Sheffield Wednesday 1 Stockport County 1 ( EFL Cup- Ist Round ) Tuesday 8 August 2023

 

 

 

 

A performance of searing brilliance, cool resilience and just plain excellence was not quite enough to see County through to the second round of the EFL Cup last night against a Sheffield Wednesday side that for large portions of the match were simply outclassed.

County were outrageously good all over the park – getting a bit `leggy` late on I`ll give you but for the rest of the game the light green shirted blues were immense – head and shoulders above their Championship opponents.

And the manner of the defeat was hard to take in the circumstances.

County had led from early on when a superb strike by Madden put an added glister on a performance by Dave Challinor`s men that was just beginning to hint at something extraordinary.

It was still 1-0 at half time ……at the hour mark too when County rang the personnel changes ……at 90 minutes when 7 minutes added time was announced.

That was when the lactic took over in County legs and they, for the main part opted to defend as Wednesday at last thought they might just have half a chance. No one else did but deep into the 97^th minute they nicked the equaliser bringing on penalties which of course were taken in front of zero spectators at the far end opposite ours and the moment told on County as Wednesday at last had something to smile about on a night that should have been County`s.

 Yes, it should have been- their performance was that good, cool and authoritative at the back, and in midfield where Cody Johnson showed just how GREAT he will be for us if given the chance, and how the County fans took to him- evidenced by a five-minute accolade from them to the new County hero, of which this video is a mere fraction.... 

 

 

 

 

 

Ethan Pye was another to catch the eye with a superlative performance at the back in a team full of potential eye catchers and again I see great things coming from Ethan with us if he is used correctly.

In the end it was not to be, but I can say categorically that I have seldom been prouder of a County team who richly deserved the massive support they received from the travelling Blue & White Army tonight!

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Back at 7.45 the big County following gave their heroes a terrific welcome as Madden led them out.

It was the archetypal ` each team probing the other for an opening’ in the first 5 or 6 minutes but by the 7^th Mr Smith the Referee  alarmed me early doors having booked 2 County players already ( Evans and Olaofe)- the free kick against Tanto bringing much needed relief for the Yorkshire side with Touray leading the charge as Olaofe delved deep into home territory.

At the other end however Ethan Pye was already impressing on the left side of our defence, alternating twixt wing back and defensive roll in tandem with Taurey.

The 10th minute saw Pye start a neat move involving Taurey and Olaofe but again the officials intervened to soothe Wednesday`s furrowed brows this time with a free kick for offside.

Two minutes on from that last action and County were still pressing as Richardson crossed from the by-line. This was cleared only for County to be in Wednesday`s face again winning a corner which seemed to have half of Yorkshire manning the barricades on the home side`s behalf as County piled it on.

Wednesday got the ball out off the line in deepest distress – but they could not find a man, so they settled for touch instead!

County were camped in their opponents last third and the latest punt for touch ended in Yorkshire teers as the ball came back to Akil Wright who sent over a dipping cross that was met by Madden who thrashed a superb volley home with the keeper a bemused spectator.

County had the lead and the away end were all about telling the world it was so- the supportive noise was immense!

All this time I had been watching Cody Johnson and he was excellent looking completely at home in his roll and full of confidence - a combatively decisive tackle 4 minutes later bringing the first ripple of personal recognition his way from the Blue & White Army!

Then another 2 minutes on and we received a warning, but it came with some good stuff in the form of a terrific block by Pye to stop a certain Wednesday goal as Musaba had Hinchliffe in difficulties.

Madden tracked back to head the corner out from this to where Johnson did enough to block the Wednesday follow up.

But that moment did not reflect the way play was panning out, County were in charge and the halfway point of the half again saw the Owls pinned back into their last third, but County`s eventual corner was poor, keeper Vasquez compounding County`s angst by dealing comfortably with Touray`s follow up shot.

It continued with CJ linking with Evans to bring more pain Wednesday`s way only for Madden to see his effort blocked.

A free kick by Vaulks brought an excellent leaping punch out from Hinchliffe who then added more personal kudos with some neat sweeping duties with Horsfall having his hands full with Fletcher bearing down on goal.

But mainly the action was at the other end where the home defence looked anything but greatly secure.

Evans put too much on his cross after 29 minutes for County, but the half hour was notable for fine work from Pye who having made an important block at one end to cut off an Owls raid, he then sent Tanto clear with a nicely weighted pass. Wednesday looked ruffled by Tanto`s pace but he faltered under pressure in the box and any chance was gone.

On it went and Pye again in the thick of it his calm approach under pressure epitomising County`s needs at that moment ( 35 minutes)as the apparent Owls corpse made another brief twitch.

County broke clear from that last action winning a free kick for a foul on Tanto, but Touray`s kick to the far post saw Horsfall`s header fly wide.

