Dreaming of automatic promotion from League One, high-flying Stockport County will travel to face Exeter City at St James Park on Saturday.
The Grecians have lost just one of their last eight games ahead of the clash, but the Hatters will be looking to make it four wins from five this weekend.
Match preview
© Imago
After losing seven of their nine matches at the start of 2025, Gary Caldwell's Exeter have found some stability with a commendable four wins, four draws and two losses since mid-February.
Most recently, the Grecians put a dent in Barnsley's promotion hopes by beating them 2-1 at Oakwell on Tuesday, and the manager will be pleased with the way that his side started strongly, netted an opener through Ryan Trevitt and stayed composed to find a late winner courtesy of Josh Magennis.
That victory brought Caldwell's side up to 16th in the table, where they are a comfortable nine points ahead of Burton Albion in the relegation zone and level on 48 points with both Rotherham United and Peterborough United.
After seizing all three points against Barnsley, Saturday's hosts will be feeling confident of performing against another top-half club, though given that they have lost more often than not at St James Park this year, fans could be forgiven for having doubts.
If Exeter can record back-to-back wins for just the second time since December, then they could end the weekend as high as 13th should results elsewhere prove favourable, but defeat could drag them as low as 17th, where they may be a more tense six points from the drop zone with six games to play.
![Dave Challinor manager of Stockport County during the Pre-season friendly match Stockport County vs Blackburn Rovers at Edgeley Park Stadium, Stockport, United Kingdom, August 2, 2024 [on August 11, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/dave-challinor.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Dave Challinor manager of Stockport County during the Pre-season friendly match Stockport County vs Blackburn Rovers at Edgeley Park Stadium, Stockport, United Kingdom, August 2, 2024 [on August 11, 2024]")
© Imago
Meanwhile, Dave Challinor's Stockport have only lost one of their seven third-tier matches since the beginning of March, a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of promotion-rivals Wrexham.
Last time out, the Hatters put on a dominant display at Edgeley Park when they beat Stevenage 3-0 thanks to goals from Jayden Fevrier and Jack Diamond either side of the interval, as well as an own goal from the Boro's Luther James-Wildin.
Despite remaining in fifth place, the three points Challinor's men earned in Tuesday's game helped them to keep pace with Charlton Athletic and Wycombe Wanderers as the trio chase down Wrexham in the hunt for automatic promotion, though they are still seven points behind the Red Dragons with only six games left on their calendar.
With ground to make up on the top two and not much time left in which to do it, Saturday's visitors will have to make the most of every match that comes their way, but given that they have only won one of their last four on the road - and even lost away to relegation-favourites Cambridge United in late February - they may be concerned about their trip to Exeter.
A win this weekend would be enough for Stockport to leapfrog Charlton and climb up to fourth, where they could find themselves only four points behind second-placed Wrexham in a best-case scenario.
Team News
© Imago
Exeter could be missing midfielder Ryan Trevitt, who scored in the win over Barnsley, after he was taken off with an injury late on in that game.
If he is unavailable, then 19-year-old Tony Yogane could start, though Trevitt is still likely to partner Edward Francis in the centre of the park on Saturday.
On the flanks, Jack McMillan and Ilmari Niskanen will be providing width and support for Tuesday's matchwinning striker Josh Maggenis and attacking midfielders Patrick Jones and Caleb Watts.
As for Stockport, they will welcome centre-back Ethan Pye back into the XI after he served a suspension last time out, so expect Fraser Horsfall to make way in the backline this weekend.
Oliver Norwood and Lewis Bate should start as a pair at the base of Challinor's midfield, with Jack Diamond and Jayden Fevrier operating just ahead of them, and strikers Kyle Wootton and Isaac Olaofe up top.
Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Whitworth; Turns, MacDonald, Hartridge; McMillan, Trevitt, Francis, Niskanen; Jones, Watts; Magennis
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Addai; Hills, Connolly, Pye, Touray; Norwood, Bate; Fevrier, Diamond; Olaofe, Wootton
We say: Exeter City 1-2 Stockport County
Both teams have only been beaten by Wrexham since February, so expect this game to be a close-fought contest.
That being said, Stockport have won three of their last four, and despite being less-than-stellar on the road, they should take all three points on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
