Stockport County 8-0 Sutton United - Leaders put eight past bottom club

Stockport lost to non-league Aldershot in the FA Cup in midweek but earned their first win in four League Two games against Sutton

Paddy Madden scored a hat-trick as League Two leaders Stockport County ruthlessly thrashed bottom side Sutton United 8-0.

Ryan Croasdale's double plus Kyle Wootton and Madden's efforts put County four ahead by half-time.

The rout was completed afterwards by Madden and substitutes Joel Cotterill and Isaac Olaofe, plus the former's injury-time penalty.

The Hatters went ahead when Croasdale headed home Odin Bailey's sixth-minute free-kick from close range.

Stockport doubled their lead when Wootton tapped home Kyle Knoyle's cross in a flowing move.

Dean Bouzanis denied Croasdale, but the latter made no mistake after being picked out by Callum Camps for the Hatters' third after 20 minutes.

Stockport punished Sutton again when Bailey found a free Madden to slot home.

Madden's second came after meeting Ibou Touray's 53rd-minute corner, while Cotterill netted Stockport's sixth following Bouzanis' poor pass out.

Stockport top-scorer Olaofe netted County's seventh as full-time approached after earlier hitting the crossbar.

County then won an injury-time penalty for handball, which Madden slotted home for his hat-trick.

'Worst performance in my five years' - reaction

Stockport manager Dave Challinor told BBC Radio Manchester:

"I'm much happier. I take great pleasure and pride out of the result, and on the flip side I feel really really sorry for them, because that's not them - they're probably the most honest, hard-working group that have got success based on that.

"We've been really, really clinical today and bounced back from Wednesday, and I'm sure he [Sutton manager Matt Gray] will be feeling the same as I felt on Wednesday.

"Regardless of the result, the performance is much, much better. There were mistakes, but the reaction to mistakes, and to team-mates to make up for that mistake, was there to be seen.

"Our identity was very clear and it's difficult to do because you go from Wednesday night to Thursday morning, a quick turnaround from a real disappointment. The meeting we had on Thursday to shot down the [Aldershot] game was around what we are as a team, what our philosophy is, and I saw that today."

Sutton manager Matt Gray:

"It's my fifth season as a manager here today at Edgeley Park and I suffered the biggest result and the worst performance in my five years, which goes without saying with the scoreline.

"Never in my five years have I apologised to our supporters, and I certainly do that today because today was completely unacceptable.

"I warned the players that after Stockport's result and performance against Aldershot on Wednesday night that they'd come out like a wounded animal, and we just didn't start the game.

"They were really aggressive on the front foot, and the goals we conceded were embarrassing to be honest, to be 4-0 down in the first 20 minutes. Then in the second half the four goals were also embarrassing."

Match details supplied by PA Media.