One Game at a Time: xG-reat Expectations
Stock-pot County (A) January 31st
Still unbeaten in 2026. At this rate if we make the play-offs, you will hear the crunch of Sun Stonehouse’s crispy lucky socks before you either see or smell him coming. Always assuming his £2 anti win bets haven’t reduced him the penury and prevented him from finding the Wembley asking prices.
Of course, the midweek game, and credit to those Stags who made it through the wind and rain and cancelled trains to give as rousing an away performance from fans as we have seen since our deliverance to the lowly lows of League One, started with mass declarations of we will take a point, on seeing the lack of Hazard, Ralls and Tolaj. By then end, however, the lament was what should and could have been. Argyle have gone from nary crossing the halfway line against teams we would expect to beat in our slumbers, to racking up chance after chance, and an xG of silly levels. We all said, eventually it will bite us in the behind, the leaving of the chances, begging like an orphan from Oliver Twist, to keep the Dickensian theme running. And so it did.
With virtually their only entry into the Argyle penalty area in the first half, the Stags attackers locked horns with the Argyle back four, and a wrong footed Ashby Hammond watched the softest of shots amble into the net for an equaliser, in no way equal in quality to Pepples sublime strike that had given us the lead, but, painfully, every bit its equal in scoreline impact.
The second half was more level, with Mansfield under wily fox Clough Jr, themselves weakened by injuries set out not to lose. It is a measure of progress that Argyle now no longer see that outcome as something to be aimed for, and after the first half bombardment of an excellent away keeper, a point against arguably the form side of the entire division left the taste of ashes in the mouth, despite the missing spine of the side.
Which in many ways lays to rest some of the regularly aired criticism. Both our “project” players in Pepple and Oseni have delivered under trying circumstances, Pepple, getting a run for the first time is now on four goals in seven games, and frankly looks a handful for an hour at least of every game.
We also have our first glimpse of the lesser spotted Mackenzie, gracing the bench and champing at the bit, but being kept waiting by the form of Brendon Galloway, who is putting together a run of games and goals that belie his reputation as having to be wrapped up in protective cotton wool between games. Three goals already this season is a handsome return.
Also moving into the positive column is Mathais Ross, now up to speed with the physicality of the Division and holding his own, forming a solid partnership with Mitchell who continues his archetypical form as a head everything, clear everything vocal solid defender.
Which is just as well as the next few games will test the mettle of the squad as we take on several of the leading lights of what by consensus is an average division, including the top two who are starting to look solid bets for the automatics, and with no new recruits likely for the trip up North, and Tolaj probably rested to ensure his fitness for the next run of games, if possible we head to the Manchester suburbs seeking our third double of the season, and our second over a team with the Hatters soubriquet.
One thing Stockport have lost is their pub quiz fame for being the side with the ground closest to the River Mersey, as the opening of the Hill Dickenson Stadium for Everton means they now have that honour.
Stockport is also the home of the Jaffa Cake (technically the Jaffa Biscuit and given the recent changes to Clubs and Penguins re chocolate content, probably not even a chocolate biscuit any more) and was a target for the Luftwaffe due to the Fairy factory who built planes for the RAF.
Indeed, a German woman living in the area was arrested in the war for apparently signalling to German planes. Probably their greatest hero from the war though was Marine James Conway who was one of the “cockleshell heroes” who canoed 80 miles to attach mines to German merchant vessels and warships in occupied France. Conway was sunk and captured in the mission before he could deliver his share of the deadly cargo, and later died at the hands of the Gestapo. A late addition to the mission his heroism is undoubted, and the town has a statue in his honour.
More contentious is that Stockport may also have been the birthplace of the Dodge family who emigrated to the USA and were instrumental (or not) in the founding of the famous Dodge City and later the Dodge Motor vehicle company.
The town also has a strong musical heritage, from early Bowie concerts, through 10cc who recorded classics like I’m Mandy, Fly Me at Strawberry Studios. Nowadays the town has links to the Happy Mondays and The Blossoms.
But their main claim to fame along with a number of other lower division sides was that for many years they indulged the madness that you could play league football on a day other than Saturday afternoon, by kicking off their home games at 7.30 on a Friday evening.
