County Composed As BT Sport Visit Despite Recent Set-Backs

After their rivals have waited so long for one Stockport County loss, two have come along almost at once.

They were defeated at Grimsby Town two weeks ago, then lost at Yeovil Town unexpectedly last weekend.

The gap to Wrexham is four points but things could have been worse after their title rivals threw away a lead at Woking hours after County went down at Huish Park.

Boreham Wood will potentially have a massive say in the outcome of the championship.

After travelling to Edgeley Park for the live BT Sport game on Saturday, they host Phil Parkinson’s second-place side on Monday.

Challinor says a three point return from a possible nine won’t be a problem if they keep their composure over the next few games.

“We have taken it on the chin, we were disappointed but we will learn from it,” he said after the loss to Yeovil.

“We have earned ourselves the opportunity to have an off day, or for something to go against us.

“We’re going to be judged after 44 games. I’ve been there before - everybody wants it done tomorrow.

“It makes no difference, as long as we’re sat where we want to be sat on the 15th of May.

“That will be good enough for me. I might not be good for my heart of my voice, but it will be good enough for me.”

He added: “You have got to stay in the moment - you have got to stay composed and relaxed.

“We have got to make the opposition nervy, maybe we let Yeovil off the hook a bit.

“Moving forward, the high you go you have to be more clinical.”

Boreham Wood boss Luke Garrard wishes his side were still in the promotion mix.

But he accepts they haven’t quite measured up in recent months, winning just once since their incredible FA Cup trip to Everton.

The talented young manager refuses to make excuses and said after their midweek defeat at Southend: “I went into the dressing room and said well done - I honestly feel the boys have been giving us everything.

“We have hit our potential level and our potential level is probably in the top ten.

“As a group, as a management, we’re not going to be in and around it (the play-offs) because we don’t deserve to be.

“They have given everything but we are a club who are ninth in the National League. It’s not easy for me to say, that but I’m a realist.

“I watch a lot of games and the teams at the top make the right decision nine times out of ten, where we don’t.

“I’m an honest guy and I can say we don’t deserve to be in and around the play-offs.”

Don’t miss Saturday’s live BT Sport match - coverage gets underway at 5pm

PHOTO BY MIKE PETCH