The Saints

The Hatters travel down south today to face Southampton looking to stretch their unbeaten run to three games, following morale boosting draws with Carlisle and Brighton.

Gary Ablett’s side have lost left back Michael Rose to Norwich on loan but have been boosted by the signings of Mat Sadler and George Donnelly from Watford and Plymouth respectively.

The Saints have also been busy in this month’s transfer window, bringing in prolific striker Lee Barnard from Southend, along with defenders Daniel Seaborne (Exeter) and Jose Fonte (Crystal Palace). Alan Pardew is reportedly close to bringing in winger Jason Puncheon from Plymouth, with the former Barnet man having impressed on loan at MK Dons this season.

Quotes

Alan Pardew:

“I would expect to win if I was a Southampton fan so I’ve got no problem with that but we’ve got to be big enough and good enough to deal with that because we’re going to get more and more of these games where the fans are going to come in and expect us to win.

“They’re [Stockport] having some difficulties financially and they’ve lost some key players which has hurt them which is why they are in the situation that they’re in.

“The players that remain are fully focused however, and the manager is doing a great job, they’re really making it tough for teams but as yet can’t find that win that they need. We need to be ruthless, we mustn’t allow them get through the door so we must put them to bed and that’s what we’ll do.”

Gary Ablett:

“We can go to Southampton, which will be a very difficult game, with a lot of heart in terms of the way we are set up and the way we try and play.

“Hopefully the pitch at St Mary’s will suit us and be a passing surface so we can get it down and play.”

Team News

Southampton have three players sidelined through injury. Captain Dean Hammond and defender Graeme Murty are both still out with achilles and ankle injuries while Lloyd James is a new addition to the treatment table after coming off injured during the Saints midweek draw with Brentford.

County are still without Jabo Ibehre who serves the last game of his two match suspension, but the Hatters are boosted by the return of David Poole from his ban. Defender Johnny Mullins is set to miss out however after picking up a knee injury during Tuesday’s draw with Brighton.

George Donnelly in action

Michael Rose yesterday completed his move to Norwich on loan until the end of the season with Gary Ablett bringing in Watford left back Mat Sadler as a replacement along with Plymouth striker George Donnelly to bolster his attacking options.

Rose had been linked with the move for some days and finally completed his move to Carrow Road yesterday to the delight of Canaries boss Paul Lambert.

“If you look at the squad, it’s the one position where we haven’t had much cover,” the former Wycombe boss said.

“The way it’s going at the minute I think we need someone who has played a hell of a lot of games in the league, who knows what it’s about, and Michael is someone who I’ve seen play a number of times.

He added: “He’ll get up the pitch that’s for sure and he had a great upbringing at Manchester United.  If you’re going to pick a club you may as well pick them!  But he’s done well at Stockport and was a big part of their promotion.”

Mat Sadler, who County Blog reported was close to a move to Edgeley Park on Thursday has joined on loan from Watford until the end of the season as a direct replacement. Sadler joined the Hornets in January 2008 but has made just 30 appearances since then, not featuring for the first team since December 2008.

George Donnelly has also joined on an emergency one month loan. The striker caught the eye of a number of Football League clubs after scoring 36 goals in 45 appearances for non-league Skelmersdale United, with Plymouth winning the race for his signature in March 2009.

The 21-year-old has struggled for first team football at Home Park though, and spent time on loan at Luton Town earlier in the season.

Sadler: Interesting Gary Ablett?

Another rumour from Sky Sports, this time regarding a potential replacement for left back Michael Rose who looks to be on the verge of a move to League One table toppers Norwich City.

The article says Gary Ablett wants to bring in Watford full back Mat Sadler to replace Rose. Sadler, who began his career at Birmingham City has endured a torrid time at Vicarage Road since his move there in 2008, and hasn’t played a first team game for the Hornets in over a year.

Ablett might also be forced to bring in another defender if right back Johnny Mullins also leaves Edgeley Park. The former Mansfield man has been linked with a move to Doncaster and Plymouth.

The former Mansfield man has impressed since his move to Edgeley Park in the summer of 2008 and has already been linked with a move to the Championship this month.

According to the article both clubs want to bolster their defences and are considering placing a bid for the 24-year-old who came through the ranks at Reading.

The Hatters were cruelly denied their first win in 14 games by a 90th minute equaliser from Brighton skipper Andrew Crofts. Gary Ablett’s side had led through Danny Pilkington’s stunning long range strike and looked like holding out for victory until Crofts’ low drive bobbled up over Owain Fon Williams to earn the Seagulls a point.

Click here to watch the highlights on BBC Sport.

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Rose: Heading for exit door?

Stockport County left back Michael Rose continues to be linked with a move to top of the table Norwich City.

Rumours the former Yeovil man was on his way out of Edgeley Park were mentioned at Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw with Brighton at Edgeley Park, and they continue to persist, with the rumour being posted on football-rumours.co.uk.

The site says a ‘nominal fee’ has been agreed for the 26-year-old, with Canaries forward Jamie Cureton heading to Edgeley Park on loan as part of the deal.

Update: Norwich site carrowroad.net is also carrying the story, adding that they believe Rose has been having a medical today ahead of the move, although the article also mentions that Jamie Cureton is close to signing for Gillingham.

Rose was on the verge of a move to Hartlepool United in the summer but changed his mind at the last minute and decided to remain with County.

Whether the rumour is true or not remains to be seen, but be sure to check County Blog regularly throughout the remaining few days of the transfer window for the latest gossip and transfer updates.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Both Brighton boss Gus Poyet and skipper Andrew Crofts were disappointed with their sides performance against County on Tuesday night but were pleased to take a point in the circumstances.

