Stockport County match day!

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League game 18

Bournemouth 2 - 3 Stockport County

A managerial derby nothing to do with location, but the master vs the apprentice you could call it. With Mike Bridge taking on he young prodigy Tyler Edward’s.

Last time out managing different teams Tyler managed a win and a draw using the tactics Mike had previously taught Tyler. This time with Bridge having seemingly the stronger side he was hoping history wouldn’t repeat itself.

The stats in this game can be ignored due the 3 sendings off. I wouldn’t even describe this game as a ‘Dirty’ one, this was definitely more the case of a card happy ref.

County took the lead, on 36 mins and made it to half time 0-1 up. Nakamba scoring his first for the club. Routine at this point you could say but things were about to get spicy. The home side losing Brooks in the 46th minute to a second bookable offence, only for County to lose Sykes in the next minute for the exact same reason! Both teams down to 10 men, but who would take control? The bookies money will have been on the home side after Mike Bridge decided to replace their best player Jack Grealish in a sacrificial move to bring on another defender.

It took Bournemouth til the 53rd minute to equalise, a sensational effort from Smith to swing the tide and the game back in favour of the home team. The away fans clearly heard chanting to Bridge “You don’t know what you’re doing’s

This momentum was derailed though on the 75th minute after the home sides keeper Meslier brought down County’s young attacking midfielder Templemann. Nakamba stepping up and slotting the penalty home, with their scheduled penalty taker Grealish no longer in the pitch, taking his tally to 2 for the game and his County career.

The home fans spurred their team on though and 3 minutes later they had another equaliser. Bournemouth’s best player G Reyna, setting up Maja to chip Sam Johnstone. But who would take the points? Who would turn up with a special moment or who would mess up and just the other team the points.

In the 88th minute the fourth official decided there would be a minimum of 7 minutes added time, moments later Templemann was through on goal again and that mistake mentioned before was coming, with Meslier with another terrible challenge giving another penalty away. Nakamba stepped up for his hat trick and coolly dispatched it.

Holding on to the lead a the points was made much more difficult when 2 minutes later County were down to 9 men. With County’s midfield general Anderson with a reckless elbow on Tarverneir. It looked like not only would they hold on, but would make it comfortable when Templemann added to his 2 assists with a neat finish only for it to be ruled out. The hectic game finishing 2-3 and the master firmly putting the apprentice in his place.

A gutsy win by the away side, but this needs to be a start of a run for them now to show the league what they’re capable of.

526 words
686 total

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League game 19

Stockport County 3 - 0 Coventry City

At the mid point of the season Stockport County hosted Championship strugglers Coventry City.

Nothing but a win will do for the fans after the previous game. Although they won, the manager Mike Bridge made some questionable decisions, which won’t quickly be forgotten.

Despite this the home side dominated the game and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners. Making it back to back wins.

The manager will have been delighted with the performance, even with having to shift players around due to the suspensions.

County still hovering around mid table will hopefully use this as a springboard, with a bit of consistency creeping into the team it’s going in the right direction!

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807 words in total

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League Game 20

Millwall 0 - 2 Stockport County

After the mauling on the first day of the season, the lads needed to put in a shift to rectify that defeat.

Although we worked out tactical advantage the game was definitely out of our hands as the home side put us under immense pressure. Despite the pressure we were able to keep the home side out and on the flip side we were clinical scoring with two of our four shots on target, in the 2nd and 18th minute.

Helped by the man of the match performance by Sam Johnstone we claimed our revenge, but definitely not the performance we wanted.

The home side suffering from the luck we’ve been having all season. When we out play the opposition we lose and when being out played we win. Frustrating to say the least.

Good game Gary, you and your side deserved more. Good luck in the second half of the season.

161 words
968 Total

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League game 21

Nottingham Forest 3 - 3 Stockport County

A draw snatched from the jaws of victory. The home side with a dramatic 95 minute equaliser. One of those games we did enough to win but once again the games we should have won we didn’t.

Despite taking a point this result feels like a loss and we need to be better, a lot better!

66 words
1034 total

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League game 22

Stockport County 6 - 0 Luton Town

An amazing result out of nowhere, to hit 6 goals with no reply gave us our best performance and result of the season.

