Form guide in League Two:
Don’t think I need to say any more, do I? Tomorrow’s a biggie, with Edgeley Park almost sold out.
I’ll be at Bask nice and early tomorrow, basking in all the build-up to League Two’s game of the day. Hope to see some of you there! The Stockport bar are also sponsoring today’s edition. A big thank you to Benji and the team. Pop in and see them for a pie or a pint over the weekend.
I’ve added some fantastic items to our Christmas Gift Guide over the last couple of days: an A3 print of Paddy Madden from acclaimed Manchester artist Stanley Chow, an Absolute Truffle Gift Set from award-winning skincare company Temple Spa, plus the chance to receive a portrait painting of a pet or a loved one from John Green Fine Arts, worth £130. There’s over £1,000 of prizes I’m giving away in total, and I’ll be choosing a subscriber at random every day in December. It’s completely free to subscribe, just click the button below.
Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who’s bought tickets for the fundraising event on Saturday 4 February. As discussed over the last few days, a lifelong County fan has recently been given the devastating news his wife has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. I said I’d plug the event at Our Lady’s in Stockport every day until it sells out, but I’m hoping by Monday morning I won’t have to, because with 127 tickets sold, there’s only 33 left. Come on, let’s get these boxed off together. Contact details are in the image below.
Des Junior
Des Junior loves writing about County. But he can never be arsed doing match previews. They’re a bit dull, aren’t they? Paddy Madden’s out for two games with an ingrown toenail…blah blah blah…tomorrow’s referee has handed out more cards than Moonpig…blah blah blah…County haven’t won at Birmingham since 1672.
After calling his fellow County content providers a load of plonkers last week, he was actually a bit paranoid this week that they might have all blocked him. But fortunately they’re all in a forgiving mood, and they’re back with their views and opinions as the league leaders head for Edgeley Park. They’re in high spirits, too, with all of them predicting a County win. Jesus, don’t let the Orient fans hear that…
Jonathan Baker aka Geordie Hatter, The County Away Day Show
County 2 Leyton Orient 1
What message does Dave Challinor need to give to his players before sending them out to face the league leaders on Saturday?
I think the boss can…
Remind the players of the good habits that have served them so well during this successful run, and ask them to go out there and put those habits into practice once again.
Ask them to look around the dressing room and take a moment to appreciate the quality of their teammates. Remind them of how they have earned each other's trust. Ask them to commit to taking that trust out onto the pitch.
Reassure them, that there will certainly be difficult moments in the game, but that by keeping those good habits intact, and committing to that trust of each other, they will have done themselves justice, and can walk off the pitch with their heads held high.
That's the slightly longer version. If for some reason there is slightly less time, then he can just tell them to get out there and get bloody stuck in. That pretty much amounts to the same thing.
Sam Byrne, Stockport Express
County 1 Leyton Orient 0
I can’t believe I’m plagiarising Gregg Wallace from Masterchef here, but with us and Orient 1st and 2nd in the form guide, do games get any bigger than this?
Going to be a right Scrooge here, but…yes! I completely get why it’s an intriguing one, but we’re talking about a game in mid-November less than halfway through the season. We’ll ultimately be judged on where we are at the end of the season. A win would naturally be a huge shot of confidence and rightly so, but it’s important to stay grounded regardless of Saturday’s result and remember just mere weeks ago that there were a minority calling for the manager to go. There’s still an awful long way to go and, of course, more promotion spots available at this level. For me, that’s why it doesn’t have that urgency of a County v Wrexham type of game from last season where you know you’re scrapping it out for one promotion spot, even in September, and that every single point could be crucial.
I’m being a right misery here - I’m really looking forward to the game, it’ll be a good chance for County to continue this run and really build confidence and momentum, and it’s the type of game in terms of the opposition and crowd that we were desperate for when we were in non-league. But in terms of the league table, I’m not too worried regardless of the full-time result on Saturday, although I do think we’ll win!
Ian Brown, hedgegrower
County 2 Leyton Orient 0
If we beat Orient, we’re going up. If we lose, we need a year of consolidation in League Two. Are things that simple or more complicated?
My view is that we will beat Orient on Saturday but having said that this will change nothing. The win would keep us on the right track to progress with an eye on promotion, but it wouldn’t guarantee anything other than a cracking away day at draughty old Hartlepool in the next league game.
