County boss in ‘No Regrets’ squad call
DAVE Challinor is urging his Stockport County players not to end the season with regrets over what might have been.
The Hatters were on course for three points against play-off rivals Mansfield Town on Saturday with Paddy Madden having scored on the halfhour mark.
Victory would have narrowed the gap on Stevenage, Northampton and Carlisle, the three teams immediately above County in the League Two table.
However, Lucas Akins grabbed a stoppage time leveller for the Stags.
It was a disappointing finale for County in front of a sell-out Edgeley Park crowd and left them in fifth place, five points behind Carlisle in fourth and six behind Northampton in third.
Still, with one defeat in 11 games, Challinor is certainly not giving up hopes of an automatic promotion finish.
“The disappointment comes in conceding a goal so late on in that manner and what we naturally do is look at the fact Carlisle and Stevenage have drawn and it was an opportunity to gain points on both of them. We’ve not done that, so you do kick yourself,” he said.
“But, what you have to do is reflect over the course of the season and it will be, with nine games to go, whatever points total we end up with we’ll deserve it, or not deserve, whatever that might be.
“You always want to look back with no regret, and I suppose there will be that little bit of regret around the Mansfield result with respect to doing so well for so long and then throwing it away right at the end.”
Next up for County is a trip to Swindon Town, who drew 4-4 at Rochdale on Saturday with former Premier League frontman Charlie Austin netting all four of their goals.
The Robins still harbour hopes of finishing in the play-offs themselves, so there will be plenty at stake.
Challinor said: “We know what Swindon are like, Charlie Austin scored four on Saturday so they have an experienced forward, obviously, who they’ve brought in and they play in a certain way. They score goals, but as their result at Rochdale shows, they allow, or leave themselves open to concede.
“We’ll reflect on what we’ve done and look at what we need to do between now and next weekend and put a plan in place to try to go there and win. Our sole focus will be around that.”
Challinor will be without Myles Hippolyte and goalkeeper Vit Jaros for the trip to the County ground, with both having been called up by their countries.
Hippolyte has been called up by the Grenada national team, for their upcoming CONCACAF Nations League game against the USA.
Jaros has been called up by the Czech Republic U21 side for their upcoming friendlies against Belgium U21s and the Netherlands U21s.
“It’s a good opportunity for both of them,” said Challinor.
“From our perspective it’s not ideal but it will bring opportunities for Ryan Rydel or whoever and unfortunately for Myles, if he goes away and Ryan comes in and does well, it’s an option for him to keep the shirt. That’s what we’ll be saying to Ryan so he’ll be extra motivated – if it is him (to replace Hippolyte) – to want to go and play.”
Challinor will spend time this week reiterating the need to stay switched on until the referee blows the final whistle – something they failed to do against Mansfield.
“We didn’t defend our penalty area well enough on one occasion in 96 minutes and ultimately it comes back to bite you, big style, on the backside,” said Challinor. “Mansfield had had no attempts on target through 93 minutes and then we defend the first phase of a set-piece throwin okay, and then I think it comes down to organisation prior to that, because we are then all over the place for the second phase. Mansfield have scored at least three quarters of their goals from crosses and second phase set-pieces and we’d gone through that in great detail with the planning, so that makes it extra frustrating.
“You never feel the points are in the bag because ultimately you have to defend until whatever minute the referee blows his whistle and we didn’t. Their goal wasn’t a free header but it was a largely uncontested header in the middle of the goal in the 96th minute – if they are having that, there should be someone with blood all over their face or someone who’s down and there wasn’t. So I’m asking the question ‘where were our centre halves?’ One had been dragged out of position somewhere near where the ball was crossed. You are paid and, if you play as a centre half in a two, be between the posts. That’s where the majority of goals come from. If you’re in there, and if Aki and Byrne are in the positions they should be, then they win that header, the ball gets cleared and we win the three points.
“They don’t, and we’re all disappointed.”