Stockport County v Hayes + Yeading Utd

It is not exactly the fixture we have all been waiting for but nevertheless for me and I suspect a lot of County fans, this really is a must-win game.

Must win because most of us at Edgeley Park are at our wits-end with the seemingly never-ending stream of disappointments.

Must win because it is 3 wins from 18 games this season and talk of relegation battle is once again being uttered.

Must win because for many it is the managers last chance to evolve the playing style and give us something other than utter dross.

And finally must win because, and I know it is 11 v 11 on the day but frankly, the team we are playing must be the smallest club ever to face up to the might (sic) of Stockport County in a league fixture.

Just who are Hayes and Yeading United?

Well, this club came about with the merger of the Hayes and Yeading football clubs way back in May 2007. There is often talk about clubs punching above their weight but these guys are really doing very well, playing in front of an average crowd of about 400 somewhere in West London.

Will we see the lowest attendance from away fans for a Saturday afternoon fixture I wonder? It is a new competition I am tempted to play to keep myself interested these days.

More importantly will Hamann play with a conventional front two? What has happened to Martin Gritton these days? A big guy, wearing the number 9 shirt, never prolific but surely worth a try alongside Chadwick or German in a traditional 4-4-2? Get the ball into the box, lump it, hoof it or, here’s a thought, get behind the defence and cross it but please no more of this keep possession in non-dangerous areas before it breaks down. Repeat until fade.



So, prediction time. I just cannot predict a loss. Not at home to H + Y Utd.

I can however predict a 1-0 win. Not enough to give me any confidence but giving the manager a little bit of breathing space.

A+F folks.



Oh, for anyone going to the game there is the big YTYT (Your Town Your Team) meeting where I think Mr Jim Gannon will be top table with some other vocal fans. Meeting starts at 17:00 at the Insider Suite which is under the Cheadle End and accessed from the car park. More details of the meeting here



Further bedtime reading about H+Y here