Dave Challinor pleased with Stockport’s second-half ‘intent’

Stockport manager Dave Challinor was pleased to see his side release the shackles to claim a 1-0 win at Rotherham.

Kyle Wootton’s goal on the hour mark proved the difference between the two sides.

Challinor said: “To get three points on the road is valuable at any point.

“I thought we were far too safe in the first half and you know what you’re going to have to deal with when you come here.

“We did that okay in the first half, but if we want to be the team that we want to be, we need to be better than okay and back ourselves in possession.

“We showed more intent in the second half and played the game in the areas we wanted to be. Can we work on our quality? Yeah, absolutely, but all in all I was delighted with the second half and three points.

“I think we did remain on the front foot and were more positive than last week (a 1-1 draw with Cardiff) when it was easy to come off it a little bit and we got the ultimate punishment.

“We could have got a second, but on the flip side of that we could have conceded too.

“Our expectations are really high based on last season and sometimes you can be too harsh on yourself.

“The inconsistency of our performances have brought a bit of frustration, but the season is not won in the first block and we have got to make sure we keep moving on.”

Chances were at a premium in the first half, but both Rotherham’s Jamal Baptiste and County’s Benony Andresson would have felt they should have done better with the ones that fell their way.

The visitors showed more intent in the second period and went in front when Wootton prodded home from Ollie Norwood’s tempting cross.

They could have made the game safe through Ethan Pye, but he headed off target from Norwood’s delivery.

Rotherham manager Matt Hamshaw is hopeful his missing strikers Kion Etete, Martin Sherif and Sam Nombe will return from injury soon.

He said: “It was disappointing because I felt we did not perform anywhere near as high as I expected us to.

“I thought the lads gave their all, but there was a lack of threat in that final third and I think that was evident to see.

“You look at Stockport and they look a threat. We will look a lot better when we get the attacking players back that we’re missing.

“I’m disappointed that the fans don’t go home happy and I’m as frustrated as them.

“I just feel that in two to three weeks we will be a different team.”