Big Match Review - Shrewsbury 2 Stockport 0

Shrewsbury Town 2-0 Stockport County

Saturday April 16, New Meadow, (Att: 5,711)

Two first half goals ensured a comfortable victory for promotion-chasing Shrewsbury and pushed struggling Stockport closer to relegation to the Conference.

Town took the lead after 17 minutes when a long ball out of defence by Ian Sharps caught out the Stockport back line. That allowed Tom Bradshaw the time and space to run through, round Matt Glennon, and knock the ball home.

Three minutes later, and Sharps was the provider again when another raking pass out of defence unleashed Bradshaw, who was brought down by Glennon for a penalty.

Nicky Wroe stepped up to send the Hatters custodian the wrong way and double Salop's advantage.

County struggled in vain to get back into proceedings and another loss leaves them eight points off safety with just four games remaining. Graham Turner's side are now just a point off the automatic promotion positions though.

Big Match Preview - Shrewsbury vs. Stockport

Shrewsbury Town vs. Stockport County

Saturday April 16, 15:00, New Meadow

There's a contest between two teams who may well be both playing their football in different divisions next term on Saturday as Shrewsbury Town play host to Stockport County.

While the Shropshire side are one of a number of sides competing for automatic promotion, their visitors sit rock bottom of the Football League and are running out of games to save themselves.

After coming so close to going of business altogether last year, the Hatters were always expected to be in for a tough campaign, and so it has proved.

Boss Paul Simpson was removed with County just above the relegation zone. However, just 12 points have been collected from the 18 games since his departure.

It's left Stockport propping up the rest and sitting five points from safety with just five games of the season remaining. There's little margin for error left at Edgeley Park.

The Greater Manchester outfit are now under the guidance of former Tranmere manager Ray Mathias, who took over from previous caretaker Peter Ward. He's earned seven points from his three home matches.

More tellingly though, away games under him at Aldershot and Wycombe have proved fruitless and no side has lost more on the road this season than the Hatters with 14 defeats from their 20 away matches.

Key performers for Stockport this season have been midfielders Greg Tansey and Paul Turnbull, with fourteen goals between them. Anthony Elding, in his second stint with the club, is also a threat going forwards.

Graham Turner's Shrewsbury are in the thick of the promotion contest

Their hosts at the weekend came into the game in much better shape, with Town currently lying outside the automatic places in 4th, just three points off third place.

It's been a successful return for boss Graham Turner to Salop, whom he took to promotion to the second tier of English football over 30 years ago. A third promotion at the club is now a distinct possibility.

The experienced boss had been targeting the league title a couple of months ago, speaking bullishly about his team's chances as well as casting doubt over leaders Chesterfield's bottle.

He's been proved badly misguided on both of those fronts, and a poor run of one in six threatened to scupper Shrewsbury's top three chances altogether.

However, they have since recovered and prior to last weekend's 3-0 loss at Aldershot, Turner's side had won three on the spin to improve their automatic promotion hopes.

With just three home defeats and only 18 goals conceded at the New Meadow, they will be tough opponents for Stockport. Midfielder Mark Wright, with 12 goals, is also typical of the many goal threats Salop have going forwards.

This is a match pitting a side flying high and gunning for promotion against a team fighting for their lives as they seek to avoid dropping into the Conference.

It'd be too predictable of me to go for the obvious result of a Shrewsbury win then, surely? However, while strange results can occur at this stage of the campaign, I can't see one here.

Nobes' Prediction: Shrewsbury Town 2 Stockport County 0

Hero Takes A Fall

With Northampton Town parting ways with playing legend Ian Sampson as their manager, Nobes looks at how it worked out for others who made a similar transition at their club.

Club legend Ian Sampson had been in charge at Sixfields for just 16 months

"It's not about Sammo the legend," remarked Northampton chairman David Cardoza when explaining the difficulty of the decision to remove boss Ian Sampson from his position last week.

The Cobblers have experienced a disappointing campaign in League Two. Although expected to challenge for the top seven, new boss Gary Johnson finds his side lying well off the pace in 16th, a full 12 points off the play offs.

