MARC ILES' PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY VERDICT: Stockport County 0-0 Bolton WanderersWITH one pre-season friendly left we are still left analysing fragments of Phil Parkinson’s plan for Championship football.
Though there were some good performances for the Wanderers boss to admire in an experimental line-up at Edgeley Park, it told us very little about how things might look against Leeds United on August 6.
Fans will point to the fact the Whites have gone three summer games without a goal. In fairness, they did everything but score against the Hatters in the second-half – but it would be nice to go into the new campaign feeling a touch more reassured.
“We’re going to score in a minute,” teased the 450-strong support as the game wound down towards full time.
It is jovial now in July – it will be a different case next month and beyond.
Parkinson had pledged to name a mixture of youth and experience but the fact six trialists were on the teamsheet prompted a mad dash for information prior to kick off.
Among them were twins Rob and Michael Atkinson, the former playing 90 minutes, Zach Hadji – son of former Coventry City and Morocco World Cup star Mustapha Hadji – ex-Forest and Fulham winger Anthony Wright and former Stoke City development squad defender Liam Edwards.
Alex Bruce started the game too, by far the most experienced head in a back three which also included Alex Perry, playing a new role.
Once again the energetic Jeff King caught the eye for the Whites, and one wonders if his efforts in pre-season will be enough to push him towards first-team contention?
The former Droylsden man was unlucky EFL rules froze him out at the end of last season but few have impressed more over the course of the six friendlies so far.
The first half was played at a pleasing tempo. Wanderers had plenty of possession and manufactured a couple of half-decent opportunities, which was a significant improvement on what we had seen at Fleetwood.
Sammy Ameobi was exciting and frustrating in equal measure. His ability to squeeze out of tight spaces and dance around defenders makes him a continually interesting player to watch, and he arrowed one early effort which nearly dribbled through the legs of keeper Ian Ormson.
On other occasions, his good work was let down by some sloppy distribution.
Adam Armstrong partnered him up front but did not get too many opportunities to use his pace. The on-loan Newcastle United man got creative on the half-hour mark, chipping a delightful effort from 25 yards which nearly caught Ormson off guard.
National League North opponents Stockport had their spells of pressure and went close when Sam Walker’s corner was headed narrowly wide by Jimmy Ball.
Ben Alnwick dealt with a couple of shots from distance but otherwise the makeshift back three looked comfortable.
Mark Little and Chris Taylor offered decent width on either side but while the football was certainly more positive than it had been at Highbury, the first 45 minutes lacked goals.
Armstrong had a chance to change all that immediately after the break. Picked out by a magnificent ball from King, he bore down with purpose on Ormson’s goal but was denied by the Hatters keeper’s toes in the end.
It was the first time we had really seen Armstrong’s raw pace this summer – and it looks like a weapon Wanderers can exploit. All that is missing is the finishing product.
His proved the first of three big chances missed by the Whites in a 10-minute spell.
King headed narrowly wide from close range after latching on to Bruce’s cross from the right before Ameobi missed a golden chance, bursting through the middle before lashing hopelessly wide.
With a bit of luck Wanderers are getting their profligacy out of their system in pre-season, because that kind of thing could be really damaging when the Championship business starts.
Wanderers’ travelling fans shouted “shoot” every time their side got within 50 yards of goal – a playful bit of fun now, but they are unlikely to be as forgiving if this carries into the season proper.
Ryan White came on towards the end and nearly finished off a good move on the edge of the box, bringing another save out of Ormson, who had really earned his corn in the County goal.
And to cap it off Connor Hall, who has also been one of the summer’s stand-out competitors, saw a late header bounce over the line only for the assistant to spoil his celebrations by raising his flag.
Wanderers: Alnwick; Bruce, Perry, R Atkinson; Little, Pratley, Derik (Earing 75), King, Taylor; Armstrong (Hall 61), Ameobi (White 75).
Not used: Turner, Lonsdale, Edwards, Hadji, M Atkinson, Wright.
Referee: Simon Mather.
Attendance: 1,465 (450 visiting).
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