Promotion hopefuls Stockport County will be bidding to make it successive victories in the third tier of English football when they continue their League One campaign with a clash against relegation-threatened Northampton Town on Tuesday night.
Stockport are fourth in the League One table, four points behind second-placed Wycombe Wanderers, while Northampton occupy 18th, just four points outside of the relegation zone.
Match preview
© Imago
Northampton will enter Tuesday's clash with Stockport off the back of a 1-1 draw with Exeter City, with the result leaving them in 18th spot in the League One table, only four points outside of the relegation zone.
The Cobblers finished 14th in League One last season, but they are in danger of being dragged into the relegation mix this term, with only four points separating them from 21st-placed Burton Albion.
Kevin Nolan's side were last victorious on February 22, beating Bristol Rovers 2-1, and they have picked up 21 points from their 16 home League One fixtures during the 2024-25 campaign.
Northampton have enjoyed the better of their recent meetings with Stockport, triumphing in four of their last eight matches, suffering just one defeat in the process, and it was 1-1 in the reverse game between the two sides earlier this season.
© Imago
Stockport, meanwhile, were promoted from League Two last season as the champions, so the fact that they are now towards the top of League One is a huge achievement for the club.
The Hatters have won 17, drawn nine and lost eight of their 34 league fixtures this season to collect 60 points, which has left them in fourth spot in the table, just four points behind second-placed Wycombe.
Dave Challinor's side will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 win over Blackpool, and they have now been victorious in seven of their last nine fixtures in the third tier of English football during an excellent run.
Stockport have the sixth-best away record in League One this season, picking up 24 points from 17 matches, while Northampton have lost seven of their 16 league games in front of their own supporters.
The Hatters have never played in the Championship and were a National League outfit as recent as 2021-22, so it would be some story if they were able to secure promotion to the second tier this season.
Team News
© Imago
Northampton are expected to have the same squad available from Saturday's game at Exeter, and there is every chance that head coach Nolan could name an unchanged XI for this match.
Dara Costelloe was on the scoresheet last time out, and there is set to be another start in the final third for the 22-year-old, as he bids to add to the two goals that he has managed in four appearances thus far.
There is also set to be a spot in a wide area for Tariqe Fosu, who has struck three times for Northampton this term.
As for Stockport, Kyle Wootton is the leading goalscorer in the squad with nine in all competitions this season, but the 28-year-old will need to be assessed after being replaced at the interval against Blackpool.
Benony Andresson netted a brace after replacing Wotton in the fixture with the Seasiders, and the 19-year-old should now be in line for a spot in the final third of the field.
Isaac Olaofe has eight in all competitions this term, and the 25-year-old will also be in the XI, while the same should be said for Oliver Norwood.
Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Burge; McGowan, Magliore, Dyche; Hoskins, Perry, Taylor, Guinness-Walker; Pinnock, Costelloe, Fosu
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Addai; Knoyle, Hills, Pie, Touray; Norwood, Bate; Fevrier, Collar, Olaofe; Andresson
We say: Northampton Town 1-2 Stockport County
Stockport need to keep winning to stay in the picture when it comes to the automatic promotion spots, and we are backing them to secure another three points on Tuesday against a Northampton side that are dangerously close to the relegation zone.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
