The Opposition View: Stockport

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 01/09/2005

THE Mariners host a second game at Blundell Park within the space of a week on Friday night. This time the vistors are Stockport County, who have drawn every league game but one this season.

You've drawn nearly every game? Were they one point gained or two points lost?

Bizarrely, its been mix of the two. Some we have dominated and only managed a point. Others we have been terrible - such as Peterborough in the last game, one way traffic for 90 minutes. We only scraped a draw through some inspired goalkeeping (Thanks Matty Duke!) and the worst own goal you have ever seen.

Last year must have been miserable? Are you optimistic that Stockport can bounce straight back?

Never mind last year, its been appalling for the past 4-5 years. Under-investment in the side and poor management (Carlton Palmer!?!) have seen us slide from being a solid Championship side to a mid-table basement division side. I will be entirely happy with a season of consolidation, maybe a late run to the play-offs.

How do you think the standard in League Two compares to that of League One?

I think League Two has the biggest gulf between top and bottom. There will always be one or two really poor sides in this division which you don't tend to find in the other divisions. Having said that, I don't think there is a huge gulf between the bottom of League One and top of League Two.

What have been the main changes to your squad over the summer?

Wholesale changes across the board. The supporters have formed a trust and taken over ownership from the guys who own Sale Sharks (who now own our ground! [left]). On the playing side we have shipped out all the highest earners and brought in some promising youngsters. There are only a couple of starters still with the squad from this time last year.

Do you think your squad is stronger or weaker than last season?

Weaker, purely from the fact we were preparing for this division from Christmas-time. Finances dictate that we couldn't hold on to our best players.

What players should we look out for?

Bramble and Easter (left) are looking like a useful pair up front. And loan signings of Matt Duke and Tony Vaughan have added some much needed steel at the back.

Who are your biggest rivals in this division?

Sadly Macclesfield. After years of challenging with Man City, we now on a par with our poorer neighbours

Which of the teams you've played so far his impressed the most?

Darlington are the only team to have actually beaten us. County have made it a bit difficult to judge this as we made Sheffield Wednesday look like an average side for 90 mins in the cup, and made Peterborough look like Brazil '74!

Do you have any pre-conceptions about Grimsby?

Smells of fish?

Do you especially remember any previous games between the two clubs?

Nothing memorable I'm afraid!

Finally, a scoreline prediction?

I'm thinking County can keep a solid backline and sneak a goal or two. So I'm going to go for 1-0 for our first win of the season.

Thanks to Mike Williams, who is a big supporter of Stockport Supporters' Trust for the interview.

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