'Blatant' - Stockport boss Dave Challinor fumes at referee after dramatic Northampton draw

Louie Barry looked set to earn County a fifth league win of the season when he converted an 87th-minute penalty, only for Tyler Magloire to head home from a free kick three minutes into stoppage time. In the passage of play before the free-kick, the Hatters were denied a free-kick, before the Cobblers were given one on the edge of the box.

Challinor said: “He has made a mistake, if he hides behind it, he’ll say he has done his job, but it’s a blatant free-kick in the middle of the pitch not given and he's stood six yards away. Could argue either way the free-kick he did give is two lads wrestling for the ball and it's soft, but that doesn’t hide away from the fact we had to defend the free-kick.

“I’m at peace with the fact that if a referee doesn’t cost you the game, then that’s probably the best we can hope for at the moment with the inconsistent standard. But we have to deal with that, no one is going to change that, they’re not going to get better magically, we have to tolerate it and put up with it.”

Stockport were awarded a late penalty when Kyle Wooton was dragged down by Cameron McGeehan.

Challinor said: “The penalty is blatant, absolutely blatant, it’s a rugby tackle. If that’s not given then we're in the wrong sport and maybe the other sport they play in Northampton may be more suitable for some of their players.”

County dominated last night’s match with 66% possession, having 17 shots compared to Town’s seven. Speaking on Stockport County’s YouTube channel he said: “That’s the performance of the season where we’ve had most control and we’re seeing bits we potentially tried to work on. We need to get the balance right between control and chance creation and opportunities that we potentially make, but ultimately we should have won the game.”

Stockport return to action on Saturday afternoon at 10th-placed Lincoln City, one position below County.

Challinor said: “We know what they’re going to be, it's going to be a physical battle and we’re going to have to see that off and deal with that and stamp our style on the game moving forward.”