County v Morecambe: Match Thread (13/04/2024)

So it's on to Morecambe, a side that, last summer, I thought would struggle this season, having only a thin squad and the club being up for sale for more than a year (with no buyers). I figured they might be a lower mid-table side that's hard to beat. What did I know?

Well at W 17 D 9 L 17 F 63 A 74, they sit 12th in L2, so obviously not that hard to beat. Their A record is actually one of the better ones in L2 at W 9 D 2 L 10 F 35 A 47, which ranks 7th in L2,meaning they have marginally more points A than at H. So clearly not to be taken lightly.

Their Ws are Walsall (H) 2-1 on opening day, Bratfut (H) 3-0, Salford (H) 1-0, FGR (A) 1-2, Cole U (A) 1-3, Sutton (a) 2-3, Tranmere (H) 1-0, AFC Wombles (H) 4-1, Donny (A) 0-5, MKD (A) 1-2, Crawley A) 1-2, Sutton (H) 1-0, Tranmere (A) 2-3, Crewe (A) 2-3, Crawley H) 1-0, Accy Stanley (A) 1-2, Barrow (H) 2-1,

Their Ds are Notts County (H) 0-0, Swindon (H) 2-2, Accy Stanley (H) 1-1, County (H) 1-1, Bratfut (A) 2-2, Harrogate H) 2-2, Mansfield (H) 1-1, AFC Wombles (A) 1-1, Grimsby (H) 1-1,

Their Ls are Mansfield (A) 3-0, Harrogate (A) 2-0, Gillingham (A) 2-1, Barrow (a) 1-0, Grimsby (A) 3-2, Wrexham (A) 6-0, Newport (H) 1-2 - 4 straight Ls, MKD (H) 1-3, Notts County (A) 5-0, Cole U (H) 0-1, Walsall (A) 3-0, Wrexham (H) 1-3, Newport (A) 5-3, Salford (A) 3-1, Gillingham (H) 2-3 - again, 4 straight Ls, Donny (H) 0-3 and Crewe (H) 0-1.

They certainly seem to get (and concede) goals, scoring 3+ 8 times, being blanked 10 times, and conceding 3+ 11 times and keeping just 7 clean sheets. So it's either feast or famine most of the time. They have few Ws against top sides and mostly seem to be beating the weaker teams. Even so they seem able to pull up an odd surprise or two....

Their top scorer was Michael Mellon, on loan from Bur*ley for the season, but recalled by them and lent out again to Dundee. He bagged 13 in 23 apps. Next highest scorer is 6ft 3 forward Jordan Slew on 8 in 35 apps, he previously scored 12 in 56 apps for Halifax over a couple of seasons, and another goal for Morecambe in 28 apps in 2020/2021, he also appeared for Plymouth and Cambridge in the past. MF J J KcKiernan has scored 7 in 24 apps this season, he started at Watford and scored 4 times in 41 apps on loan to Eastleigh in 2022/2023. F Charlie Brown has scored 5 times in 9 apps, he went through Ipswich and Chelsea's set ups before spells at MKD (1 goal in 26 apps) and Cheltenham (1 in 23 apps).

Ged Garner (on loan from Barrow since Jan) has scored 4 in 15 apps, Winger Gwion Edwards has 3 after signing in Jan on a short term deal (he has prior spells at Wigan Ipswich and Peterboro) also on 3 is F Adam Major who moved to Millwall in January. A further 5 players have scored a brace and 7 more have scored once.

Plenty happened in the January window, 4 moves being mentioned above. In addition 6ft 6 Scottish GK Archie Mair signed on loan from Norwich City, he has since appeared 19 times after prior loans at Gateshead and Notts County. Going out was Cardiff City MF Eli King, he arrived on season long loan, then got recalled in Jan and sent back out to Ross County, after scoring 1 in 20 apps for Morecambe. Ex Man City trainee Brandon Barker signed a short term deal after spells at Cypriot club Omonia, Rangers, Oxford Utd and Preston amongst others. Brentford youth product Kayden Harrack also signed a short term deal. Finally on deadline day Bolton's MF Nelson Khumbeni and Notts Forest's F Julian Larsson both signed on loan. Khumbeni has scored once in 12 apps for Morecambe and Larsson has made 9 apps, no goals.

So lots and lots of change and who knows what sort of side will appear at EP or how they will play. Morecambe seem to be all feat or famine, and only one of their games has ended 0-0. Fingers crossed though, their defence, which looks shaky at best, will be unable to withstand The Mighty Stockport County.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in L2:
Crawley (7th) v Cole U (23rd)
Crewe (5th) v Grimsby (21st)
Gillingham (13th) v Barrow (6th)
MKD 4th) v Mansfield (3rd)
Swindon (19th) v AFC Wombles (8th)
Wrexham (2nd) v Rock Bottom FGR.

Fingers crossed we'll all be happy on Saturday night.

Three-point deduction confirmed for Saturday's visitors, which effectively ends their chances of making the play-offs...

Could work in our favour , alternatively, if they go into a "couldn't care less" attitude knowing that wages might not get paid !!!

Yes, not easy to predict how it might affect them. Much will depend, of course, on us being at the races from the outset...

I remember thinking a few weeks ago that this game had the potential to be a stumbling block, as long as County actually turn up (as opposed to that game at Newport that brought the winning run to an end), we should have too much firepower.

Interesting comments by DC in his pre-match interview on U-Choob, I suspect he's going to load up the experienced pros for one of this game or Notts on Tuesday - my instinct is he'll load up for this game. Ah well, we'll all see in good time.

PS Notts County this yearn in L2 are something like W 3 D 4 L 10, which is nothing like they started out.

A game with such significance for us but played out with an almost dead rubber feel to it given the opponent's predicament.

County punished the visitors for a sloppy error early on, with Madden released down the right. He got his head up and crossed deep to Wootton, whose header back across for Olaofe saw a well-struck finish. Madden did a piece of fantastic aerial defending thereafter, getting clear a really well-delivered FK. The second goal was a deep corner with Horsfall powering in from short distance, bringing back memories of the kind of goal Palmer would score through his determined runs.

(Hopefully just) knocks aside, as comfortable a day as could have been possible.

Once the pitch was cleared, the players and staff came out for their presentation.

Well done to DC, staff and boys for all their efforts to get to League One. Hopefully they can now secure the championship for themselves and add that to their list of achievements!

I've just played the highlights and turned the volume up at the whistle to hear the crowd cheer another promotion, only to have to turn it right back down again because of Keighren and his f***ing annoying voice, it's like Alvin & the f***ing Chipmunks on speed.

Can we PLEASE get another match commentator? I can't even listen to these highlights in work because people around me go "wtf?".

He's embarrassing.