In the build up to last Saturday's game Jim Gannon told the Stockport Express that "he bears no ill feeling" against Bristol Rovers yet he controversially claimed that Gasheads "seem to be less behind their own team and go to matches to be very much against the opposition."
We know that is of course rubbish and Mr Gannon's claim that he bears no ill feeling did not seem to be the case as the final whistle blew at the Memorial Stadium following Rovers' convincing 2-0 win.
Paul Trollope offered to shake Gannon's hand. but the visiting manager petulantly turned away as the boos from Gasheads then echoed around the ground.
The Express had pointed out how "Gannon has struggled to endear himself to Rovers fans after he spoke out about the controversial circumstances surrounding the postponement - at just a couple of hours' notice - of County's League Two trip to the Memorial Stadium in February 2007."
Rovers were just three days away from a crucial Johnstone's Paint Trophy semi-final second leg against fierce city rivals Bristol City at the time, and to make matters worse for the Hatters they lost the re-arranged game a month later and went on to lose out on a place in the play-offs that season on the last day - to Rovers as they won 3-2 at Hartlepool..
The Express said last week: "Despite his frustrations at the time, Gannon is clearly now not wanting to hark back too much to the past ahead of what promises to be an entertaining game this weekend."
Gannon said: "Being philosophical about it, it was probably a blessing in disguise that the original game was called off as it gave us an opportunity to break a Football League record [for consecutive wins coupled with clean sheets] back at Edgeley Park.
"That will always go down as a great day in the history of our club.
"I'm not concerned about anything else. It's nice for us to be sitting where we are at the moment, as despite all our troubles this season we're still ahead of them.
"I've no ill feeling towards Bristol Rovers. Their fans will probably express their feelings, but unfortunately that seems to be typical of fans in this country at the moment.
"They seem to be less behind their own team and go to matches to be very much against the opposition.
"Perhaps that's a sign of how society is going these days."
Paul Trollope admitted to the Bristol Evening Post that "he was at a loss to explain" Gannon's latest Memorial Stadium spat.
The Post pointed out how "Gannon - who has a history of previous run-ins at Rovers - ignored Trollope's prolonged offer of a handshake as the sides left the field.
"Asked whether he thought Gannon's behaviour related to his past feud with the club, Trollope said: "The only comment I am going to make is that when we went to Stockport earlier in the season and they beat us 3-1, he shook my hand on that day. So what has changed since, then I don't know.
"I have got respect for everyone I come across in football. There are no personal issues with anyone for me."
I cannot bring you any quotes from Mr Gannon after the game because for once he must have been lost for words as he refused to speak to the press.
The Manchester Evening News reported how County "suffered their third defeat on the trot after Bristol Rovers made the most of the visitors' first-half mistakes.
Jim Gannon's side were caught cold in the second minute when Stuart Campbell's quick free-kick was headed back by the unmarked Steve Elliott for Byron Anthony to place past Conrad Logan.
The keeper, who enjoyed a successful loan spell at County last season, had only signed on Friday on an emergency seven-day loan.
He had no chance with Rovers' second either, which came after James Tunnicliffe had handled in the area in the 37th minute.
County old boy Rickie Lambert smashed the penalty high into the net.
The visitors' best chance came in the 72nd minute when Josh Thompson headed wide after Matty McNeil had directed Greg Tansey's corner towards him. Logan kept the score respectable with two fine stops from Jo Kuffour."
The Sunday Independent felt it was a "moment of quick thinking by skipper Stuart Campbell which set Rovers on course for one of the their most comfortable home wins of the season.
"When Stockport's James Tunnicliffe was penalised for a foul 35 yards out after only four minutes, Rickie Lambert began to make his way towards the ball in anticipation of a strike at goal.
"But Campbell spotted Steve Elliott unmarked inside the box and produced an inch-perfect free kick for the big centre back to head into the path of Byron Anthony, who volleyed in from close range."
The early goal enabled Rovers to adjust with confidence to a new 4-3-3 formation and their luck evened out from last week with the penalty award in the 36th minute.
The Independent added: "Denied a clear spot kick against Peterborough seven days earlier, this time the decision went Rovers' way as Jo Kuffour's hopeful prod into the box when off balance bounced up and struck the arm of the unfortunate Tunnicliffe.
"Lambert gave the 'keeper no chance as Rovers never looked like letting their opponents back into the game."
