'I saw it coming' - Challinor fumes at Stockport
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Stockport County boss Dave Challinor said he was "fuming" at the performance his side put in during their loss to Port Vale, which meant their pursuit of a League One play-off place will go to the final day.
Tuesday's defeat by Vale means that the Hatters must get at least a point at Barnsley in the final game of the regular season to wrap up a top six spot.
The loss was Challinor's side's second in their past five league games and means they are fourth in the table with Plymouth, Luton Town, Stevenage and Bradford City all able to clinch a play-off spot, although County cannot be caught by Argyle.
"I have to be careful with what I say because I'm fuming with the performance that I, and everyone else, watched," he told BBC Radio Manchester.
"The mentality from after the game on Saturday to now, you'd love to sit there and says 'I didn't see that coming'. I did see that coming.
"Everybody thinking Port Vale coming here and we'd get an easy point that we need, I said to them before they went out, we've got to work for everything we get, and we were miles off it."
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola watched from the stands alongside Stockport owner Mark Stott during Tuesday's night's defeat.
Vale struck twice in the first half, with Odin Bailey adding what ultimately ended up a consolation during a bruising night at home.
Should Stockport reach the play-offs this term, will be the second time in as many seasons they have clinched a top-six spot, however last season's play-off campaign was curtailed at the semi-final stage on penalties to Leyton Orient.
"We're not going to set up to get a point because if that were the case we would have done that [against Port Vale]," Challinor added.
"If we perform anywhere near how we did tonight then we'll be relying on results elsewhere to ensure we're in the play-offs.
"Whether we do or don't get in, if we don't have the mentality in a play-off game then you'll be there making up the numbers and there'll be no progression from any semi-final regardless."
