STOCKPORT COUNTY 1, BIRMINGHAM CITY 1
Stockport County slipped out of the Sky Bet League One play-off places despite holding leaders Birmingham City to a 1-1 draw.
And what had been due to be Louie Barry’s farewell loan appearance – before his return to Aston Villa – did not materialise as he was ruled out through injury
In a game played before a record crowd since Edgeley Park became an all-seater stadium, Stockport more than matched the big-spending Blues and showed they can manage without the influential Barry who scored 16 goals in the opening half of the season.
This time it was Macauley Southam-Hales who took over the scoring mantle from the departing Barry whose farewell appearance was at Rotherham United on Sunday.
Manager Dave Challinor made four changes to the side that drew 1-1 away to Rotherham on Sunday with Jack Diamond, Southam-Hales, Will Collar and Jay Mingi recalled as Kyle Knoyle, Fraser Horsfall, Tanto Olaofe and Louie Barry were replaced, the latter three through injury.
County got off to the worst possible start falling behind inside five minutes.
Goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe did well initially to stop Taylor Gardener-Hickman after he was played through on goal but could not keep out Alfie May’s curling left-footed shot from outside the area seconds later.
County struggled to gain a foothold in the game as the Blues were comfortable holding on to their advantage.
Mingi was replaced in the 34th minute by Knoyle, who made an immediate impact helping create County’s first clear-cut chance when Odin Bailey blazed over from a cleverly worked corner.
Chris Davies’ side had the chance to make it two just before half-time when Ethan Pye’s slip led to May being played in by Willum Williumsson, but Hinchliffe made a vital save with his feet.
After a poor first half County began the second period with a chance but Diamond following a was unable to get a clean connection.
County’s best move of the game came eight minutes into the second half, Bailey’s floated ball headed by Kyle Wootton into the path of Jack Diamond who fired just wide.
The equaliser came in the 78th minute when Southam-Hales headed home after a brilliant cross from substitute Ryan Rydel, only his third County goal and his first since scoring against Torquay United in May 2021.
Southam-Hales was then inches away from scoring his fourth six minutes later. County pressure led to Birmingham losing possession as Collar’s pass found the Welshman, but his volley struck the upright.
The visitors were holding on in the final minutes as the Hatters pressed for what would have been a fifth straight home win.
They should have clinched it in stoppage time when a wayward back pass was intercepted by Wootton who rounded Allsop, but Christoph Klarer slid in with a goal-saving block as the points were shared.
Goals: Southam-Hales (78) for Stockport. May (5) for Birmingham.
Stockport: Hinchliffe, Touray (Rydel 71), Diamond (Stretton 71), Southam-Hales, Collar, Pye, Connolly, Mingi (Knoyle 34), Wootton, Norwood (Camps 46), Bailey (Fiorini 86). Subs (unused): Addai, Hughes.
Attendance: 10,528.