Stockport County 1 Blackpool 2 ( Football League 1 ) Saturday 22 August 2026

 

 

 

 

Two goals, both arguably preventable, conceded in the first half, ensured that County went empty handed from today`s game against Blackpool at Edgeley Park.

Substitute Mikael Mandron combined with Che Gardner ( on for his usual 3 or 4 minutes late run out)to pull a goal back at the death, but by then many home specs had long since started to head for home as County struggled to turn massive possessional advantage into goals.

Their approach play , apart from the first 20 minutes or so, was ponderous and predictable giving Ian Evatt`s side the breathing space they needed to survive and then make us pay when defensive inadequacies on our part served up 2 chances which, commendably, Blackpool took.

We needed to be more direct and speedy with our football than we were, and much earlier than the 95^th minute when the Gardner/ Mandron cooperation lit a late but forlorn beacon in some County minds.

It truly was too late for County to find the urgency in the final seconds of the game that eluded them for 94 minutes previously.

That was a massive disappointment, but one that hopefully Jimmy Mac can resolve quickly- all teams lose games but we clearly need to ensure we do not make a habit of it!

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I was disappointed to see that Jason Adigun was not in the starting 11 for County after his heroics on Tuesday evening.

But the place was bulging with almost 10000 roaring the teams on as the game started with another disappointment as County were attacking the Cheadle End.

That was `strike 1 ` for Blackpool, but they did not look that sure on their pins, indeed a run of fouls on blue shirted players as County swept forward within a minute opened up thoughts of early glory as the blues had a free kick in a scoreable position.

 It irked that CJ Hamilton, only got `a word` from Referee Carl Brook rather than the card his crude offerings deserved, but, no matter, we had the free kick…… and Norwood was obviously taking it and would take a shot at goal…….

……eh nope….he lifted the ball instead towards the back post where Glover met it- his effort being saved by Pool keeper Baily Peacock-Farrell!

Within a couple of minutes Blackpool emerged to test County`s resolve, and Ethan Pye drew the short straw- making good ground to stop Bloxham as he sought to hit us on the break.

That was excellent work by Pye, but he was caught napping moments later, putting  County under the cosh -rescued ultimately by good work from Kyron Gordon.

We were 7 minutes in now, and County were attacking through Jack Diamond who combined with Ben Osborn to set Harry Wood up, but he lifted the ball over the bar.

Osborn and Wood were combining well together though– winning a corner next – this got County on their toes as blue shirts piled into the box- none of them outside and beyond the box down the right flank – which was precisely where Ollie Norwood pinged his kick to!

That was the 2^nd set piece we had scorned in the game`s first 10 minutes, and we might have paid for our profligacy as the next action saw a shot by Morgan fizz out for a corner off a County defender- Bloxham`s header cleared off the line from the kick.

County replied though, Oliver Casey doing well for Pool stopping Lewis Bate as he made ground in the visitors last third following a neat 1….2 twixt Osborn and Wood, and the pressure continued from the blues- Wootton unable to force the ball home in front of goal on the end of a fine ball from Osborn.

We were at the halfway point of the half when matters took a turn for the worse and we were back to sides doing the basics correctly and you cannot get any more basic than going long from the back and that`s exactly what the Pool keeper Peacock-Farrell did wellying the ball up the park where Bloxham latched onto it lashing a venomous drive beyond Whatmuff into the net.

The Railway -End went AS…… and why not…everyone else was slightly numb as a result of what had just happened.

It was another 8 minutes before anything of significance happened – and it was at the `wrong ` end as Blackpool again made inroads through County`s defensive unit which was not picking up Pool`s runs at all – it looked odds on being 0-2 as the ball headed over from the right flank to where the lanky Casey lurked at the near post. A shoo in maybe….but he headed the ball wide of goal much to County`s relief.

County looked to attack after that shock, but still without an ounce of good fortune-as Peacock- Farrell kept a Norwood strike out……….Diamond headed over the bar from Osborn`s cross …….the unmarked Glover doing no better when picked out in front of goal by Wood.

It was not great, and soon we were made to pay for not taking our chances as Blackpool doubled their lead.

It all started with a loose ball that was snapped up by CJ Hamilton down the left, allowing Bloxham to get a shot off that was saved by Whatmuff. Unfortunately ,the County keeper did not hold not the ball ,letting it run clear to Bowler  who made no mistake almost on the line.

