Monday 19 February 2024
NEXT HOME GAME: Swindon – Saturday 24 February, 3pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Gillingham – Tuesday 20 February, 7.45pm
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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Tranmere supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Monday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.
Any readers of a nervous disposition, please look away now. We’re reflecting on Saturday’s game with Matt Jones from A Trip to the Moon and Nik Bardsley.
Today’s edition is sponsored by Colourtone. As always, a big thank you to Paul.
Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.
Total distance so far: 97.67 miles
Total steps so far: 160,432
Total raised so far: £1,561
Total completed streets so far: 156 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)
Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.
Des Junior
✍️ Saturday’s match in one word
Matt: Unexpected!
Nik: Demeaning.
🤔 Pre-match thoughts
Matt: Given recent performances, and the way Tranmere had lost to Morecambe in midweek, a draw would have been a good result. County were bringing a big following to Prenton Park, and usually that spells disaster for Rovers.
Nik: Apprehension after Tuesday night but belief that we could put it behind us and get back on track, as Tranmere weren't in good form either.
🧐 Post-match thoughts
Matt: A tinge of frustration, because it makes you wonder why these kind of performances cannot be put in on a more regular basis. But equally, delighted to see so many putting in such a big shift and registering a massive victory. It (should) completely put to bed any fears some supporters might have had about being dragged back into the bottom two. Now, the club can focus on getting into the top half of the table.
Nik: Real concern about just how off it we looked and how we might have hit the cliff in terms of automatic promotion.
⚪️ Verdict on Tranmere
Matt: Much, much better than they have been for the last few games. There seemed to be more desire, there was definitely more tempo. Harvey Saunders makes a big difference from that point of view, as he closes down opposition defences so effectively. That helps set the tone, and Rovers delivered a complete display.
Nik: They were as good as they needed to be, but I'd say it was more on our lack of performance than them blowing us away. Crewe imposed themselves on us on Tuesday from the off whereas I felt Tranmere just took advantage of our frailties.
🔵 Verdict on County
Matt: Surprised at how they struggled to adapt to Tranmere's game plan. Didn't seem to be anywhere near as effective as in the reverse fixture, but then Rovers are a different beast now. They didn't create anywhere near as many chances as expected, given their often free-scoring nature this season.
Nik: Really poor. They all seemed to play with their heads down and you could tell that they're all very short of confidence. Defensively weak too; the fact Jordan Turnbull was a whisker away from a hat-trick says all it needs to say.
🐶 Top Rover
Matt: When Brad Walker plays well, Tranmere excel, and he made the difference. Missing for the 3-2 defeat to Morecambe, he returned for this and ran the show. Tranmere win 45% of the games he starts and only 18% of the ones he doesn't. So having him in the middle of the park made all the difference and it was great to see.
Nik: I'd say Connor Jennings for just doing what Connor Jennings does. He never stops running or working, always industrious, and always just there in the defenders' space all game. Deserved his goal.
🎩 Top Hatter
Matt: It would be nice to say Ethan Bristow on his return to Prenton Park, but he made a couple of errors. I've been an admirer of Antoni Sarcevic for a good few years and thought he impressed, even if he didn't quite get it right in the final third.
Nik: Got to be Ben. Without him it could have been six or seven.
👂 Atmosphere
Matt: Terrific atmosphere, helped by having the strong away following. I always feel that helps bring the best out of the Tranmere fans. When Connor Jennings scored, the noise was as loud as it's been for a while.
Nik: Started OK but didn't take long for it to sour, particularly where I was stood. Overall quieter than usual but it's understandable given the performance we saw.
🙏 Hopes for the rest of the season
Matt: If Tranmere can get into mid-table, from where they've been, that would be a huge result. Equally, the fact they remain only eight points off the play-offs makes you wonder what could have been if they had not started the campaign in such an insipid fashion. Either way, they have a chance now to properly build for next season, working out which out-of-contract players should stay and who should go. So the remaining 13 games should be used as such.
Nik: To just get over that line for automatic promotion. I've no confidence in winning the play-offs so we've just got to keep in that top three by hook or by crook.
😀 Best part of the day
Matt: Another goal for Connor Jennings. He's just great.
Nik: Parking so close to the ground for free at The Mersey Clipper – need more of that!
😡 Worst part of the day
Matt: Not much could spoil it, other than a bit of traffic and the wet weather!
Nik: Some unnecessary abuse towards a certain section of the Tranmere fans.
