CARLTON Palmer is asking Stockport County fans for more of the same tonight (Wednesday) for the visit of Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup third round.

Sunday night’s defeat by Crystal Palace may have set an unwanted club record of ten league defeats on the trot, but the Stockport players were still cheered from the pitch after their sterling effort against the odds.

And they could do with similar support tonight as they take a breather from an increasingly wearying league campaign to take on Sam Allardyce’s Bolton.

‘‘The support against Palace was tremendous. It was really satisfying, and really appreciated, to be applauded off the pitch at the end of the game,’’ said Palmer.

‘‘We’ll keep working at it. We’ll keep working at the important things.

‘‘And as long as we keep improving and keep adding to the squad the future is rosy.

‘‘I think the fans can see the improvements that have been made. I know that I am going to take criticism because that’s the way it is.

‘‘Things have been bad for a couple of years here and it’s not going to be like that any more.’’

Ellison boost

County will be missing three of the players beaten by Palace, but there’s better news regarding striker Kevin Ellison, who was feared to have broken his hand in the 1-0 defeat.

Ellison was withdrawn after 70 minutes of Sundays clash with Crystal Palace when it was feared that he had fractured a bone in his hand.

But an X-ray on Monday revealed no damage and Ellison is able to continue his increasingly effective partnership with Jon Daly up front.

But its not such good news for Damien Delaney, Luke Beckett and Dave Challinor.

Beckett is cup-tied after playing for Chesterfield and loan star Delaney has not been given permission to play by his club Leicester City.

And new signing Challinor, who made his debut on Sunday, will also be unavailable as he was signed from Tranmere after the registration deadline for third-round games.

‘‘We’ll have three players missing, but at least it will give Luke Beckett some more time to recover from his injury,’’ said Palmer.

The Edgley Park boss intends to bring in four or five new faces as soon as possible — and has said current squad members will have to play for their places.

The £1m sale of Shefki Kuqi to Sheffield Wednesday has alerted clubs that County may at last have some money to spend.

‘‘People know I have got the Shefki Kuqi money and prices have gone up,’’ added Palmer. ‘‘But I won’t pay over-inflated prices for anyone.’’

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