Stockport Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 23/04/2004

THE end of the season approaches and all the clichés will be out in force on Saturday. But with three games to go and only one point and one place separating Town and Stockport at the foot of the table, this really is a massive game.......

After the home defeat to Blackpool on Easter Monday, most Town fans were resigned to relegation. Then, came a somewhat surprising win and good performance against Rushden on Saturday. That win gives Town every chance of beating the drop, and suddenly, there is an air of confidence around Blundell Park. With no new injuries this week, and the return of key players like Rankin and Campbell last week, The Mariners will now be more confident of staying in the Second Division.

The Opposition

Manager Sammy McIlroy. Former Macclesfield and Northern Ireland manager who took charge of County just a few months into this season, following the departure of Carlton Palmer. After initially steadying the ship at Edgeley Park, a slump between December and March that saw only one win in 16 games made most think that Stockport had had it. However, recent form has turned that around and a nine game unbeaten run that has yielded five wins, could mean that McIlroy will pull of a great escape. The Team Former Macclesfield midfielder Ricky Lambert has performed well for County this season with some industrious performances, whilst the experience of former Preston winger Lee Cartwright, who was at Preston with Iain Anderson, has proved invaluable in County’s latest good run. Striker Aaron Wilbraham (left) has hit nine goals this season, despite some niggling injuries that have seen him in and out of the side. One man who could be back for Stockport though, is free scoring striker Luke Beckett who has been injured for much of the season, but could be back on the bench on Saturday. Beckett has only played five games for Stockport this season, but still scored four goals for the club.

Recent Form

Town Stockport W Rushden (h) 1-0 L Blackpool (h) 0-2 L QPR (a) 0-3 W Sheff Wed (h) 2-0 D Chesterfield (a) 4-4 Currently 21st in Division 2. D QPR (a) 1-1 D Oldham (h) 1-1 W Chesterfield (a) 3-0 W Rushden (h) 2-1 D Blackpool (a) 1-1 Currently 20th in Division 2.

Top Scorers

Town Stockport Jevons 13 Anderson 6 Lambert 13 Barlow 11

Team News

Town Stockport The Mariners will probably remain unchanged from the side that beat Rushden on Saturday. There have been no new injury worries for Nicky Law, meaning that Isiah Rankin and Darren Mansaram will continue up front. John Thorrington, David Soames and Mickael Antoine Curier all have slight knocks, but will be fit anyhow, though a place on the bench is the best they can all hope for. Stockport too, are unlikely to make any changes, apart from on the bench where we are likely to see the return of Luke Beckett who has been out for seven months with cruciate ligament damage.

Probable Teams

Town Stockport Alan Fettis Jason Crowe Darren Barnard Tony Crane Mike Edwards Iain Anderson Phil Jevons Stuart Campbell Stacy Coldicott Darren Mansaram Isiah Rankin Anthony Williams John Hardikker Rob Clare Ashley Williams Danny Adams Lee Cartwright Ricky Lambert Jim Goodwin Danny Jackman Aaron Wilbraham John Daly

Subs

Town Stockport David Soames Graham Hockless Simon Ford Paul Warhurst Jon Rowan James Spencer Robert Jones Stuart Barlow Luke Beckett Mark Robertson

Last Time Out

A cold, windy November afternoon saw a rather dull and boring 1-1 draw between the two sides when getting those extra two points didn’t seem so important back then! Town went behind on 67 minutes through a Rob Clare (who scored last week at QPR) goal. But the Mariners responded just minutes later when Darren Mansaram, who had just come on for Iffy Onoura, scored. Town Team: Davison, McDermott, Crane, Edwards, Young, Campbell (Cas, 68) , Crowe, Hamilton, Anderson (Jevons, 89) , Onuora (Mansaram, 64) , Boulding Subs: (not used) Groves, Parker Stockport Team: Spencer (Colgan, 34) , Clare, Hardiker, Heath, Jackman, Gibb, Lambert, Goodwin, Welsh (Morrison, 81) , Daly (Barlow, 85) , Wilbraham Subs: (not used) Challinor, Lescott Attendance: 4,014    Report Stockport Head-to-Head (14th on The Opposition Ladder).

Prediction

Fishy prediction: A 1-1 draw Reader's POMs

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