The British Library receives a copy of every single book published in the UK. In the same fashion, Des Junior believes a detailed record of every County game should be preserved for the history books. So here’s the full story of our 4-0 defeat at Tranmere Rovers on Saturday 17 February 2024, as told from his County-related WhatsApp groups…
4.43pm: Got to be some fucking home truths said in that dressing room tonight. Absolutely abysmal.
4.58pm: Even the Tranmere commentators kept saying about the lack of game time for that back four. But no excuse for some of that defending.
12.57am: I'm home after a day I'm not sure I expected. Liverpool pre-match was marvellous, unfortunately our efforts on the pitch were not and so it took a beer and some rice and chips to pick us back up. Liverpool did deliver again, I think their bars (or at least the ones we went in) were wonderful and whilst I am drunk and gutted with the result, I live for more of the same and greater pickings on the carousel of County away days. I thank you all for allowing me to be part of it.
Give your car a lick of paint
Granted, Stockport used to be a little rough around the edges. But the town’s getting a good old lick of paint these days, with fancy new offices, apartments, bars and restaurants springing up. You can’t be driving up and down the A6 in a tatty car with chipped paintwork, so give your car a nice lick of paint too. Colourtone is your go-to company for that. They’ve been servicing the automotive and industrial markets in Cheshire and Greater Manchester for decades, and carry an extensive range of car paint and industrial paints.
Visit colourtone.com for further details.
Photo of the day
A train somewhere between Liverpool and Stockport
Gaz Eccleston enjoyed his Liverpool drinking session after Tranmere.
Today in SK
🍽 Food and drink
Enjoy a delicious meal at The Dog & Partridge(SK2). You’ll also receive 20% off your bill. Just mention the discount at the till when paying!
🎶 Free jukebox
The Nelson Tavern (SK1). From 6.30pm.
Random County fan of the day #50 – Dave Bennett!
One final thing before you go… if you’re looking for a birthday present this month, how about a painting, or a cake, or a bottle of gin, or anything else from our fantastic sponsors!
🎨 Art & Gifts: Kate O’Brien Art
💈 Barber: STUDIO26 Haircare
🪟 Blinds & Shutters: Bauhaus Blinds & Shutters
📚 Bookkeeping: Eleven Accounts Services Ltd
🍰 Cake Maker: Claire Green Bespoke Cakes and Catering
🧽 Car Valeting: Rub A Dubz Detailing Ltd
🧼 Carpet Cleaning: Pro Clean Carpet Services
🏠 Carpets & Flooring: Kingsway Carpets & Rugs Ltd
🐈⬛ Cat Sitting: The Crazy Cat Ladies Cheshire
📓 Celebrant: Elliot Dodd – Independent Celebrant
👶 Child Health: The Sleep Nanny
🤹♀️ Children’s Entertainment: Stockport Hero Hire
🧹 Cleaning: Beespoke Cleaning
🚙 Coatings: Colourtone Ltd
🦮 Dog Training: Paws High Peak Dog Training
🚘 Driving School: CFN School of Motoring
💷 Financial Services: The Mortgage Mill
🔥 Fire Protection: Radial Fire And Security Limited
🍸 Gin: Hatters Gin
🛁 Grout Refresh & Recolour: GroutGleam Stockport
💇♀️ Hairdressing: C West Hairstylist
🛠 Home Improvements: Menzies Develop & Build
💻 IT Services: Bridge Computer Services
🪚 Joinery: SAW Contracts Ltd
👨🍳 Kitchen Appliances: SW Appliances
🔑 Locksmith: APL Locksmiths Ltd
🚐 Minibus Hire: Westfield Minibuses
🧤 Oven Cleaning: That Oven Girl
🖌 Painter & Decorator: BGM Decorators
🧱 Plasterer: Tate Plastering Services
🚰 Plumber: GTG Gary the Gasman
📕 Publishing: Victor Publishing
🛖 Roofing: ADM Roofing Services Ltd
☀️ Solar Panels: Malbern Solar Ltd
⚽️ Sports Coaching: UK Sports Coaching Ltd
🖊 Tattooist: Heatons Tattoo Club
🪵 Timber Supplies: Portwood Timber Division of Illingworth Ingham (Manchester) Ltd
☀️ Travel Agent: PTF Travel Ltd
👨💻 Web Design: SITEZO
⚖️ Weight Loss: Slimming World Reddish & Bredbury with Shlean
🪟 Window Cleaner: R ‘N’ B Window Cleaning
🏋️♀️ Women’s Fitness: Sophie Pavey Fitness
🧘♀️ Yoga: Greenshoots Yoga