Want to impress your friends or family during the interval? Here's a couple of crackers for you...

• This is only the third time Salford City have ever played on a Thursday in League Two; they won both of the previous two (3-1 v Crewe in December 2019 and 4-1 v Grimsby in December 2022).
• Stockport have failed to score in both of their last two away league games (D1, L1), more than in their previous 20 games on the road before then (once).

Steve Eyre
Former Salford player on BBC Radio Lancashire

Stockport have not been allowed to get in any type of stride. I think they've lost every single battle on the pitch. There was no fight back from them. You've got to do better against Matt Smith, obstruct him better.

Salford City were full of body contact, they were quicker. They are playing like the team that were playing from promotion.

Luke Garbutt's early blockbuster strike from 25 yards gave the hosts a perfect start after just eight minutes and Curtis Tilt's booming header six minutes before the break has given promotion-chasing Stockport a mountain to climb in the second 45 minutes.

It's been a bruising encounter and no mistake, but during seven minutes of added time Conor McAleny was denied a third by Ben Hinchliffe while Junior Luamba was booked for throwing the ball away, even though the players had been largely kicking lumps out of each other for the rest of the half.

Good EFL fun on a Thursday night, what more could you want!?

Conor McAleny hits a low shot from the edge of the Stockport penalty area but Ben Hinchliffe gets down to turn it past the post.

Steve O'Halloran
Former Stockport defender on BBC Radio Manchester

Stockport are playing into Salford's hands. Getting set-pieces in that dangerous area, you know they will be looking for Matt Smith so it's all about who wants it more.

Salford have punished Stockport again.

This is one of the most physical games I've seen in some time.

It's like something you'd see from a bygone era on a random channel with a number in it at 8am on a Sunday morning.

Wonderful stuff for nostalgia lovers. Less so for modern fans, you'd expect.

Ref Ollie Yates has his work cut out, it's safe to say,

Steve Eyre
Former Salford player on BBC Radio Lancashire

The pitch is set up for a battle, given the time of year. Salford have the advantage of the one goal and everyone is in the middle of the pitch having a scrap.

It's snatched moments for Stockport. The pitch has something to do with it, there's no room in the middle and that's the way the ball keeps going. There's no wonder there's been no goals other than the wonder strike.

Off comes Ethan Bristow. He signalled to the bench as soon as the ball broke to Ben Hinchliffe after being beaten in the air from a long clearance from Alex Cairns.

Ibou Touray, once of this parish, comes on to a chorus of boos. Welcome back, Ibou.

For now, Ethan Bristow will continue. He's up and rubbing his shoulder. Ibou Touray was itching to get off the bench and come on but he'll have to wait a bit longer at least.

Stockport's Ethan Bristow and Junior Luamba have gone down in midfield after a tussle which wouldn't have looked out of place on a judo mat.

Bristow needs some treatment as his arm looks like it was nearly twisted out of its socket as he tried to turn.

Worried look from Dave Challinor on the sideline.

Paddy Madden turns on a sixpence in midfield before slotting a perfect ball through for Tanto Olaofe, only for the youngster to read the pass too late allowing it to slip through to the keeper. Could have been a good chance, that.

Paddy Madden glides in from the right and fires in an angled low strike which Ammies keeper Alex Cairns blocks with his left boot.

Luke Garbutt has his name taken by referee Ollie Yates at the end of the move after he played a fine advantage to allow it to progress after Garbutt had clattered Odin Bailey. Credit where it's due, eh?

The Peninsula Stadium is rivalling Cheltenham earlier today as a gathering ground for football managers in the wild.

Roy Keane and Steve Bruce are sat with City CEO Nicky Butt, with their old manager Sir Alex Ferguson, his pal Sam Allardyce and Harry Redknapp enjoying successful visits to the winners' enclosure this afternoon on day three of the festival.

The lively start to this game has died down a little...

Steve O'Halloran
Former Stockport defender on BBC Radio Manchester

Dave Challinor will be the more disappointed of the two managers, with how Stockport have reacted to this. Salford have been aggressive.

If Stockport could match Challinor's intensity on the side of the pitch, they'd be doing a lot better.

Got views on the game, or the League Two promotion and relegation race, that deserve be heard by more than just your long-suffering family pets?

Why not join the conversation with our very own community by posting your thoughts on the social media site X, formerly twitter, using the #bbcefl hashtag and we'll pick out the best ones to publish right here too.

Odin Bailey's right-wing inswinging corner is superbly glanced away from almost underneath his own bar by Theo Vassell. Begging to be met by a big bruiser of a centre-back, that. No dice. Salford survive a spell of pressure,

Stockport are doing all the right things trying to get back into the game after that early blow, not panicking and trying to work the ball down the right flank where Paddy Madden is lurking with intent.

Salford are making it hard for them though, swarming around with a lead to defend.

If County are to win this they'll have to score as many goals tonight as they have managed in their past five games.

Steve Eyre
Former Salford player on BBC Radio Lancashire

Brilliant from Luke Garbutt. He doesn't do it enough but he's capable. It's been a long time coming for this club.

The fact that Ben Hinchliffe, from 30 yards, was beaten and never moved - he almost watched it go past him.