A playable pitch?

Much of the focus on Stockport County this week has been on the pitch - literally. Even the Egg Chasers have problems with the surface and it is being re-laid next week. Read more here: Park

However, it has does look as if the pitch will playable for tomorrow's fixture with the Addicks. Kelly Youga is still injured but Grant Basey has been doing a decent if not perfect job at left back. Frazer Richardson is also still out, but Omosuzi has been developing as he gets more match practice.

Izale McLeod is still sidelined and this is perhaps just as well as he is the most hated opposition player among the Stockport faithful. In the pre-season preview in 4-4-2 they commented, 'Cheated and dived his way to two goals against us last season and then celebrated in front of the County fans.'

'Bottom club Charlton' was a label I got fed up with last season and it is one that is now applying to County which is what their fans anticipated at the beginning of the season. They say that Owain Fon Williams is a 'superb keeper', but he has let in 36 goals, of which 20 have been at home. But perhaps it is the defence in front of him that is at fault.

Terrace favourtite is striker Oli Johnson, while Stockport's hope of scoring may come through 18-year old midfield dead ball specialist Greg Tansey. However, the real danger man seems to be striker Carl Baker who, if I have got this right, has scored 12 of County's 16 goals. [Shome mishtake shurely - ed.] He also likes to put the boot in, having committed 32 fouls, but rarely gets a yellow card.

Pride comes before a fall and it would be easy to look at the form of the two clubs and say that the points are already in the bag. Football is never like that, particularly if one gets complacent. However, I think that this will be a good day out for the small but dedicated band of Addicks in the north-west, not always a happy hunting ground for Charlton. The fading memory of Northwich will be wiped out with a 2-0 win for the Addicks.

Paul May is making the trek north and will be covering the match for you.