This apparent insanity and inconvenience for the travelling away fans was driven by the fact that these clubs tended to live in the shadows of larger clubs. Tranmere Rovers and their Merseyside neighbours, Southend and apparently West Ham, and Torquay United and….er Exeter on Saturday evenings?
It did leave a spell in the late 1970’s when a group of us would eschew the longer away trips with Argyle and have a Saturday day out supporting the away side at Singed James Park, followed by a neutralish stance at Plainmoor.
These clubs now, as we all do, dance to the tune of Sky and their incessant desire for football every day of the week. We may have lost an epic trip or three per season but the joy of seeing a fixture list and yet still not being able to plan trips until someone with a slide rule has decided which games are going to be when, has more than adequately replaced it. Progress eh?
County have reinforced in the window, but have also had some players recalled. A trip the Edgley park is a tough one but, there is a small glimmer of hope in the beacon that is Greens on Screen.
It is also Argyles best ground for travels. Eight wins in twelve trips, including an epic Castle hattrick in a 3-2 win and my personal favourite, a 1994/5 win.
It didn’t start that way. Travelling from my then Essex home I misjudged the journey and traffic and arrived to find the ground closed off to fans as the game was well under way. Eventually persuading the office staff to let me in (for free to be fair), a grumpy steward said to me as I found my place, you’re three one up.
Within minutes of sitting down Argyle had conceded to giant nemesis Kevin Francis and then lost the mercurial Alan Nicholls to a second yellow card. This resulted in James Dungay, looking like Merry the Hobbit (who was coincidentally played by an actor born in Stockport) against the County front line, making an unlikely debut.
Stockport too were on their second keeper as Ian Ironside managed to look more like Raymond Burr’s TV lawyer as he messed up a clearance and injured himself in a forlorn attempt to prevent Richard Landon scoring Argyle’s third.
The other Argyle goals I missed were Marc Edworthy’s only Argyle goal, and a rare O’Hagan strike from close range by an early substitution.
Landon scored a neat breakaway finish to secure the win but an eventful journey for an eventful win most of which I have only seen on Youtube!
So lucky socks on. Can we maintain our County hoodoo over the Hatters.
COYG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stock-pot County (A) January 31st
Still unbeaten in 2026. At this rate if we make the play-offs, you will hear the crunch of Sun Stonehouse’s crispy lucky socks before you either see or smell him coming. Always assuming his £2 anti win bets haven’t reduced him the penury and prevented him from finding the Wembley asking prices.
Of course, the midweek game, and credit to those Stags who made it through the wind and rain and cancelled trains to give as rousing an away performance from fans as we have seen since our deliverance to the lowly lows of League One, started with mass declarations of we will take a point, on seeing the lack of Hazard, Ralls and Tolaj. By then end, however, the lament was what should and could have been. Argyle have gone from nary crossing the halfway line against teams we would expect to beat in our slumbers, to racking up chance after chance, and an xG of silly levels. We all said, eventually it will bite us in the behind, the leaving of the chances, begging like an orphan from Oliver Twist, to keep the Dickensian theme running. And so it did.
With virtually their only entry into the Argyle penalty area in the first half, the Stags attackers locked horns with the Argyle back four, and a wrong footed Ashby Hammond watched the softest of shots amble into the net for an equaliser, in no way equal in quality to Pepples sublime strike that had given us the lead, but, painfully, every bit its equal in scoreline impact.
The second half was more level, with Mansfield under wily fox Clough Jr, themselves weakened by injuries set out not to lose. It is a measure of progress that Argyle now no longer see that outcome as something to be aimed for, and after the first half bombardment of an excellent away keeper, a point against arguably the form side of the entire division left the taste of ashes in the mouth, despite the missing spine of the side.
Which in many ways lays to rest some of the regularly aired criticism. Both our “project” players in Pepple and Oseni have delivered under trying circumstances, Pepple, getting a run for the first time is now on four goals in seven games, and frankly looks a handful for an hour at least of every game.
We also have our first glimpse of the lesser spotted Mackenzie, gracing the bench and champing at the bit, but being kept waiting by the form of Brendon Galloway, who is putting together a run of games and goals that belie his reputation as having to be wrapped up in protective cotton wool between games. Three goals already this season is a handsome return.
