Stockport were left ruing a host of missed chances as Salford held the League Two leaders to a goalless draw.
The Hatters, whose 12-match league winning run was ended by Newport at the weekend, failed to take advantage of their dominance.
A bright start for the hosts culminated in Nick Powell meeting a Macauley Southam-Hales cut-back, only to blast a venomous strike onto the crossbar.
The ex-Manchester United midfielder continued to threaten before the break but his glancing header from close range dropped just wide of the target.
Paddy Madden, who notched a hat-trick against Salford in the EFL Trophy last month, nearly added another to his tally but Alex Cairns made an impressive stop.
A makeshift away side – marred by 11 absentees – fought valiantly, typified by Theo Vassell’s heroic goal-line block to deny former Ammie Fraser Horsfall.
The inspired Cairns followed his defender’s suit, thwarting Kyle Wootton from close range and pawing a fierce Madden strike in quick succession.
Salford ended their three-match losing streak while Stockport remain top.
Match report supplied by PA Media
Line-ups
Stockport
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Hinchliffe
- 2KnoyleSubstituted forWrightat 45′minutes
- 6Horsfall
- 15Pye
- 7Southam-HalesBooked at 76mins
- 11PowellSubstituted forCotterillat 71′minutes
- 18CroasdaleBooked at 61mins
- 3Touray
- 9Madden
- 25Olaofe
- 19Wootton
Substitutes
- 4Wright
- 5Byrne
- 12Smith
- 22Cotterill
- 26Richardson
- 28Mee
- 30Johnson
Salford
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Cairns
- 42Vassell
- 5Mariappa
- 16TiltBooked at 35mins
- 11McLennan
- 47Humbles
- 7Watson
- 30N’MaiBooked at 58mins
- 18McAleny
- 17Smith
- 54Luamba
Substitutes
- 13Wright
- 48Collins
- 49Lara
- 53Hamman
- 56Malcolm
- Referee:
- Ollie Yates
- Attendance:
- 8,790
Live Text
-
Match ends, Stockport County 0, Salford City 0.
-
Second Half ends, Stockport County 0, Salford City 0.
-
Attempt missed. Matt Smith (Salford City) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Ryan Watson with a cross following a corner.
-
Corner, Salford City. Conceded by Ibou Touray.
-
Attempt missed. Matt Smith (Salford City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Watson following a set piece situation.
-
Foul by Fraser Horsfall (Stockport County).
-
Junior Luamba (Salford City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Attempt saved. Paddy Madden (Stockport County) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
-
Attempt saved. Kyle Wootton (Stockport County) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Joel Cotterill with a cross.
-
Offside, Stockport County. Fraser Horsfall tries a through ball, but Kyle Wootton is caught offside.
-
Attempt missed. Isaac Olaofe (Stockport County) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Akil Wright.
-
Kyle Wootton (Stockport County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Foul by Theo Vassell (Salford City).
-
Macauley Southam-Hales (Stockport County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
-
Foul by Macauley Southam-Hales (Stockport County).
-
Kelly N’Mai (Salford City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
-
Substitution, Stockport County. Joel Cotterill replaces Nick Powell.
-
Foul by Ibou Touray (Stockport County).
-
Connor McLennan (Salford City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Isaac Olaofe (Stockport County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