Sampson spent a decade serving Town as a player, making the second most appearances in a claret shirt. He then joined the club's coaching staff before replacing Stuart Gray in the top job in September 2010.

He oversaw an encouraging second half of the campaign, eventually steering Northampton to 11th, but has been unable to build on that momentum this term.

Despite a memorable League Cup victory on penalties over Liverpool, it's the bread and butter which has let Town down. Events at Anfield couldn't disguise underachievement at Sixfields.

Not that Sampson is the first, and he won't be the last, to have a go managing the club he represented with distinction as a player. Here's my look at how it turned out for a few others:


Roberto Martinez (Swansea City)

The Spaniard only spent four seasons as a player in South Wales, but became a fans' favourite for his cultured displays in midfield as captain of the Swans.

He helped guide them away from relegation to the Conference in 2003 before playing an important role in their promotion to League One in 2005.

He was controversially released by boss Kenny Jackett at the end of the next season - a move which upset many City fans.

Less than a year later he had returned to the Liberty to replace Jackett as manager and took them to the League One title in his first full season playing a brand of attractive passing football.

Consolidated them in the Championship before leaving for Wigan - arguably laying the foundations for Swansea's current push for the Premier League.


Bryan Gunn (Norwich City)

A Scot by birth, Gunn is an adopted son of Norfolk after spending more than a decade between the sticks as Norwich keeper.

He was twice voted player of the season during his time at Carrow Road, and was part of the side which, in 1993, finish 3rd in the Premier League - the club's highest ever finish.

A member of the Norwich team who upset Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup during the '90s as well as the Canaries' Hall of Fame. There's even a club at the ground named after him.

Initially was a goalkeeping coach at City before stepping up to replace Glenn Roeder as boss in January 2009. However, he was unable to stop Norwich sliding into League One at the end of the season.

He retained his post only to be removed after the first game of the new season, a 7-1 thrashing at home to Colchester.


Eddie Howe (Bournemouth)

Howe joined his local club as a youngster and spent the majority of his playing career with Bournemouth before leaving for Portsmouth in 2002.

However, he suffered an injury-hit time at Fratton Park and eventually re-joined the Cherries, initially on loan, before fans helped raise money to re-sign him permanently.

He progressed to the role of reserve team boss before taking over as caretaker manager from Jimmy Quinn with the club staring relegation to the Conference in the face.

The Football League's youngest boss engineered a great escape, despite an 18-point deduction. Then, last term, not even a transfer embargo could prevent him leading the Cherries to promotion to the third tier.

Before leaving to take over at Championship Burnley in January, Howe had taken Bournemouth into contention for back-to-back promotions.


John Askey (Macclesfield Town)

When Askey first joined the Silkmen, they were plying their trade in to the Northern Premier League. However, he helped them win the title in 1987 and gain promotion to the Conference.

During his time at the Moss Rose as a player, Macc twice won the Conference title and also secured the FA Trophy before finally reaching the Football League in 1997.

Twelve months later, Askey had again played a major role in Sammy McIlroy's side's elevation to League One as they secured successive promotions.

By the time of his final game for the club in 2003 he was assistant to boss David Moss, and stepped up to replace Moss a few months later - overseeing an improvement in results for the struggling Silkmen.

As they began to struggle again though he stepped down to assist the experienced Brian Horton as Macclesfield avoided the drop and then qualified for the play offs in 2005. Now in charge of the Town Youth Team.


Steve Tilson (Southend United)

As a player with Southend in the '90s, Tilson was part of the Shrimpers side who secured back-to-back promotions into the Championship.

After retiring as a player he joined the club's Centre of Excellence before being named caretaker manager of the first team in 2003 after the departure of Steve Wignall.

Tilson helped keep United in League Two and guided them to consecutive Football League Trophy finals, although they ended up on the losing side on both occasions.

However, in his first full season he took Southend to promotion via the play offs and a year later they had repeated his feat as a player - winning back-to-back promotions as League One winners.

He couldn't keep them in the Championship though, and eventually left the club after financial problems condemned them to relegation to League Two last season. Now at Lincoln.