As half time neared Wednesday did have thoughts of nicking that equaliser and Hinchliffe did well not to give a penalty away as Delgado showed up just inside the County box, Ben studiously avoiding contact with Owls number 15, clearing the danger for good measure.

This response from Xisco Munoz`s side continued briefly – James bringing another outstanding block from Pye who then joined forces with CJ and then Evans and Wright to put paid to the Owls progress.

Five minutes added time brought thunderous appeals from County and their supporters for a penalty as Tanto was brought down in the box- the ref would have none of it though, the half ending with Collar shooting wide after Vasquez, the home keeper, had been teased into almost giving a goal away in his distress with County playing it about with purpose in and around the Owls box.

That was an excellent half – more of the same in the upcoming 45 minutes would go down very well indeed!

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Madden was first out after the break for County, and Tanto first to show in the home box within a couple of minutes but his control let him down at the last moment to keep it at 1-0.

Another minute and CJ cut Fletcher`s progress off before sending Tanto clear but he was blocked by weight of Owls numbers.

CJ was continuing to impress, his cool approach getting us out of a bit of difficulty next- Richardson broke clear from this his shot being charged down, but there was still no argument – it was County who were in charge!

They continued to attack too and to some purpose – Evans hauled down unceremoniously with pressure building on Wednesday. Touray sent the kick to the back post but it was cleared and twice in rapid order CJ stopped breaks with intuitive work – the cue for 5 minutes of County`s following serenading Cody with a selection of songs and chants saluting the young midfielder ranging from the impressive opener “ Cody`s one of our own” through to the epic “ We`ve got Cody Johnson” to the tune of `Glad all over`- if a point needed to be made to County Management about CJ it had emphatically been made by 2000 County supporters !

Not long after this County made changes and CJ, Richardson and Olaofe were off in favour of Knoyle, Southam- Hales and Barry.

Wednesday still made the occasional counter but it was still the blues who were calling the shots so much so that Vasquez had to charge way out of his goal at one point to avert danger. At another juncture County were distinctly unlucky to see Southam -Hales flagged offside on the end of  a neat break by Louis Barry.

It went on with more brilliant play from Barry tying the home back-line in knots but somehow they held on…..survived, Evans not blessed with good fortune midst the Barry induced mayhem, his shot blocked at the last gasp!

Sarcevic was now on for Collar but it was County`s play from deep that was impressing me now, and it drew applause from the away end.

County made their last change now with a notional 10 minutes ( + who knows how much added time)left to play taking Touray off for Rydel  who not long after entered Mr Smith`s book of names.

Meanwhile Wednesday had made 3 substitutions and the fresh legs brought some action in County half but with no great impact at this stage.

Rydel and Barry combined well with 5 minutes left but with little in the way of luck – County unable to profit from a free kick when Rydel was upended and the aforementioned duo both had efforts charged down as things got hectic at the back for Wednesday.

Bannon did have a dip for the Owls with 3 minutes left and Bakinson brought a brilliant diving save from Hinchliffe with a header a minute later but still County were 1-0 up and frustration was mounting on their opponents who were now racking up bookings as a result.

We looked on for a celebration of a fantastic victory, one we really deserved , both players and supporters, we just needed to hold it together but those  7 minutes saw the lactic  make a telling intervention – County dropping back to accommodate the weary legs inviting the Owls on.

But still there was no Wednesday goal as the game went into its 97^th ( of 97)minute with Bannan lumping a desperate cross into the box where midst the mother of all scrambles Bakinson managed to toe end the ball home.

It was 1-1 …we were shell shocked and Wednesday and their fans no doubt could hardly believe their luck but they had forced us to penalties which perhaps unsurprisingly were played out in front of the empty stand at the far side of the stadium from us.

It did not go well for County only Rydel netting whilst Wednesday scored all 4 of theirs to take them into the next round.

It was massively disappointing to say the least, but County had made me very proud to be a County supporter they had deserved better!

The County team got the ovation their display warranted before we all headed home to lick a very open wound and maybe to start focusing on Walsall Saturday!

See you all there I hope, and whether he plays or not Saturday I hope CJ remains at County and along with Ethan Pye is allowed to flourish in County blue!

 

Sheffield Wednesday line up :-

Vasquez , Valentin ( Paterson 59) , Diaby ( Iorfa 81), Bernard , James , Delgado ( Fusire 81) , Bannan , Vaulks ( Bakinson 81), Musaba , Fletcher ( Windass 59), Gregory.

Subs not used :Dawson , Palmer , Byers , Cadermarteri.

 

Stockport County line up:-

Hinchliffe , Richardson ( Southam-Hales 60), Wright , Horsfall , Touray ( Rydel 81), Pye , C Johnson ( Knoyle 60) , Evans ,Collar ( Sarcevic 71), Madden , Olaofe(Barry 60).

Subs not used :Smith , Byrne , Crankshaw.

 

Attendance 10886 ( 2168)

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