to provide that vital spark at the sharp end where it mattered.

But, all that said I think it was a very useful run out against a side 2 divisions above them in the UK football pyramid so no big moans at all and I give particularly  honourable mentions to Jordan Smith who impressed between the sticks for the blues, to Ethan Pye who looks a solid option for the County manager on the left of  a back 3 or 4 and Paddy Madden who again showed commendable zest- his close season has progressed brilliantly and as it should do, from a slow start in the first close season game to the last couple where he has played like he wanted to.

No one messed up but those 3 stood out for me - oh, and I wouldn’t` mind seeing young Omoruyi given a few more minutes sometime.

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There was another big away following in the Pop Side when the game kicked off, and credit to Rovers contingent they made a good noise alone in the old stand.

 

 

 

 

The visitors went on the attack early-Tom Bloxhum bringing a fine defensive tackle from Pye to stop the rot with County exposed – Smith announcing his arrival on the County scene by venturing outside his box to make a decisive clearance a minute later.

A pattern then emerged for the black shirted blues -Tanto winning a corner that was then wasted by Southam -Hales who sent it far too long.

Evans run offered better prospects shortly after, but Aynsley Pears in the Rovers goal made the save to deny him.

Rovers gave us a first glimpse of their impressive passing game next, and Byrne did well to cut Callum Brittain off as an attack started to threaten County`s peace of mind.

Soon we were 20 minutes into the game and Madden had already shown a lively interest in matters choosing this moment to slip clear and get the crowd interested too. It was a good run, and the pass was ok as well but Tanto could not make the chance count.

It seemed like County were beginning to get a handle on their opponents though and a fine ball down the left by Pye sent Madden in amongst the yellow shirted Rovers back line like the proverbial fox in the hen coup, but despite the County skipper`s best efforts lack of support saw the notional chance off.

Madden was not deterred however and a neat one- two twixt him and Southam- Hales ended with the Rovers keeper making a good save to keep the game scoreless.

County kept pegging away albeit with disappointing results as Referee Matthew Corlett waved away a not unreasonable penalty claim by County for handball and Trialist B lifted a subsequent free kick over the bar moments later.

Meanwhile Pye was still providing good ammunition for those willing to venture up the park and another raid ensued as he sent Evans clear – Southam -Hales joining in to force a corner which the keeper spilled at the back post but without paying the price for his lapse.

Rovers started to respond after this, Jordan Smith making  a comfortable save to deny John Buckley on the half hour-Jake Batty disappointing the 878 travelling Rovers fans by dragging his shot wide a minute later.

The Rovers momentum built steadily with half time nearing and they very nearly nicked the goal that they craved just a minute away from same and it was Batty again and a goal looked on as he surged into the box . He had Akil Wright for company and he did enough to ensure that Batty was not 100% set when he decided to shoot, but his shot was still going in when Jordan Smith made a fine save to keep the ball out.

Five minutes added time was conjured by Mr Corlett from somewhere- he clearly had his copy of the new approach on him- it was going to be a long night!

There was ample time left for something to happen though and it did as Pye surged clear through the middle putting Rovers under the cosh – Pears diving to push Madden`s shot around a post and then blocking Evans progress as he rounded on Madden`s cross shortly after.

It was still 0-0 when eventually Mr Corlett blew his whistle for half time.

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The second half opened with a dipper from Evans clearing the bar by not that much before the game went probe / counter probe for a while thereafter but the next meaningful chance to emerge was 8 minutes into the half following another wasted corner, and Pears did well to keep Evans` follow up effort out.

By this time it was disappointing to see Mr Corlett rather overdoing the bookings, and for not very much either but it was not at all irksome to see Buckley shoot wide when well set just before the hour.

Scott Whalton the Rovers captain stepped up to just stop Southam- Hales in full flight almost immediately after and Pears followed this to disappoint County again with a fine save to keep Trialist B`s shot out.

It was good to see that a proper game was in progress a point underlined when County just made one substitution at this juncture bringing Ashton Mee on for Trialist A.

Tanto had his moments next – his pace seeing him cut through the visitors back line decisively – but Croasdale was centimetres from adding a finish to the final ball at the foot of the far post, and Tanto was disappointed again not long after his header narrowly missing out.

Madden had similar fortune a minute later on the end of a decent ball from Mee but I was beginning to think that, for all Rovers quality, maybe it would be County who would nick that elusive goal.

Then from nowhere – calamity as Mr Corlett chose to see a firm but fair tackle in the box by Wright as worthy of punishment- a penalty no less. Zak Gilsenan`s spot kick was a belter it has to be said ….as for Mr C …the less said the better. With under 20 minutes left we were 1-0 down and the game was probably lost in that moment!

The goal gave wings to Rovers play now and they surged forward- Pye doing well to stop James Edmondson`s raging run into blue territory at one point- Smith tipping a goal bound shot from Gilsenan over the bar at another after Mee had lost the ball.

We went into the last 10 minutes with County still seeking an equaliser but Tanto`s pacy run fizzled out tamely under pressure from Gamble and Whalton.

With 5 minutes normal time left County`s final subbings were made Madden and Trialist B making way for Dallas Omoruyi and Taylor Mc Mahon.

The pair had 5 minutes ( and maybe a shed load more minutes added time) in which to make a mark and I liked Omoruyi`s approach – in uncomplicated fashion he took up position smack in the middle – traditional centre forward mode if you like and he harried everything that moved most notably the visiting keeper at one point from whom he prised a shooting chance which sadly he lifted over the bar his lack of composure his undoing.

I liked the lad however albeit on the flimsiest of evidence so we`ll see if he emerges again at any point.

I liked less the form of Pears, and he gobbled up Southam -Hales cross almost on 90 minutes – the County number seven deserved better from his pacy run that had the yellow shirted outfield players in distress.

Upon the announcement of 8 minutes added time, I cancelled supper– isn`t twilight in SK3 lovely? I thought so!

Well done County and Rovers for a decent game that, despite my pre-match misgivings, will have served us well in terms of getting a meaningful look at players put under pressure by high quality opposition!

See you this afternoon then!

 

Stockport County line up:-

Smith, Wright , Byrne , Pye , Southam-Hales , Trialist A  ( Mee 63), Croasdale , Trialist B  ( Omoruyi 85), Madden ( Mc Mahon 85) , Evans, Olaofe.  

Sub not used :- Jones.

Blackburn Rovers line up:-

Pears, Brittain, Batty, Bloxham , Gilsenan , Garrett , A Whalton ( O`Grady-Macken 77) , Barnes ( Gamble 62) , S Whalton , Buckley ( Weston 66) , Edmondson.

 

Subs not used :-Wood , Montgomery , Atcheson , Davies , Hilton, Eastham.

 

Attendance: 2416 ( 878)

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