Stuart McCall (Bradford City)

The Yorkshireman began his career at Bradford and during his first spell at the club was part of their third tier title winning side in 1985.

He returned to the Bantams in 1998 and captained them as they secured a place in the top flight of English football for the first time in 77 years.

They stayed there for a couple of years and, after retiring and spending time assisting Neil Warnock at Sheffield United, McCall returned to Valley Parade for a third time in 2007.

On this occasion it was as manager, with the club newly relegated to the basement division. Despite lofty expectations, he failed to guide them to the play offs in his first two seasons.

Persuaded to stay on by supporters, he eventually resigned midway through his third campaign - again with the Bantams struggling to make the top seven. Now managing at Motherwell.


Jim Gannon (Stockport County)

As player with Stockport, Gannon spent a decade helping the Hatters to two Football League Trophy finals as well as a couple of promotions.

Hugely popular with the Edgeley Park faithful, after retirement and a move into management in Ireland, the club turned to him to aid their battle against relegation to the Conference in 2005.

He helped them escape the drop on the final day of the season and then transformed them into a young side playing good football which, two years later, won promotion via the play offs.

However, County's financial turmoil saw him unable to take the club much further, and they only narrowly avoided the drop back to the basement division.

He was made redundant by cost-cutting County at the conclusion of the 2008/9 season. Now at Port Vale, but is constantly linked with a return to the Stockport job.


Mick Harford (Luton Town)

Often voted the best ever player for the Bedfordshire club, Harford spent six years with Luton during the 1980s.

During his time with the Hatters, he helped Ray Harford's men win the 1988 League Cup and preserve their top flight status. He also appeared for the England senior side.

He spent a short spell at Derby before returning to Kenilworth Road again, almost scoring the goals to keep Town amongst the country's elite. However, he left after relegation.

Harford was assistant to Joe Kinnear in 2001, helping Luton win promotion from League Two before leaving a couple of years later. He returned as manager himself in 2008, with the cash-strapped Hatters facing relegation back to the basement division.

Docked 30 points, he was at the helm as Luton crashed into the Conference in 2009, but did secure them the Football League Trophy. He left the club early on last term after a poor start to the campaign.


Ronnie Moore (Rotherham United)

Now in his second spell as manager of the Millers, Moore has a long and successful connection with the South Yorkshire club.

He first went to the club as a player in the '80s. His goalscoring exploits over three years made him a terrace favourite and saw him recently voted United's greatest ever player.

In 1997, he returned to Millmoor as manager and guided the club to successive promotions to the Championship where, despite a comparatively small budget, he kept them for four seasons.

Eventually, with relegation looking likely, he departed in 2005. However, he returned to Rotherham last season to replace Mark Robins.

Moore took the Millers to the play off final where they were beaten by Dagenham. They are once again in contention for promotion from League Two this term.


Brian Tinnion (Bristol City)

Despite being a man of the North East, 450 appearances over 12 years as a player at Ashton Gate means Bristol is the city most associated with Tinnion.

He was part of the Robins side who fluctuated between the second and third tiers during the '90s - winning promotion in 1998 but suffering relegation in 1995 and 1999.

Working with the club's youth system, Tinnion was already being groomed for the top job before becoming a player coach under Danny Wilson as City once again fought for promotion from League One.

He replaced Wilson as manager after successive play off failures, but in his first year at the helm Tinnion was unable to even guide the Robins into the top six.

A poor start to the next season saw him resign from his post following a 7-1 thrashing at Swansea left City in the relegation zone.

Big Match Review - Stockport 3 Lincoln 4

Stockport County 3-4 Lincoln City

Saturday January 22, Edgeley Park, (Att: 4,348)

Ashley Grimes's hat trick ensured bottom side Lincoln City earned a precious three points in their fight against relegation in a pulsating match against fellow strugglers Stockport.

The Imps took the lead after just five minutes when an instinctive finish from Grimes saw him lob the ball from distance over a stranded Matt Glennon.

However, the home side were level 20 minutes later when Adam Griffin reacted quickest to crash home a loose ball after Trevor Carson failed to hold onto Greg Tansey's free-kick.

