Stockport County are missing one thing Lewis Bate brings - we saw it v Cardiff City & Reading FC | OneFootball

Recent results for Dave Challinor’s side suggest they are missing their captain’s presence

Stockport County appear to be missing the presence of club captain Lewis Bate in midfield.

Bate has not yet appeared in this campaign, having been injured during the summer break, but was a key figure for the club last term.

The Hatters’ past two home games, against Cardiff City and Reading, have both ended in 1-1 draws, with the hosts giving up first-half leads on both occasions.

It is a pattern of giving away leads that may not otherwise be happening were someone with the 22-year-old’s leadership and settled playing style on the pitch.

Stockport County have given up leads in their past two home games

Though County have certainly not endured the worst start – currently sitting just outside the play-off places as things stand – it has been a turbulent start compared to some of the pre-season predictions made about the club.

Their current position is a result of matches like their previous two home outings, against Cardiff and Reading.

In both, the Hatters took the lead in the first half, through Ollie Norwood and Kyle Wootton respectively, the club’s two biggest creative threats so far this season, but allowed the opposition to level the game in the second half on both occasions.

They are the sort of games that last season may have led to three points, and it may not be a coincidence that the primary difference is the lack of a player with a profile like Bate.

Lewis Bate is not expected back imminently

If that is the case, it’s unfortunate for County, as the tireless midfielder is not expected back until the New Year, following surgery to repair his injured meniscus.

Having been established as captain at the start of last season, despite his relative youth, Bate rose to the task.

He led by example, endlessly shuttling across the pitch, doing the dirty work before looking to offload the ball to the more creative players around him.

But he is not a mere battering ram – although he is surprisingly physical for his size – he is also extremely calm in possession, and can dictate the pace of the game from his deeper midfield role.

Stockport County are missing Lewis Bate

It is that settled influence that can often turn the state of the game, flip defence into attack, get County back on the front foot or even help to ride out periods of pressure while preventing danger getting too close to the box.

For both of the games, Norwood has partnered Odin Bailey in the centre of the pitch, with both players’ biggest strengths resting in attacking rather than defensive phases of the game.

In the Cardiff game, Bailey was off the pitch as the Bluebirds netted their last-minute equaliser, but Dave Challinor had made a number of defensive-minded changes, which in the end invited too much pressure to withstand.

Had Bate been on the pitch to settle things down with his natural game, Challinor may never have felt the need to do that, and the Hatters may have had a stronger foothold in the game.

There have been some suggestions that County need to work on getting another goal, “killing” teams off with attacking power, which is certainly one way to do it, but their issue may be as simple as missing their sidelined, tempo-controlling captain.