Blackpool had their 2-0 lead whilst County I guess prayed for half time to come soon!

That said, County looked to attack winning a run of corners that stretched into added time – the half ending at the very moment the last of these kicks came over clipping the top side of the bar on its way out of play.

It was a relief to hear the Referees whistle for half time!

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 I do not think there was a single person( other than those in the Railway End ) wishing other than the very best for County as they sought to improve their position.

But Blackpool still wanted more from the game-Williams robbing Wood and heading for goal, but County closed ranks and saw the danger off.

Osborn followed that action by winning a corner, but County made nothing of it!

This encouraged Blackpool seemingly and they swept forward- a neat one /two twixt Bowler and Bloxham making great headway deep into blue territory- the danger only averted by sound defending by Ollie Whatmuff, and County`s keeper was sharp again a minute later performing sweeping duties to deny Bloxham and Charles who combined threateningly deep in the blue half.

County were looking to reply, but their approach play was ponderous and offering precious little threat through the middle instead ensuring passes went lateral rather than into the box where danger might lurk.

Chances came alright……52 minutes…..Gordon`s cross reaching Diamond only for him to head over the bar, then Glover fed a decent cross over for Osborn who could not get his head to it……..Diamond heading over again from Woods pass shortly after.

That was Wood`s last action of the game as he was replaced by Jason Adigun with 57 minutes on the clock…..Bate & Glover being subbed in favour of Mandron and Andresson 3 minutes later.

Blackpool made a raft of personnel changes also around the same time and Mandron, who I liked the look of on Tuesday, was in the mix straight off winning a free kick in a definite scoring position-fairly central and only just outside the box- Norwood territory in fact, but any thoughts of County pulling one back were quickly dampened as Norwood lifted his kick high over the away end towards Bergara Drive- we had wasted another set piece!!

I have always felt that the best instructions to Andresson should be ` hang around in the box, watch and wait! `, so to see him lurking widish not far from halfway was disturbing, but I soon bucked up as he latched onto the ball and legged it towards goal , but cover was coming his way so he let his shot off early and it took a deflection going for a corner….then another, both of which County could not make anything of.

Meanwhile Diamond kept plugging away, cutting in from the right with 12 minutes left to play. He was brought down on the edge of the box, and we had a free kick- and it was not a bad one either, but Wootton could only head the ball over the bar from close in.

Mandron was a busy lad- winning a corner, seeing a header saved by the visiting keeper, with 10 minutes left……teeing Norwood up for a shot that Peacock- Farrell dealt with well again on 84 minutes.

Not long after, young Che Gardner came on for Ben Osborn , and I winced knowing that Che would be getting his usual ration of minutes ( 4 + 5 added this time)- he really deserves a better shake of the dice !

But County kept plugging away- Blackpool more or less content to sit back and let them- Wootton getting a header in that was saved by Peacock- Farrell, and we then saw probably the best bit of work so far from Diamond who again cut inside from the right before unleashing a shot off that twanged the woodwork on its way onto the Railway End.

That was 93 minutes in…..County got a free kick a minute later and Norwood took it quickly sending the ball wide to Gardner.

No cut back…..pass away from goal but a cross to the back post where Mandron met it forcing the ball home.

Mandron had now scored 2 goals in 70 minutes football and looked good whilst doing so- clearly all is not doom and gloom as Jimmy Mac seeks to sort matters after today`s set back!

There was still time for County to fancy they might nick that equaliser , but Mr Brook was not having any….blowing for time as County made to break up the park one last time.

That was disappointing, but it`s how we react to the defeat that counts, and I suspect that Jimmy Mac will have matters sorted in time for Wycombe next Saturday.

See you at EP for that one then!

 

Stockport County line up :-

 Whatmuff, Gordon, O’Connell, Pye, Glover (Andrésson 70), Bate (Mandron 70), Norwood , Osborn (Gardner, 86), Diamond, Wood (Adigun 57), Wootton.

Unused Subs: Wilson-Brown, Edun, Fiorini.

 

Blackpool FC line up :-

Peacock-Farrell , Ashworth, Casey , Morgan ( Clarkson 69), Honeyman ( Coulson 69), Bowler , Bloxham( Kouassi 59) , Anderson , Charles (Monroe 59), Hamilton( Lyons 71) , Williams.

Unused Subs : Southwood , Hunter.

Attendance: 9,991 (1,154 ). 

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