With well over half the season left to play our ultimate destiny, as usual, lies in our own hands, starting with Leyton Orient who sit atop the table and are probably favourites to win Saturday’s encounter. But wait, after 18 games they have scored 28 goals, hardly prolific scoring for a top of the table outfit. Smyth with eight goals is the lad to watch but I see their strength lying elsewhere in their defence, which in the same number of games has parsimoniously only allowed 11 goals in. All that having been said, also take in that Orient have already lost twice in November!
So… forget Smyth… play our own game… put that defence to the test… win the game, but then realise that is all we will have achieved, and that a repeat performance will be required many times twixt now and the season’s end.
Jon Keighren, Stockport County
County 1 Leyton Orient 0
With County now in the top half, and Orient in 1st, this really feels like a huge game. If we beat the Londoners on Saturday, what’s your go-to line of commentary to dramatically wrap things up at the end?
I genuinely don't have prepped lines. I know there are commentators who do that (Jonathan Pearce, for example) but it loses authenticity and just sounds false, so whilst I'll do lots of homework, as always, I won't have any cheesy lines ready for the final whistle about the league leaders being disoriented. Promise.
Nick Lee, The Scarf Bergara Wore
County 3 Leyton Orient 2
Podcasts are a vehicle for debate, so we’ll put you on the spot with this one, especially as a lot of talk at the Orient game will be FA Cup travel plans. The club have recently announced coach prices of £44 for Charlton away, which caused a bit of a stir on social media. Thoughts?
Weirdly for someone who apparently likes a moan (Russ' words, not mine) I don't have an opinion either way on the pricing. The main reason being that a combination of travel sickness and the longest legs you've ever seen on a non-giraffe tend to prevent me from travelling on coaches. Plus, who wants to smell egg butties before the driver has even put the key in the ignition?
Less frivolously though, I can see where people are coming from in terms of the price. Even if the club subsidised a fiver or so for each person, it'd be a gesture that would go down well given the state of things (*gestures broadly at everything*).
But what do I know? My last journey on an official County coach was a midweek trip to Vauxhall Motors, and I've no desire to revisit any aspect of the experience. Especially the sick.
Oh God, the sick.
Steve & Paul, The Orient Outlook Podcast
Prediction for Saturday’s game of the day in League Two?
Steve: Think this one will be a score draw, so 2-2.
Paul: I’m usually wrong with these but I'm going 2-0 Orient.
Book a table at Bask for England’s World Cup games
Whether it’s tucking into a tasty treat from Ate Days A Week alongside a Stockport Gin before the game, or dancing to the tunes of DJ Gareth Brooks after it, many County fans have already enjoyed the splendid matchday experience created by the team at Bask. And now you can do the same for England’s World Cup games as well (plus all the other belters like Tunisia v Australia if you fancy it). Table reservations are now being made, which is certainly well worth doing, to follow all the action from Qatar on Bask’s brand new 75” screens. Email hello@thisisbask.co.uk to book.
Stockport photo of the day
Edgeley Park, July 1975
Steve Massey signs his first professional contract with County, having made his debut at the age of 16 a few months earlier. Steve’s back in Stockport tomorrow to launch his autobiography Where’s My Towel? at Edgeley Park, signing copies before and after the game in the 1883 Suite. We’ve got an exclusive interview with Steve, as well as an extract from his book, for you to enjoy while you’re having your breakfast tomorrow morning.
Today in SK
🍟 As it’s Friday, are you having a chippy tea tonight? If you are, head over to The Sea Shell on Derby Range in Heaton Moor. Take your County season ticket and receive 10% off your order. Open until 9pm. (Card payments only.)
🕺 …and after you’ve enjoyed your fish and chips, burn those calories off with a boogie at Bask. Always a good atmosphere on a Friday night, with a DJ until 2am. Free entry.
The only Christmas gift guide you need this year
37 sleeps to go! The Scarf My Father Wore have curated a beautiful Christmas gift guide this year, from independent businesses across the UK. Check the guide each day, with new items constantly added, before our festive giveaway starts on 1 December. And don’t forget, you have to be a subscriber to take home one of our superb prizes!