It's Nash thrill

GOALKEEPER Carlo Nash has vivid memories of his previous visits to Ewood Park.

Then, he used to work for Burnley firm F H Brown and he would often pay Rovers a call trying to sell stationery.

By his own admission he usually left empty handed.

But the former Clitheroe keeper will be hoping for richer pickings tomorrow when he and his Stockport County team-mates descend on Ewood.

"It will be like going back home for me in a way," said Nash. "I used to live and work in the area and I also played for Clitheroe. But I also know a few of the current Rovers players.

"I was at Crystal Palace with Matt Jansen, for instance, and I know what he's capable of.

"So I'm really looking forward to the game."

Nash's brilliant form between the posts has been one of the major reasons why unfashionable Stockport have spent most of the season in the First Division's top 10.

But the County keeper also believes the appointment of rookie boss Andy Kilner in the summer has been like a breath of fresh air at the club.

Kilner earned himself a reputation as a flamboyant winger with County during his playing days.

And now, as manager, he is trying to get his team playing in a similar style.

"Andy Kilner has done brilliantly considering this is his first managerial post," said Nash. "He and his assistant Dave Moss know what they are talking about and that breeds confidence.

"They've created a great team spirit and I think that's one of the reasons why we've done so well.

"But they've also given us the chance to express ourselves more this season.

"We ended up playing a lot of route-one stuff last year when things weren't going quite so well.

"But, generally this season, we seem to have been playing quite well and our league position shows that.

"Now it's trying to get that bit of consistency which is important."

Strangely, Stockport have tended to fare better in games against the bigger teams in the division, like Fulham and Birmingham.

So tomorrow's visit to Ewood will hold few fears for the County players, despite the abundance of big names in the Rovers squad.

"If you can't raise your game against the bigger teams then when can you?" said Nash.

"Stockport are such a small club compared to most of the teams in this division that we have to raise ourselves to compete.

"And hopefully that will apply against Rovers. "But there's that much potential in their team it's just a case of everything clicking into place for them.

"And once they find that bit of consistency themselves they will be one of the best sides in the division."

But whether or not Nash will be reacquainted with his former Palace team-mate Matt Jansen still remains to be seen.

Rovers caretaker boss Tony Parkes has so far resisted the temptation to use the England Under 21 international during his three games in charge.

And that's a decision Nash finds hard to fathom.

"I've not spoken to Matt for a while so I don't know what the situation is with him at the minute but I'm very surprised he's not been in the team," said Nash.

"I know how enormous his potential is and when he decided to go to Rovers there were a lot of other clubs interested in him.

"But his ability will never let him down, whatever happens."

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