Wigan v County

Dave Challinor's men take their six-game unbeaten record to the Brick

Feb 15, 2025

Saturday 15 February 2025

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NEXT HOME GAME: Blackpool – Saturday 1 March, 3pm

NEXT AWAY GAME: Wigan Athletic – Today, 3pm

Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Wigan supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Saturday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

All of our County correspondents are predicting an away win this afternoon. What could possibly go wrong! Ian Brown, Dan Culverwell and Nick Lee provide your reading material ahead of today’s Greater Manchester derby (even though we all know it’s Lancashire v Cheshire really).

Today’s edition is sponsored by APL Locksmiths. A big thank you to Anthony. He’s offering a 20% discount for The Scarf My Father Wore readers on any key cutting this month. If you need anything doing, give him a call on 07712 657585 or email anthony@apllocksmiths.co.uk.

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: 216.74 miles

Total steps so far: 353,516

Total raised so far: £2,270

Total completed streets so far: 474 (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

Des Junior loves writing about County. But he can never be arsed doing match previews. They’re a bit dull, aren’t they? Will Collar’s out for a month with diarrhoea… blah blah blah…tomorrow’s referee has handed out more cards than Moonpig…blah blah blah…County haven’t won at Birmingham for a thousand years.

Fortunately, he has a number of fellow County content creators to call upon. Here’s their thoughts, general chit-chat and score predictions, with County travelling to a ground they’ve never won at for the second time this week. Two games, two defeats at Wigan’s new (ish) place.

Ian Brown, All Things Stockport County

Wigan 1 County 2

How was the mood on the Fingerpost Flyer after that last-minute equaliser in Bristol on Tuesday night?

Conceding a last-minute goal and thereby turning three nailed on points into just one is the number one guaranteed way to take the edge off travellers’ party spirit on a returning coach journey of over three hours. Make no mistake, those extra two points were thrown away carelessly by County, so you would expect, and there was, quite some discussion about that aspect, including a lot of adverse comments in the immediate aftermath on Odin Bailey’s part in this.

But it wasn’t long before discussion settled down and, if there was consensus, it would be “we cannot win them all” and with lessons learned would soon return to winning ways - a somewhat obvious truth made apparent to most on the coach, over decades of following County through thick and thin… mostly thin!

With much of our planned return route closed to traffic, attention soon diverted from post-match inquest to how the Flyer’s excellent driver Dave would negotiate the diversions. The answer was expertly, and we were back in Stockport in very reasonable time indeed.

➡️ Ian follows County home and away, producing detailed match reports every week, along with lots of other great content. Head over to hedgegrower.blogspot.com.

Dan Culverwell, The Scarf Bergara Wore

Wigan 0 County 2

This is perhaps slightly unfair after a six-game unbeaten run, but with moments like the late Bristol Rovers equaliser, this season feels like it has 2022-23 vibes, as in we might just be a little bit short of what’s needed to go up. Do you agree?

No, I look at the areas we’ve strengthened in and think we’re better prepared and suited to a play-off campaign this season compared to the one which saw us one penalty kick from being successful in 2022-23.

Tuesday’s game felt like a kick in the nuts for many reasons but by my calculations we’ve only dropped 13 points so far this season from a winning position in games: Crawley, Charlton, Northampton, Lincoln, Rotherham and Bristol Rovers. Only six games, three of which came during a bad week back in October. Even though we’ve conceded two late goals recently, we’ve only conceded three goals after the 81st minute all season (Northampton being the other) so the stats don’t speak crisis or even a bump in the road.

Our destiny is still in our hands as we have to play the rest of the top six apart from Birmingham, and I feel confident we’ll have something to play for come the final game of the season against Wycombe.

➡️ Dan is part of The Scarf Bergara Wore team, hosting live County podcasts every Wednesday at 8pm. Click here for links.

Nick Lee, SK3 TV

Wigan 1 County 2

What’s your thoughts on the Wigan Kebab?

I don't understand why this is even a question. It's got bread, it's got meat (other non meat-based pie fillings are available), it's got pastry and it's got peas. That's all your major food groups covered in one simple meal. No messing. What's not to love?

➡️ Nick’s one of the co-hosts of SK3 TV, a new podcast for the 2024-25 season, with live episodes every Monday at 8pm. Click here for links.

Today’s other predictions

County Supporters Co-operative: Wigan 0 County 2

The County Away Day Show: Wigan 1 County 2

Hatters Matters: Wigan 0 County 2

Contact APL Locksmiths to make sure your van is secure

We’ve regularly promoted APL Locksmiths’ services when it comes to your home. But lots of our readers work in the trade, and might benefit from getting in touch to ensure their work vans are safe and secure when they’re done for the day.

APL Locksmiths offer the ultimate transit custom lock package, including high position hooklocks on both the side loading door and rear barn doors plus a driver’s door replock, all on the same high security dimple key. Call 0161 442 4243 or email anthony@apllocksmiths.co.uk for a quote on your van before it’s too late.

➡️ Visit apllocksmiths.co.uk for further details.

Photo of the day

DW Stadium, Wigan

There were 22,082 empty seats when County last travelled to Wigan. (To be fair it was a Car Cup game on a bitterly cold Wednesday night in December.) A much bigger crowd will be in attendance this afternoon, including a packed away end containing around 3,500 Hatters.

Catch Dr Uke at The Dog & Partridge (SK2) when you get back from Wigan tonight

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Dog Man (U) at 12.45pm, followed by Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (18) at 3pm, 5.45pm and 8.30pm.

➡️ Click here for tickets.

🍺 Food and drink

All pints £2.50 at The Cross Keys (SK8) from 6pm till 9pm.

A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as The Crown (SK2), The Alexandra (SK3), The Steelworks (SK6), The Three Tunnes (SK7), Flute & Firkin (SK12) and The Ram’s Head (SK12). Support them this month by popping in for a few drinks or a bite to eat.