Swindon 2 Stockport 0

August 26, 2006

STOCKPORT's miserable start to the season continued as they were soundly beaten by League Two pacesetters Swindon.

Boss Jim Gannon must by praying for the Autumn rain as his side finished the month of August without a win.

Goals from Aaron Brown and Christian Roberts were enough to kill off Gannon's who struggled throughout.

Gannon handed a league debut to Michael Bowler and the youngster outlined his League Two credentials inside 15 minutes by smashing into Swindon's Andy Caton forcing the young midfielder to be substituted.

Sole striker Glenn Murray cast a lonely shadow up front as Stockport struggled to get a foothold in the game.

Robins striker Lee Peacock went close with two early chances, his second attempt thwarted by an excellent save from County keeper James Spencer.

Against the run of play on the half hour mark it was almost County who took the lead when centre-backs Ashley Williams and Gareth Owen combined only for Owen's header to drift just wide.

The League Two favourites soon took the lead when Brown's close range free kick left Spencer with no chance.

Gannon switched to a more attacking formation in the second half but it failed to bear fruit and Swindon finished things when Christian Roberts turned in the second on 63 minutes.

What do you think? Have tour say.

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browny, vancouver island (26/08/2006 at 22:42)

Well we hoped but did we expect to get owt from Swindon? Not yet, not until we start popping in some goals. In this game there were too many poor crosses/corners that were easy pickings for a giant goalie and some poor passes at crucial moments let us down. This season we also seem to lack somebody running at teams particularily down the flanks, something that was a trademark of Griffin but for whatever reason that's not happened yet this season.
JG has a tricky balancing act to perform, he doesn't want to commit all his budget and miss out on some quality player(s) subsequently available but he won't want morale to dip too low either and he definitely will have to, and I'm sure he will, act before the situation deteriorates to the extent that last season did. I think I can still understand him holding something in reserve this early in the season and trying everything to he can with what he's got now but it's unfortunate that the superb travelling support, (I heard y'all outsinging the Swindon fans), hasn't got a victory to celebrate yet.
Come on County,
Phil B^)
SCFCinCanada

Andy, Offerton (27/08/2006 at 00:18)

When will Jim learn that all the best teams keep the same formation rather than chopping and changing time after time. 4-4-2 has always been a winning County formation but trying to play 5 in midfield with Malcolm/Le Fondre/Bramble on the right is just not working. The back four doesn't look to bad and Williams and Owen have shown a lot of promise and Bowler has the makings of a very good player!!!
In Midfield however, Taylor is very much one paced, Dinning isn't putting in the performances and after that there is no-one. The Griff seems to be scared to go at people at the moment, something he was good at last year and there is no width at all down the right (oh for a Matty Hamshaw!!!).
Up front Murray should be sent back to Carlisle as he looks disinterested, Dickinson looks like he may have been a 6 month wonder, Proudlock doesn't look fit and Alfie (our best finisher) won't be given a run of games!! It's a sorry state of affairs when we look a far better side when Bramble plays!!

We desperately need a right winger, striker and an attacking central midfielder otherwise we could be heading to the conference for definite this season!!! Anything other than a win against Bristol Rovers will be seen as a disaster now!!

kenthatter, canterbury (28/08/2006 at 15:09)

Yes it was another disappointing performance but I think a little perspective is in order.
With the exception of Mansfield we have played away from home and lost to 2 teams relegated from a higher division and we have lost and drawn to the 2 promoted teams where if we are being honest the top of the conference is probably a higher standard than the bottom of league 2.
This does make Sundays game a true benchmark of how we might fair. I know we all got carried away with the results once Jim took over last season but the fact is we are a very mediocre team. In my view we are physically too small to deal with a lot of teams in the division and don`t intimidate anyone. We are incredibly one paced in midfield and really do lack a true ball winner/nasty piece of work that all good team possess.
We continue to concede too many and score too few to be a real contender unless we can secure the services of a 20 goal a season striker and this gets me to the main crux of the matter which is who of quality would want to come and play for Stockport County despite the fact we have the best fans in any division
I am an optimist by nature but a slice of realism is required. A good season this year will be mid table which just might make us a more attractive proposition for prospective new players.

Kenthatter

Matt, Bury (28/08/2006 at 17:54)

Never mind, with Kasper back in goals we should be OK. Unlike you who are bound to go down this season. Lets face it you should have gone last season but there's no avoiding the inevitable I'm afraid.

Kenny, Cornwall (now Cyprus) (28/08/2006 at 18:04)

Yes, another disappointing result but not altogether unexpected. I mentioned in comments on an earlier story that the first 12 games could be crucial and might provide a pointer to how we will fare this season. If we are to get into a near mid-table situation then we need at least 4 wins by end of September - can't see it happening from results/performances so far unless there is a complete about turn in fortunes and I agree that forthcoming match against Bristol Rovers might give us all better indication.
Appreciate that JG worked a miracle and saved us (just about!!!) last season but in harsh reality this season is about results and we just aint getting them so far.

browny, vancouver island (28/08/2006 at 21:28)

Hi Andy & Kenthatter, some well thought out points in your posts and much more interesting than some of the OTT whinging and slagging off that can be spewed forth at times.
I'ld be disappointed, shocked even, if we didn't end the season in a higher position than last season. In fact if we had managed a goal (or another goal) in each of our games so far then things would be looking pretty good. I think Bramble may not score bags of goals but it's evident that he does cause defences problems. Not often does a defence have a comfortable afternoon against him and that does benefit other players in our attack and improves our team game as a whole. Hopefully he can stay fit enough to lead the line like he did in the 2nd half of last season and if he also got the confidence from popping a few goals in........... Similarily we haven't seen the Griff we saw last season. Dunno why he's not playing at that level now, young players are more susceptible to ups and downs in form/confidence, but hopefully he'll come back soon. Defensively we're not perfect but not letting in bags of goals (read 6's!) or even 3's & 4's so, if we can find a few goals for, then I think we'll look a pretty respectable team for the first year of a three year plan to challenge for promotion.
Hi ho County,
Phil B^)
SCFCinCanada

John, Heaton Mersey (29/08/2006 at 11:44)

Matt, Bury. I notice you waited until your own team registered their first points before posting your comment. Typical. Let's face it, the bookies have got both Bury and County to go down this season and for once I think they're on the money!

Diego, Bents Lane (29/08/2006 at 12:48)

Are you sure theres a 3 yr plan? It seems to me with the strength of the current squad we can only plan week to week and thats just the way it is. No complaints but we do need a win. And welcome back to Matt representing the other 2,387 bitter fans averaging at Gigg Lane this season. Its early days for all of us but when 3pts can move you up 5 places, JG needs to find a system the players can win with on Sunday.

Jim, Marple (29/08/2006 at 20:18)

I think we can get results against Boston and Shrewsbury that also might get our season going. Sing up on Sunday!

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