Lincoln made sure they went back into the break on top when Adam Watts finished from close range after Danny Hone's nod down from a free kick.

Steve Tilson's men stretched their advantage on the hour mark, Grimes getting his second as he tapped home Gavin McCallum's intelligent pull back into an unguarded net.

County reduced the deficit three minutes later though, with David Poole sweeping the ball home after City failed to deal with a deflected cross from the right.

However, the Cheshire side soon found themselves two goals behind again as Grimes completed his hat-trick - tucking away the ball away after Glennon had kept out Luke Howell's initial effort.

Stockport rallied and ensured a nervy end to the game for the visitors when Watts deflected in Ishmel Demontanag's effort from outside the box.

Lincoln held on for a precious three points however which, although not moving them off the foot of the table, sees them just two points behind 22nd-placed County with five games in hand.

Big Match Preview - Stockport vs. Lincoln

Stockport County vs. Lincoln City

Saturday January 22, 15:00, Edgeley Park

Two sides deeply embroiled in the fight for Football League survival meet in the North West this weekend as Stockport County play host to Lincoln City in a big relegation six-pointer.

The visitors come into the match propping up the rest of the division - albeit having plenty of games in hands on their rivals, including a Stockport team sitting in 21st.

It's been a miserable start to 2011 for the Cheshire side who have lost four of their five games at the start of the New Year. That poor form led to the departure of boss Paul Simpson earlier in the month with assistant Peter Ward taking temporary charge of the Hatters.

However, he has only manage to oversee a 5-1 home thumping by Gillingham, followed by surrending a 3-1 lead to draw against Rotherham before last week's 3-0 thumping at fellow strugglers Hereford.

County have the division's worst defence, with 57 goals conceded, that includes 34 on home turf. That includes 5-0 wins for Port Vale and Hereford and Shrewsbury's 4-0 victory.

Only one win has been achieved on home soil, a 2-1 win over Barnet - also the last team Stockport beat, on December 28. No side has drawn more home matches than their seven stalemates, though.

County are also adjusting to life without top scorer, on-loan striker George Donnelly, who was sold by parent club Plymouth to Fleetwood. That leaves midfield Greg Tansey, on six goals, as their top scorer.

Steve Tilson has seen his Lincoln side slip to the foot of the Football League

For Imps boss, Steve Tilson, the trip to Edgeley Park see him takes on the side who provided the opposition in his first game in charge of City after taking over from Chris Sutton.

That game in October ended 0-0, however, since then a mixture of cup games and the wintry weather has ensured Lincoln have only played seven more league matches - including not playing at during December.

It's no surprise then that that inactivity has seen them slip to the foot of League Two - posessing five games in hand on Stockport alone.

City have lost their last three games though, and are without a win in the league since defeating relegation rivals Hereford in mid-November. That's one of just two wins Tilson has gained, the other coming away at Morecambe.

Lincoln have earned just one other away day success, at Gillingham, as well as a draw at Wycombe. Their other six trips have ended in defeat, however.

They have particularly struggled for goals this term, with just 17 in their 21 games being the lowest in the division. Three players, Ashley Grimes, Mustapha Carayol, and Andrew Hutchinson are joint top scorers with four.

This is a classic relegation dogfight, with two teams struggling for form but knowing the points are crucial. It also pits League Two's leakiest defence against the most shot-shy attack.

I just have a sneaky feeling that, despite their poor results, it's the away side who may well end up taking maximum spoils home with them.

Nobes' Prediction: Stockport County 1 Lincoln City 2

A Tale of Two Clubs

With Stockport's appointment of Paul Simpson as their new manager, Nobes looks at the 43-year-old's divisive career - and other managers who split opinion among fans.

Stockport are the fifth club of Paul Simpson's managerial career

Around 90 miles separates Preston from Carlisle. That, and the opinion of football fans in the two cities regarding Paul Simpson.

Back-to-back promotions with the Cumbrians, staring League One oblivion in the face in Lancashire. Simpson's standing at the two clubs couldn't be further apart.