The Hatters were cruelly denied their first win in 14 games by a 90th minute equaliser from midfielder Crofts. Gary Ablett’s side had led through Danny Pilkington’s stunning long range strike and looked like holding out for victory until Crofts’ low drive bobbled up over Owain Fon Williams to earn the Seagulls a point.

“If you asked me before the game I would have said it was two points dropped, but having watched the game and seen how we played I don’t know,” Poyet told the Brighton Official Site.

“After the game I am very disappointed about how we played and how few chances we created, but you have to take everything as it comes.”

Crofts was of a similar opinion, adding, “Obviously we came here to win, but under the circumstances we will take the point and look to build on that.

“It was always going to be a difficult place to come but we will look at the positives and we are unbeaten in the league for a little while now, so we will work on that.”

Gary Ablett’s side had led through Danny Pilkington’s stunning long range strike and looked like holding out for victory until Crofts’ low drive bobbled up over Owain Fon Williams to earn the Seagulls a point.

Crofts: Late equaliser

Looking to build on their confidence boosting point picked up against Carlisle, County, as they have done the past couple of games started strongly and made all the early running without really creating too many chances.

Danny Pilkington came closest early on when he cut in from the left and hit a low drive that Michel Kuipers did well to turn round the post.

A mistake from Pilkington towards the end of the half though almost led to Brighton taking the lead. Elliot Bennett robbed the ball off the young winger and played in veteran striker Nicky Forster, who in turn played in the overlapping Glenn Murray to put him one-on-one with Owain Fon Williams but his effort was weak and Fon Williams was able to gather the ball.

Shortly before the break the Hatters went agonisingly close again, this time through Richie Partridge. A neat passing move led to Partridge being teed up on the right hand side of the penalty area but his effort zipped narrowly wide of the post with Kuipers beaten.

Gary Ablett was forced to make a change at half-time with Johnny Mullins picking up a knee injury. Greg Tansey took his place and almost made an immediate impact with a powerful effort from the edge of the area that Kuipers did well to keep out.

County finally made the breakthrough just before the hour mark in spectacular fashion. Danny Pilkington was allowed to run with the ball before hitting a stunning effort into the top corner from 25-yards.

The away side began to pile on the pressure after the goal as the Hatters battled to hold onto all three points. Andrew Crofts had a glorious chance to equalise when the ball dropped to him inside the area from a corner but he somehow blazed over the bar from a matter of yards.

The introduction of Adam Griffin on the left for County temporarily lifted the pressure and he had two good opportunities to seal victory. His first effort was blocked while his second lacked power and was easy for Michel Kuipers to gather.

The Seagulls continued to create chances as time ticked away. Nicky Forster tested Owain Fon Williams with a long range effort while Alan Navarro thought he’d scored with a header but the referee ruled the ball had not crossed the line.

Just as the game entered stoppage time Brighton got their equaliser. Crofts hit a fairly tame effort from the edge of the area that Fon Williams looked to have covered but the ball took a huge bobble, taking it over the Welshman and into the back of the net.

It was a cruel blow for County who deserved the three points but they were lucky to get one in the end as Nicky Forster almost got a winner for Gus Poyet’s side at the death. The striker lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper but fortunately James Vincent was on hand to clear the ball off the line and earn the Hatters their second point in a row.

Stockport: Fon Williams, Mullins (Tansey 46), Raynes, Swailes, Rose, Turnbull, Perkins, Vincent, Pilkington, Johnson (Griffin 80), Partridge (Rowe 88).

Subs not used: Gerrard, Halls, Edwards, Barnes.

Brighton: Kuipers; Calderon (Carole 74), Virgo, Elphick, Painter; Bennett, Crofts, Navarro, Dicker (Dickinson 64); Forster, Murray.

Subs not used: Brezovan, McNulty, Cox, Tunnicliffe, Hoyte.

Ref: Peter Quinn

Att: 3,636

Jimmy McNulty returns to EP

Stockport County take on Brighton at Edgeley Park tonight looking to build on their confidence boosting point picked up against Carlisle at the weekend.

The Seagulls meanwhile will be looking to pick up three points to move closer away from the relegation places they occupied for the early parts of the season.

The game also sees the return of several former Hatters stars including Liam Dickinson, Gary Dicker, Jim McNulty, James Tunnicliffe among others.

Quotes

Gary Ablett:

“We’ve no room to be complacent. It was only a 0-0 draw after all. But we need to build on it and focus on the upcoming games.”

[On the new signings] “They’ve lifted the whole place. They’ve brought positivity with them and the first team players have responded to their arrival.”

Gus Poyet:

“They’ve got five new players and I’m sure they will bring new quality because they’ve been playing all the time, so we need to be careful.

“We also need to remember that we lost against them earlier in the season. We have to make sure that we take this as a very important game.

“It doesn’t matter what position they are in the table – at the moment they will have added confidence, because they have taken three points from us.”

Team News

Jabo Ibehre is suspended for County after being sent off at Brunton Park on Saturday while David Poole is also banned following his red card against Leeds in late December.

Adam El-Abd and Colin Hawkins are both out for Brighton with foot and heel problems respectively, but they are boosted by the return of on-loan defender Marcos Painter who was ineligible to face Aston Villa in the FA Cup at the weekend.

“They’ve got five new players and I’m sure they will bring new quality because they’ve been playing all the time, so we need to be careful,” he told the Brighton Official Website.

“We also need to remember that we lost against them earlier in the season. We have to make sure that we take this as a very important game.

“It doesn’t matter what position they are in the table – at the moment they will have added confidence, because they have taken three points from us.

Kick-off at Edgeley Park tomorrow night is 7.45pm as usual.