Trouble at both ends loses Latics their unbeaten status

Photo: Pictures by TOM PICKLES

IMPRESSIVE DEBUT: Daniel Jones (above) made his mark in place of Kelvin Lomax at left-back.

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Stockport 3, Athletic 1

FOOTBALL basics number one — get it wrong at both ends of the pitch and, barring a miraculous escape, you’ll lose.

There was no miracle for Athletic at Edgeley Park, just a mightily disappointing derby defeat, as League One’s only unbeaten record floated off into the cold night sky.

John Sheridan’s side took the lead with a freak goal by Andy Liddell and were looking good – not brilliant, but good enough – to prolong Stockport’s wait for a first home win of the season.

Yet they lost the plot in defence and compounded their felony by missing half a dozen chances. And you can’t get away with that.

In terms of their attacking performance, Athletic were pleasant on the eye but lacked something extra when it mattered, a bit like Kelly Brook.

Stockport had a more ruthless, opportunistic streak and made fewer basic mistakes as Sheridan found that his much-altered team couldn’t sustain their form for 90 minutes.

High-flying Athletic showed four changes from last week’s draw with Huddersfield: Richie Byrne came in at centre-half for the injured Stefan Stam, new-boy Daniel Jones replaced Kelvin Lomax at left-back and Craig Davies and Chris O’Grady started up front instead of Lee Hughes (injured) and Lewis Alessandra (demoted to the bench).

With Jones making a lively debut they didn’t need long to seize control and, in particular, Davies, O’Grady and Chris Taylor all troubled Stockport with their pace.

Athletic were then gifted the opening goal as Liddell hit an inswinging corner and Stockport ’keeper Owain fon Williams tried to punch clear.

He got underneath it. He missed completely. And the ball sailed serenely over his outstretched hand before continuing into the net.

So obvious was the clanger that fon Williams didn’t even make a token attempt to claim he had been fouled.

The bonus had set up Athletic for a point at the very least, yet they blew their opportunity by disintegrating in the second half.

While Stockport’s killer third goal was all about slick football — and there was plenty of that from County after they drew level — the first two were down to careless defending.

Athletic got nowhere near tight enough inside the box, their inability to close down both space and opponents making them all too vulnerable against a vibrant home side.

Somebody needed to take charge in Sean Gregan’s absence, although it wasn’t just defensively that Athletic shot themselves squarely in the foot.

Openings came at regular intervals and they could have, should have, added to Liddell’s strike. Considering the balance of play before half-time, this was a glorious chance thrown away.

Athletic made a bright and positive start as Liddell’s first-time cross was hammered just off target by Taylor.

Stockport ’keeper fon Williams then had to deny Taylor from 20 yards before O’Grady steered a difficult header behind — and all after less than four and a half minutes.

The game soon settled down, but Athletic kept the upper hand and Liddell’s shot was blocked by Jim McNulty.

And in the 24th minute Liddell scored his fluke goal to leave fon Williams, a Wales under-21 international signed from Crewe, severely embarrassed in the six-yard box.

Stockport were finding Taylor’s intelligence on the ball a non-stop threat, and he lured in three defenders before releasing Davies for a raking drive which missed by inches.

Stockport, meanwhile, were kept very quiet apart from one promising counter-attack wasted by Paul Turnbull’s clumsy touch.

Turnbull made amends within 90 seconds of the restart as Athletic, having kept a tight ship, lost their way in the second half for the second away match running.

At Hartlepool they drew after leading 2-0. And while this demise was less spectacular, it began with a disappointingly straightforward goal — near-post ball, flick-on, Turnbull volleyed home from two yards.

The visitors’ overall dominance now counted for nothing, and O’Grady squandered a chance when he failed to make proper contact with Liddell’s cross.

The big striker also blasted over the bar from 18 yards as Athletic were again unable to test fon Williams, whose confidence must have been fragile.

Next to miss the target was Danny Whitaker, although he did deserve credit for wriggling out of a tight corner and attempting a deft chip.

Athletic were working decent positions yet still looking ragged. And they trailed after 68 minutes when a right-wing cross was helped on to Peter Thompson, who finished well from eight yards.

Ten minutes later Athletic misfired yet again, with Davies cutting on to Taylor’s pass but shooting wildly over the top from close range.

Soon their unbeaten run was killed off for good as Stockport produced some excellent passing football and ended it when Michael Raynes lifted a perfect lob over Mark Crossley’s head.

Crossley denied Stephen Gleeson, but Athletic still managed to add another wasted chance to their catalogue as defender Byrne headed off target despite being unmarked on the six-yard line.

So, a night from which to learn harsh lessons — preferably very quickly — but, in the scheme of things after nine league matches, no reason whatsoever to panic.




Sheridan bemoans defending



JOHN SHERIDAN condemned his team’s defending after they were blown away by a three-goal salvo.



The Athletic manager said: “We were 1-0 up at half-time and I was very pleased, but Stockport have had five attempts at goal and scored from three of them.

“It sounds daft, but I don’t think we played badly overall. For 45 minutes I wasn’t worried, but I hope some of my players will look at themselves.

“It was similar to the Hartlepool game (which ended 3-3) because we were positive as the away team and then conceded bad goals.

“It was crying out for someone to get a grip of people and boss them around, but I didn’t see that in the second half.

“We bossed it for 45 minutes, but good players know how to take games by the scruff of the neck — I saw good players in the first half and poor players in the second.

“My magic word is consistency, so I’m angry, very angry, and I’m disappointed for the fans because I thought we would win.

“We had more chances, more corners and more shots than Stockport, but at the end of the day we didn’t know how to win the game.

“We needed to keep it tight and I expected better from my players. The team I put out was more than good enough, which they showed in the first half, but then we switched off.

“We conceded two goals from throw-ins when that’s a time for being organised and set up to deal with things defensively.

“Stockport are a good footballing side, but they were there for the taking and they shouldn’t have caused us those problems.

“I thought we played well, but at the end of the day we lost 3-1 and we need to pick ourselves up with two home games coming next (against Hereford and Leicester).

“We’ve taken two points from the last nine, which is disappointing, but it’s only one defeat so I’m staying positive.

“The most frustrating thing is the manner of the goals we conceded — we need to sort that out.

“If people are in the team and want to stay there, they need to do better at stopping the opposition creating chances.”