He was revered at Brunton Park for helping them out of the Conference at the first time of asking before sweeping to League Two title glory 12 months later. He had resurrected the fortunes of Carlisle.

A move to Preston North End followed and, despite a fine start to his Deepdale reign, the wheels began to come off. A poor start to his second season saw him sacked with PNE struggling towards the bottom.

All in all, Stockport fans will have a hard time deciding whether or not they've the right man at the helm to take them forward in League Two next term.

Simpson is not the only manager who polarises two club's opinions so greatly though. Here's the rundown on some of football's other Jekyll and Hyde bosses:


Ian Holloway - Leicester City and Blackpool

You almost can't believe the difference between Holloway's reigns at Leicester and Blackpool.

He took over at the Foxes in 2007 with the intention of taking them into the top flight. However, he soon found himself embroiled in a relegation fight in the Championship.

They lost it - and Holloway his job. Humorous in post match interviews, but his dour football and managerial ability were called into question.

He took a year out of the game, came back a new man and, working on a shoestring budget, took relegation favourites Blackpool into the Premier League playing an attractive brand of passing, attacking football.

Merely a joker in the pack at Leicester, but Blackpool's ace.


Martin Allen - Brentford and Cheltenham Town

Brentford turned to Allen to help stave off the drop into League Two in 2004.

An inspirational late run at the end of the season saw him achieve his goal.

Then the fun really began.

He took the Bees to successive play off finishes, where they were unfortunate losers in the semis to Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea on both occasions.

Successful cup runs also earned the club much needed cash. Spells at MK Dons and Leicester followed before he turned up at Cheltenham.

Allen was unable to save the Robins from demotion to League Two though and his long ball style - now not achieving results - was loathed.

Fans split, he was sacked after a poor start to the following campaign and off-field issues.


Gary Megson - West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest

A saviour who turned the club into what they are today? Or the man who took a twice European Champion to their lowest ebb?

Different clubs, but the same manager.

Gary Megson is revered at West Brom for, first, saving them from relegation and then rebuilding the club to take them into the Premier League - a feat he accomplished twice.

With the top flight money the club received, they have now established themselves as football's greatest yo-yo club.

However, his spell at Forest was disastrous. He was unable to stop the rot at the City Ground as they fell into the third tier. Their form in League One was also embarrassing as they slumped into the bottom half.

He was soon given his marching orders - much to Forest fans' relief.


Paul Jewell - Bradford City and Sheffield Wednesday

If truth be told, the names of Wigan and Derby could also have been used when trying to illustrate the opposing views on Jewell's managerial ability.

However, his form at his first two clubs couldn't be further apart.

At Bradford, he took the Bantams into the top flight for the first time in 77 years.

It was his first full season as a manager and then, miraculously, he kept City in the top flight before departing for Hillsborough.

Wednesday had just been relegated to the Championship, and hopes were high of them bouncing back instantly.

However, crippling debts always made that a challenge and Jewell was dismissed after just eight months and left the club battling to avoid a second successive relegation.


Peter Taylor - Gillingham and Leicester City

Taylor helped both the Gills and Leicester into the Championship - an 'achievement' appreciated exclusively by Gills supporters.

The Kent outfit had never appeared in the second tier until Taylor took over from Tony Pulis in 1999. Playing good football, he took them up at the first time of asking as play off winners.

He then left to take charge at top flight City. Rated as one of the top young managers in the game, he started off well with the Foxes, before things began to go pear shaped.

He was sacked at the start of his second season with Leicester struggling. Even with Taylor gone, they lost the Premier League status they'd held for six years.


Ronnie Moore - Rotherham United and Oldham Athletic

It's difficult to know just why things didn't take off for Moore at Oldham.

He had a successful track record with Rotherham, and then saved Latics from relegation when taking over.

However, despite competing for the play offs and finishing in the top half the following year, Oldham fans never warmed to him or his direct football, and poor season ticket sales saw him sacked in the close season.

Contrast that with his time at Rotherham, where he was so loved he was invited back to manage them for a second time. He took the Millers to successive promotions and into the Championship in 2001.

There, he managed to keep them punching above their weight. He departed in 2005 before returning to the Millers last year.