With 19 shots on target we’re wondering if we could have had more! B Bayo with the man of the match performance and 4 goals to his name!

Hopefully we can have more games like this going forward and we can put pressure on the top teams.

80 words
1114 total

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League game 23

Fulham 2 - 5 Stockport County

Another great game and result! 11 goals in the last 2 games, but the game wasn’t all our way. At half time the game was deadlocked at 2-2. We held firm though and although again the home side took the game to us and had the lions share of the game we were once again more clinical.

This result puts massive pressure on the top teams and we can start dreaming of that promotion in our first season. Is it too soon though? We need to push on and push hard!

100 words
1214 total

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League game 24

A massive bump back down to earth. Home advantage, tactical advantage and we were toothless at home.

Stoke though shut us out and the pressure we’ve started to build has dissipated. A very disappointing result and one we have to bounce back from if we’re to make a success of this season. If we don’t we only have ourselves to blame!

The stats indicate that a draw would have been fair, however, this game is rarely fair and we must take the bull by the horns to get what we deserve!

94 words
1308 total

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League game 25

Norwich City 2 - 1 Stockport County

A second loss in a row means the feel good aura around the team is disappearing. We conceded early and equalised pretty much straight away. The home side took control of the game though and made that pressure tell. Scoring in the 58th minute and with no further meaningful actions in the game meant the home side took the points.

Being brutally honest the home side deserved the points and the stats support this! So so disappointing, we need to get back to winning ways and not fall too far behind the top 2.

103 words
1411 total

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League game 26

Stockport County 1 - 2 Brentford

Three losses in a row puts real pressure on the manager and the players. Even knowing the home side had to play squaddies in the game they should have had more than enough quality to take at least a point.

However, once again the away side dominated at Edgeley park. This has happened too many time this season, despite winning a few playing badly the home fans made their feelings clear at full time.

It looked as though Stockport would take an unlikely point until Brentford defender scored late on. An unlikely hero for the away side but a hero nonetheless as he secured the points.

114 words
1525 total

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League game 27

Ipswich Town 2 - 1 Stockport County

Another game, another loss and another last minute winner.

The tractor boys securing the points in the 96th minute.

Noticing the home side were short at the back, Mike Bridge decided to throw the kitchen sink at Ipswich with A. The home side started with home and tactical advantage. But with only having 3 fit defenders the good money was on the away side taking victory.

Once again though, they leave the field with 0 points and this makes 4 losses out of 4. Dropping from 1st to 10th! It’s a tough pill to swallow, but the luck must turn and we need to get back in this race!

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1644 total

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League game 28

Stockport County 3 - 1 Bristol City

A must win game against a top half rival meant there was immense pressure on this game.

We took the lead in the 46th minute in an end to end encounter. The nature of the game meant that keeping a clean sheet wasn’t achievable and in the 58th minute Bristol equalised through their talisman Guirassy. Only a minute later though we retook the lead though our captain Rajovic. We dug in after this and the man of the match F Anderson topped off the performance and result with a 3rd making it 3-1. This was how the game ended and the points much needed to get the show back on the road!

122 words
1766 Total

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League game 29

Huddersfield Town 0 - 0 Stockport County

A draw that slows our momentum, but to be clear we created few chances. The stubborn Terriers creating even less but were resolute enough to make the game end in a stalemate.

This isn’t a loss though and this is something we can build on!

55 Words
1821 total

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League game 30

Stockport County 0 - 1 Middlesbrough

This side is so inconsistent, once again home advantage and once again tactical advantage and yet we were unable to take the points. In a game where we shaded the stats, but a mistake by Sam Johnstone means we get no points from the game.

At this point we don’t want to get promoted, our inconsistency would only be further exploited in the premier league!

74 words
1895 total

[Bridgey@Stockport]

League game 31

Stockport County 3 - 2 Leicester City

With County needing a result against top of the league to get their season back on track, they couldn’t have had a worse start.

Leicester scoring in the 13th minute, meant they needed to push hard and they did just that. Turning the game on its head in a massive 5 minutes. Scoring in the 30th, 32nd and 35th minute. 3-1 at half time and cruising County were to be tested again when the away side scored a consolation in the 90 minute. But they held on for a massive 3 points and give themselves a shot in the race for the top 6 at least!

116 words
2011 total