Stockport County 0 Swindon Town 0 ( Football League 2 ) Saturday 24 February 2024

 

 

 

 

It was another frustrating day for County and their supporters as the blues were held to another disappointing 0-0 draw against Swindon Town at Edgeley Park today.

I am looking for excuses but there are none really- it was just that County again struggled for attacking cohesion throughout a game in which they were always prone to being caught out by busy counter attacks from Gavin Gunnings side.

You might use the fact that Town were beholding to keeper Jack Bycroft I suppose, especially in respect of a clutch of second half saves , but then County might have been similarly embarrassed had not Hincliffe been on hand to do likewise when the blues were threatened – more than once!

In the end for County not to sneak a win….a goal even….was disappointing as was the result, but a share of the points is certainly better then a defeat and Swindon did look like they came to win – they just lacked the wherewithal to make it happen.

So did County I suppose, and that piles more unwanted problems on the Manager`s desk come Monday.

The single point they came away with from this, whilst keeping us level on points with Mansfield, sees us slip to second place by virtue of the midland side`s now far superior goal difference, so despite the level of disappointment we are all feeling just now , the position at the top is still not a done deal- there`s still plenty to play for and every reason for us to think we have every chance to succeed if not as Champions then as one of 3 automatically promoted teams.

I do not usually stop to clap the team off( hurrying  home to put these incoherent ramblings together) but I felt I should today ( and I was trapped  in the big queue heading out of LT3).

It was good in this regard to note that the team, and DC, made the effort and `braved ` the Cheadle End after the whistle and they were rewarded with applause.

We`re all hurting but we`re by no means finished so we go again!

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County`s starting eleven looked interesting, although there was no Croasdale even on the bench and it was dismaying to hear that he was out for an operation - Cody Johnson was the only `  bites yer legs` midfielder listed in the 18 County names but he was on the bench.

Ethan Pye was also on the bench – a welcome sight, but I found myself hoping that he wasn`t being hurried back too soon !

No matter, the match was underway, and County were attacking interestingly with Evans patrolling wide left / Hippolyte right, and Evans was in the mix early but weight of numbers from Swindon kept the blues out.

Hippolyte meanwhile was busy down the other flank but good work by him fell flat when Sarcevic volleyed the ball over the bar on 4 minutes.

Another minute…..another Hippolyte intervention again teed something up for County, but we were frustrated once more as Madden`s header flew into the Railway End.

County had looked OK so far, if a tad lacking in the finishing department, so a reply from Swindon was overdue, and it came 3 minutes later via Zach Elbouzedi who shredded the left side of the blues defence with a surging run. His cross from the by-line was good too and it took excellent work by Hippolyte and Powell to stop the rot for the blues.

A period of concerted pressure followed from the visitors and a series of corners- the first headed out by the busy Powell, the second seeing Connor McCarthy`s shot blocked decisively by Cass.

It went on…Hippolyte excelling to snuff out yet another red shirted raid – County did lift the siege at this point, 11 minutes in, only for Tanto`s ball to be far too strong for its intended target -Madden.

The same duo were on hand again 4 minutes later, this time Tanto`s lay off to Paddy was perfect but sadly the resultant drive from County`s captain climbed up and over the bar.

We needed more precision from County but instead Horsfall spilled possession allowing Kokolo a chance to shoot. Thankfully Hinchliffe was in position to pull off what looked like a crucial save with the blue back line torn asunder. But hey……the ball was still in play and with Zach Elbouzedi and our goose looked cooked.

Hmm…it wasn`t as Elbouzedi`s effort went out of play off a post!

This was so clearly no` turkey shoot`- Swindon, had probably heard rumours of our vulnerability and were as a result, quite definitely `in it to win it!`

But County were still having their moments……..

On 21 minutes we saw Hippolyte in on goal, and then unaccountably not, having been put clear by an enterprising long punt from Hinchliffe.

Then 4 minutes on from that, Madden sent Tanto clear. It looked a good move and better as Tanto speeded the ball across the box to where Sarcevic lurked, but his shot was ushered out off the line by a defender.

All this offered hope as did Hippolyte`s long throw that followed and Evans` shot on the end of that, but Bycroft stopped the rot for his team keeping Evans strike out confidently.

We were into the last 20 minutes of the first half now and County were back defending- Cass twice doing just enough to block Jack Cain`s progress. Swindon continued to press though and only indifferent finishing from them prevented County being embarrassed!

I was distressed to see Sarcevic lump a corner over everyone in blue out of play- again we needed precision, served up dross!

But Tanto was trying and arguably unlucky to find Bycroft on his case and well able to deny him with half time approaching.

Evans also found Bycroft a pain even closer to the break- his shot kept out as a queue of blue shirts lined up to shoot.

A Madden break dead on half time briefly offered much, but then faded away as speedily as it had arrived with Town relieved to have survived with it still 0-0  at half time.

 

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For Half Time Entertainment today- a bit of Bowie…….

https://youtu.be/yEmGQYCuc6M?si=ktQ735RH8LykBFuY

 

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The re-start saw Ethan Pye on for Neill Byrne and Ethan Bristow for Ibou Touray, which left us with a back four of Cass, Horsfall, Pye and Bristow.

