POST-MATCH THREAD: Stockport County v Charlton Athletic: Saturday 8th March 2025: KO 12:30

Was talking to some Stockport fans after the game who were complaining about the ref letting us get away with a few fouls.

I agreed that he was shit and pointed out had let them get away with a lot too, including a few wrestling holds.

Of course, they claimed to have missed all of that and reckoned we were playing absolutely filthy football today. I don't think they were watching the same game.

Jones looked to be in a bit is discomfort some time after having gone down.  Hopefully a bit sore but recovers swiftly.  Can't afford to lose him.

follett said:

Henry Irving said:

I rarely watch us on CharltonTV and today showed me why.

A nervous 97mins with little quality from either side but we restricted them to few chances and came away with a valuable point.

Doing that when you haven't played well is key to success but I hope it was just an off day for Small and Campbell although it was clear County saw them as our key men and set up to stop them.

Hope Jones is fit for the rest of the season.

Too often our keepers have been marked down on the basis they "had nothing to do" but today Mannion did what was need in difficult windy conditions. He and Gillesphy were men of the match.

7 points out of 9 with two difficult away games is far from shabby and we know we can play better.

Get some revenge over Crawley on Tuesday and we are well set for the run in.

Unless the away end had its own weather system, there was zero wind 

Yes, I've been confused by these comments about the conditions as well, as on the away end it was a beautiful spring day, with most people getting slightly warm.

robroy said:

Was at the game; have seen softer penalty’s given if I’m honest. 

I did think they shaded it, we offered nothing. 

Still points a point and we continue. 

A slight push on his back, but he went down far too easily. 

follett said:

Henry Irving said:

I rarely watch us on CharltonTV and today showed me why.

A nervous 97mins with little quality from either side but we restricted them to few chances and came away with a valuable point.

Doing that when you haven't played well is key to success but I hope it was just an off day for Small and Campbell although it was clear County saw them as our key men and set up to stop them.

Hope Jones is fit for the rest of the season.

Too often our keepers have been marked down on the basis they "had nothing to do" but today Mannion did what was need in difficult windy conditions. He and Gillesphy were men of the match.

7 points out of 9 with two difficult away games is far from shabby and we know we can play better.

Get some revenge over Crawley on Tuesday and we are well set for the run in.

Unless the away end had its own weather system, there was zero wind 

There definitely was, from the away end down towards the home end. It resulted in a lot of overhit crosses and long balls, especially second half. A few times Mannion took goal kicks that got caught in a gust and held up near the half way line.

I didn’t watch the game.

Everyone here keeps saying that they were wrestling and shirt pulling, and that the ref let it go. There are two solutions to this in my book

1. I don’t like play acting but if it’s really a foul go down, roll about and make the ref think twice. Scream out, complain, show the ref where your shirt’s been pulled.

2. Accept it but do the same back.

Did we not do either of these?

I was at the game, not too far from Altrincham! Thought I'd go for an early pint at Wetherspoons, but it was rammed, so popped into the pub opposite, no cask beer so I had  a  pint of guinness.
Onto the game I was increasingly appalled at the number of headlocks, wrestling to the ground by the Stockport defenders. The referee did nothing about it. I understand that the directive is to try to let the game flow, but many of the Stockport defenders, especially Hills, No 33 got away with physical assault on our attacking players. No wonder at the end of the game, it kicked off, with Hills at the centre of it.
I agree with many posters that in previous seasons we would have capitulated under this sort of physicality, but we have a certain steeliness about us now, exemplified by Jones, the centre half not the manager,( although he might have something to do with it as well!}
My initial thoughts of the subs was negative, bringing in Chucks and Anderson for Small and Berry, but on reflection Jones recognised that it had become a physical game, and the ref was giving nothing, so bring on more players that have the strength to combat these tactics.
In the end another point gained against promotion rivals, a little bit disappointed that our wide players, Small and Campbell had little effect on the game, they were well marshalled (assalted) by the Stockport defence.
Jones was obviosly upset by the referees performance, quoting that the assistant referees were telling him about fouls, but he ignored them.
In the end, a little disappointed, I wanted the euphoria of an away win against promotion rivals, wasn't to be, but a 0-0 was the next best thing.

@oohaahmortimer thanks for mentioning about sun glasses the other day, so glad I brought them today, the 13 year old was pleased too 👍👍

jimmymelrose said:

I didn’t watch the game.

Everyone here keeps saying that they were wrestling and shirt pulling, and that the ref let it go. There are two solutions to this in my book

1. I don’t like play acting but if it’s really a foul go down, roll about and make the ref think twice. Scream out, complain, show the ref where your shirt’s been pulled.

2. Accept it but do the same back.

Did we not do either of these?

I think we did do the same back and the game suffered.

soapy_jones said:

Division Three football writ large on TV for the watching Sky hundreds...

We have never bettered this division on our latest sojourn, just acclimatised ourselves to it.  Our extended stay may come to an end soon, it may not. The Stockports of this world inhabit it, serviced by inept officials and with a grounded ambition.  The longer we stay, i fear we shall metamorph into something similar, and all our splendid history, and story will fade like memories rightly do.

Take a point, we would arguably have folded 12 months ago, and pray. Pray Addicks that NJ and our present "stakeholders" have a plan, a cunning plan to escape this turgid, swamp of a division.

Off to stare at a blank wall.

I was also thinking proper third division as an excuse for it. Yes we defended well and battled but that was like a game on Hackney Marshes. Dismal to watch.

Hope Jones OK for Tuesday. 

Referee decided to let everything and anything go - he couldn't be bothered!

Needed a hat and sunglasses with full expectation to watch a tight pretty meh game with so much at stake. I think it was apenalty at ten minutes and feel lucky we got a draw 

SoundAsa£ said:

At the game.
Says something when neither keeper had to make a save of any significance. 

Campbell and Small had very poor games, with little or no supply reaching the strikers.
Defence was once again top draw, with both Jones and Gillesphey on top form.

You must have missed the diving save from Mannion early in the second half?

Wasnt the hardest of strikes, but he still had to stretch to keep it out

follett said:

We missed a fair few headers that game where we’d jump take a shove and miss the ball as a result, it’s where a few of
their chances materialised from. We bought Chuks on for physicality and of course the ref gives a foul against him everytime he challenges for a ball. Inconsistent reffing that allowed Stockport to play the game they wanted.

At least the ref was consistent - consistently shit!

SoundAsa£ said:

At the game.
Says something when neither keeper had to make a save of
any significance. 

Campbell and Small had very poor games, with little or no supply reaching the strikers.
Defence was once again top draw, with both Jones and Gillesphey on top form.

Suggest you watch the highlights, Stu - Mannion made an excellent stop at virtual point blank range in the second half which would have been at the far end from you. 

Surprised at some of the comments. Watched on stream and thought it was a really engaging game between two battling sides. Thought Stockport had quality that was a level above most teams we’ve played (Birmingham excluded) and particularly noticed their young centre back Brad Hills on loan from Norwich. We defended very well though on the whole and kept ourselves in with a chance. Macca was excellent and continues to look more assured game by game. They’ll be disappointed not to have won it on the balance of play, while a point away from home puts us in a very strong position with our game in hand to play on Tuesday.