Following a fantastic goal from Luke Garbutt and a header from Curtis Tilt, the Ammies led 2-0 at the break.
Ibou Touray, a former Salford defender, cut the deficit in half early in the first half, but Tanto Olaofe tied the score halfway through the second.
Karl Robinson was irritated by his team’s lack of consistency as Salford recovered and ended the match as the superior team, but they were unable to push themselves back ahead.
“I thought our foolishness in the first 20 minutes was simply completely un-us, but I felt like we did for the last 20 minutes of the second half. We lost the second half as a result of some of our poor judgments and inconsistent play at key points.
“This is not the time for me to go on a tirade and point fingers at specific aspects of it; I think it was very clear and evident where we were good and where we were bad, especially in the second half. But we will talk about that internally and the players will get together to discuss where they need to improve as a group. I don’t see the difference between Stockport and us, and it simply irritates me.
Declan John returned from illness to replace Connor McLennan in the only change from the team that lost at MK Dons on Saturday.
After going four games without a victory, Salford’s intentions were immediately apparent. A minute later, Luke Garbutt attempted a throw-in from the right that Matt Smith flicked on at the near post, but Ben Hinchliffe made the save.
The left-back’s subsequent contribution, however, was particularly noteworthy. John found him in the middle of the pitch, 35 yards from goal, and as no one was covering him, he unleashed a powerful shot that swerved past Hinchliffe and into the post. Garbutt’s second goal of the year, and Salford were deserving of the lead.
Declan John, the only member of the squad that changed from the one that lost against MK Dons on Saturday, came back from illness to take Connor McLennan’s place.
Salford made it clear what his intentions were after losing four straight games. Ben Hinchliffe made a save a minute later on a throw-in attempt from Luke Garbutt from the right that Matt Smith flicked on at the near post.
But what came next from the left-back was very impressive. He was 35 yards from goal when John spotted him in the middle of the pitch. With no one to cover him, he sent a hard shot that veered past Hinchliffe and into the post. Salford deserved to lead, and Garbutt’s second goal of the year
With the exception of a Paddy Madden attempt from the right that Alex Cairns, his former teammate at Fleetwood Town, saved, the hosts were hardly bothered at the defense.
As a result, Salford gained some advantage over the teams vying for promotion when Curtis Tilt scored his fifth goal of the year to set a new personal best campaign. In stoppage time, Conor McAleny, making his 100th appearance for the team, had a rasping shot that would have tied the score, but Hinchliffe recovered superbly to make the save.
However, the second half told a different tale, with Stockport displaying greater venom than they had in the first. Rico Richards made a pass through for Isaac Olaofe in the 51st minute, but Isaac Olaofe’s shot was saved.
Then, as Tilt attempted a clearance, it ricocheted through nicely for County’s leading scorer Olaofe to turn from supplier to scorer and take the ball around Cairns to equalize.
Junior Luamba, who was doing a good job of carrying the ball from halfway into the box on the left, might have got a penalty a few minutes later, but that setback pushed Salford into a response. Although it was evident that he had tripped, Ollie Yates dismissed the requests for a penalty kick, and Stockport managed to clear their lines.
After Touray was given a penalty for a late challenge on Dan Chesters, there was only one other significant opportunity of note in the 78th minute. Elliot Watt assumed control of the right-side free kick that