Bristow offered the hope of someone actually running with the ball down the left and it was not long before he did just that- no goal resulted but it was interesting to see how much space was created by someone being brave on the ball and not looking to pass back!

That looked better!

And Tanto looked lively too but he was thwarted by a clever foul from the resourceful Frazer Blake- Tracy. It was missed by Mr Brook and his Danny Stand liner and a definite threat from County was gone.

The same liner did see Kokolo`s foul on Hippolyte 2 minutes later and from the free kick another County chance emerged .

It was a thing of near beauty as the ball sped from Powell`s educated toes to Cass, who’s cross from the by-line picked out the waiting Madden perfectly.

It was a chance for sure and Paddy knew it, hammering a blistering shot goalward where Bycroft awaited the ball`s arrival. A goal looked on…..and then it didn`t as Bycroft flung himself at the ball pushing it out for a corner.

Thereafter any chance disappeared when Sarvevic found his route to goal blocked after excellent work by Madden and Evans from the corner.

County looked determined to get something from this game and great work by Tanto set up a shot for Evans that was blocked. The corner saw Madden`s header pushed out for another by Bycroft who confounded us again with an awesome save next to keep Horsfall`s point blank header out!

The lad was certainly earning his money for Town even before he acted to prevent Sarcevic and Madden from scoring, or kept another Horsfall header out passed the hour mark.

Evans and Hippolyte were now right and left respectively having switched- Hippolyte seeing Sarcevic fail to test the keeper from his pass, and Evans the victim of another poor foul by Kokolo that stopped him in his tracks as Powell slung a sweet ball into his path ( again missed by the officials!).

We were within 20 minutes of the end now and Wootton and Bailey had replaced Madden and Hippolyte.

Within minutes there was the usual controversy involving Wootton – who `came together` with Blake- Tracy as a peach of a ball from Bailey headed his way at the back of the box. I thought it was a clear foul on Wootts, but the free kick went to Swindon and of course the chance……a good one, was no more!

I am not going to dwell on that one- that will be re-run countless times in matches twixt now and our promotion at the end of the season!

The free kick saw Swindon regain possession and attack County with purpose- Horsfall doing well as County contrived to lose the ball in a dangerous position. But not long afterwards the danger returned as County failed to fashion anything in response allowing Town to attack again bringing another top class save from Hinchliffe to deny Paul Glatzel with just over 10 minutes left.

It needed a response from County and when it came it promised much as the ball flowed sweetly twixt Powell, to Cass and then Tanto who spoilt the moment by sending a poor header flying over the bar!

Tanto did try to make amends   shortly after ,sadly being denied via excellent defending from Blake-Tracy and McCarthy as the County top scorer chased a long one from Hinchliffe.

There was much good work at the back from Swindon in what remained of the game- Bycroft keeping Evans out under pressure from Horsfall………Evans denied again this time by Devoy as he looked to get to a neat pass from Cass.

There was some iffy stuff as well of course and Blake -Tracy majored in that climbing all over Wootton in such a blatant way as to leave Mr Brook in no doubt about awarding County the free kick and only 10 yards out!

Hmm…..lovely…..but whilst Bailey hit his kick well he could not by-pass Bycroft with it and again the chance was gone!

Rico Richards came on for Cass late on – Charlie Austin snaffling an unlikely corner from nowhere which his team promptly wasted.

Free kicks came and went for both sides in 6 minutes added time, none of them taken full advantage of by either side.

Credit though to County they kept plugging away looking for an ever more unlikely winning goal.

Bailey and Bristow started the final onslaught with a lively exchange of passes down the left.

A foul by the none too particular Kokolo on the by now heavily bruised Evans added flavour and a late free kick on 94 minutes.

Wootton`s shot from this was deflected for a corner – a glancing header by Powell- the prescribed story book finish I had ordered but it was not to be- the ball flying a fag papers width the wrong side of the far post.

Game over, one point gained 2 lost- the world continues to turn!

Like me and many other County supporters you will no doubt be at Colchester to cheer County on again, despite today`s disappointment!

Sorry…..cliche alert…………….nothing worth having comes easy…..well, we certainly have known that over the preceding decade or more.

Promotion is definitely worth having, and we are still well placed to achieve it with plenty of games in which to turn our current fortunes around!

 

Stockport County line up :-

Hinchliffe , Cass ( Richards 87), Horsfall , Byrne ( Pye 46) , Touray ( Bristow 46 ) , Hippolyte ( Bailey 72 ) , Evans , Powell , Sarcevic , Madden ( Wootton 72) , Olaofe .

Subs not used : Smith , Johnson.

 

Swindon Town line up :-

Bycroft , Blake- Tracy , Mc Eachran (Aguiar 56) , Elbouzedi ( Drinan 62) , Glatzel ( Mc Kirdy 77) , Cain ( Brewitt 62), Kokolo , Devoy , Mc Carthy , Minturn , Austin.

Subs not used ; Hepburn-Murphy , Mc Gurk , Brann.

 

Attendance : 9389

hedgegrower

 

An Additional Gallery from Andrew Machin.......