Pre Match news:
It’s a quick return to action for City following on from Thursday night’s easy passage into the second qualifying round for the UEFA Cup. This time out sees them slightly closer than Barnsley, as Mark Hughes’ men make the short trip to Stockport for this afternoon’s pre-season run out.
On the good news front Tal Ben Haim makes his first appearance for City today. Vladimir Weiss gets his first senior start and Rolando Bianchi is also given a start at Edgeley Park.
The unfortunate news for the Blues is the fact that we haven’t beaten County in the last four competitive occasions. Our most recent victory over the Hatters was just over 10 years ago (April 1998) and it’s almost 100 years since we recorded a league victory here, but there’s only been a handful of games during that time, so that’s stats for you!
The Match
City’s first threat came as early as the third minute when Vladimir Weiss put in a dangerous free-kick from the right, which needed to be put behind for a corner.
Weiss again delivered a good ball from the resulting set-piece and Nedum Onuoha was inches away from getting his head to the ball and troubling Williams in the home goal.
Ten minutes in a few tackles that reminded people it was a local derby were put in and after the ball broke Stockport’s way, Stephen Gleeson fired in a shot that might have troubled Kasper Schmeichel had it not been deflected behind.
Two minutes later Gleeson did beat the Danish keeper with a bouncing half volley, but his shot someone managed to hit both posts, before Schmeichel gleefully fell on the ball.
Good build-up play from Castillo and Logan almost saw Caicedo presented with an easy tap-in after 15 minutes, but a great last ditch slide from Gareth Owen kept the scores level.
After 20 minutes Jonny Mullins put in an bad challenge on Javi Garrido to bring about the game’s first card. The City fans closest to the tackle demanded a red, but it true pre-season style, referee Evans only produced a yellow.
The half kept a slow pace throughout and although much-changed from Thursday, the City side created little, and didn’t look like convincing Manager Mark Hughes to think again about his selections for future first team games.
A bright note saw Ben Haim come through his first 45 minutes in a City shirt with great ease and composure.
HALF TIME: County 0-0 City
Just the one change at the break. The hosts replaced Baker with Anthony Pilkington.
Five minutes into the second half Nedum Onuoha decided to take the flight to the County backline upon himself and went on a similar bursting run to the one witnessed at Upton Park at the start of last season.
Unfortunately the goalscoring end couldn’t be repeated as Bianchi’s shot blasted off a defender and away to safety.
On 54 minutes a very faint penalty appeal came and went as Castillo fell down inside the area after the slightest of touches from a County defender. The referee was as unimpressed as the Stockport crowd with the ask.
Just short of the hour mark, Hughes made a trio of substitutes. Strikers Sturridge and Evans replaced Castillo and Bianchi with Tal Ben Haim roundly applauded off the pitch as Ben Mee came on for the Israeli defender.
On 65 minutes though it was the home side applauding - and cheering as County took the lead through their sub Anthony Pilkington. Neat play on the Hatters’ left saw the ball worked to Pilkington and his shot from the corner edge of the six-yard box found a way beyond Schmeichel and into the goal.
City couldn’t respond to the goal and with 17 minutes remaining Hughes brought the City fans to their feet by bringing on Valeri Bojinov for his first taste of senior action for almost a year.
Moments later good play from Sturridge saw him find Fernandes who hammered a shot at Williams as City stepped up their response to being behind.
Then on 77 minutes after more pressure, City pulled level, and it was Valeri Bojinov who scored it.
He rose well to head Nedum Onuoha’s chipped cross from the left into the top corner from about 10-yards out and his celebration showed a huge amount of relief at scoring his first senior goal for the Blues.
County then themselves could have retaken the lead but a good save with his feet by Schmeichel kept it level as City quickly regained the upper hand...
...but it wasn’t to last as County did indeed retake the lead with just four minutes remaining.
Peter Thompson steadied himself before turning and smashing the ball home from close range to seemingly sink City.
But in stoppage time the Blues won a penalty as Ched Evans was bundled over in the box when preparing to shoot. And the Welshman picked himself up to send Williams the wrong way and level it up with the last chance of the game.
So another 90 minutes along the pre-season trail and next stop Celtic Park on Wednesday night.
FULL TIME: County 2-2 City