Also moving into the positive column is Mathais Ross, now up to speed with the physicality of the Division and holding his own, forming a solid partnership with Mitchell who continues his archetypical form as a head everything, clear everything vocal solid defender.
Which is just as well as the next few games will test the mettle of the squad as we take on several of the leading lights of what by consensus is an average division, including the top two who are starting to look solid bets for the automatics, and with no new recruits likely for the trip up North, and Tolaj probably rested to ensure his fitness for the next run of games, if possible we head to the Manchester suburbs seeking our third double of the season, and our second over a team with the Hatters soubriquet.
One thing Stockport have lost is their pub quiz fame for being the side with the ground closest to the River Mersey, as the opening of the Hill Dickenson Stadium for Everton means they now have that honour.
Stockport is also the home of the Jaffa Cake (technically the Jaffa Biscuit and given the recent changes to Clubs and Penguins re chocolate content, probably not even a chocolate biscuit any more) and was a target for the Luftwaffe due to the Fairy factory who built planes for the RAF.
Indeed, a German woman living in the area was arrested in the war for apparently signalling to German planes. Probably their greatest hero from the war though was Marine James Conway who was one of the “cockleshell heroes” who canoed 80 miles to attach mines to German merchant vessels and warships in occupied France. Conway was sunk and captured in the mission before he could deliver his share of the deadly cargo, and later died at the hands of the Gestapo. A late addition to the mission his heroism is undoubted, and the town has a statue in his honour.
More contentious is that Stockport may also have been the birthplace of the Dodge family who emigrated to the USA and were instrumental (or not) in the founding of the famous Dodge City and later the Dodge Motor vehicle company.
The town also has a strong musical heritage, from early Bowie concerts, through 10cc who recorded classics like I’m Mandy, Fly Me at Strawberry Studios. Nowadays the town has links to the Happy Mondays and The Blossoms.
But their main claim to fame along with a number of other lower division sides was that for many years they indulged the madness that you could play league football on a day other than Saturday afternoon, by kicking off their home games at 7.30 on a Friday evening.
This apparent insanity and inconvenience for the travelling away fans was driven by the fact that these clubs tended to live in the shadows of larger clubs. Tranmere Rovers and their Merseyside neighbours, Southend and apparently West Ham, and Torquay United and….er Exeter on Saturday evenings?
It did leave a spell in the late 1970’s when a group of us would eschew the longer away trips with Argyle and have a Saturday day out supporting the away side at Singed James Park, followed by a neutralish stance at Plainmoor.
These clubs now, as we all do, dance to the tune of Sky and their incessant desire for football every day of the week. We may have lost an epic trip or three per season but the joy of seeing a fixture list and yet still not being able to plan trips until someone with a slide rule has decided which games are going to be when, has more than adequately replaced it. Progress eh?
County have reinforced in the window, but have also had some players recalled. A trip the Edgley park is a tough one but, there is a small glimmer of hope in the beacon that is Greens on Screen.
It is also Argyles best ground for travels. Eight wins in twelve trips, including an epic Castle hattrick in a 3-2 win and my personal favourite, a 1994/5 win.
It didn’t start that way. Travelling from my then Essex home I misjudged the journey and traffic and arrived to find the ground closed off to fans as the game was well under way. Eventually persuading the office staff to let me in (for free to be fair), a grumpy steward said to me as I found my place, you’re three one up.
Within minutes of sitting down Argyle had conceded to giant nemesis Kevin Francis and then lost the mercurial Alan Nicholls to a second yellow card. This resulted in James Dungay, looking like Merry the Hobbit (who was coincidentally played by an actor born in Stockport) against the County front line, making an unlikely debut.
Stockport too were on their second keeper as Ian Ironside managed to look more like Raymond Burr’s TV lawyer as he messed up a clearance and injured himself in a forlorn attempt to prevent Richard Landon scoring Argyle’s third.
The other Argyle goals I missed were Marc Edworthy’s only Argyle goal, and a rare O’Hagan strike from close range by an early substitution.
Landon scored a neat breakaway finish to secure the win but an eventful journey for an eventful win most of which I have only seen on Youtube!
So lucky socks on. Can we maintain our County hoodoo over the Hatters.
COYG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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