Looking to start the new calendar year with maximum points, promotion contenders Stockport County and Birmingham City will clash in League One on New Year's Day.
The Hatters recorded a hard-fought draw at Rotherham United during their final contest of 2024, whilst Blues were held by Blackpool in the Second City.
Match preview
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Since the narrow 2-1 success over free-scoring Peterborough United on December 20, Stockport County have collected just the single point across two tricky League One away contests, losing at title hopefuls Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day before a draw at Rotherham on the weekend.
Coming towards the end of his time at Edgeley Park, Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry bagged the first-half equaliser which secured a point for the Hatters in Yorkshire on Sunday afternoon, with the 21-year-old set to play one final time before heading back to the Premier League side.
Winning just one of their last three third-tier contests, Stockport's ascent towards the very top of the League One standings has stalled somewhat over the festive schedule, with Dave Challinor's men currently occupying fifth spot, 11 points behind Wrexham in second.
Triumphing on seven occasions across 11 matches at Edgeley Park so far during 2024-25, only Wrexham, Reading, Birmingham and Huddersfield can boast better home records than Stockport in League One, with Wednesday's hosts earning 23 points in front of their own supporters.
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After eight straight victories across all competitions, a spell which included a six-game winning run in League One, title favourites Birmingham City dropped points for the first time since late November on Sunday, when Blackpool managed to keep a £30m squad of talent at bay.
In truth, it was the visiting Seasiders who had the better chances to snatch all three points in the Second City, where Blues goalkeeper Ryan Allsop was busier than usual as he denied clear-cut efforts from Tangerines pair Ashley Fletcher and Scotsman Kyle Joseph.
Still unbeaten across their last seven third-tier contests, Birmingham are sitting pretty at the very summit of the League One rankings ahead of their trip to Stockport on Wednesday afternoon, one point ahead of closest rivals Wrexham and two points ahead of third-placed Wycombe Wanderers.
Invincible so far at their Second City base, Blues have been breachable at times on their third-tier travels this season, with Chris Davies's men losing at Charlton Athletic and Shrewsbury Town, although Birmingham still possess the third-best away record in the division.
Team News
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Stockport will enjoy the attacking talents of Barry for the final time on Wednesday, with the Villa loanee hoping to bag a hat-trick against his boyhood club's arch rivals.
Providing the assist for their only goal at Rotherham on the weekend, 30-year-old Ibou Touray is set to retain his spot in the Hatters' XI at wing-back.
Birmingham suffered a major injury blow during the opening minutes of the Blackpool stalemate, with Lee Buchanan stretchered off due to a nasty-looking knee issue.
Alex Cochrane is likely to be restored to the matchday squad and side on Wednesday as a result, with Ethan Laird potentially coming into the right-back spot.
Emil Hansson's injury-riddled campaign continued on the weekend, with the Swedish winger forced off with a muscular strain in the first half.
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchliffe; Connolly, Horsfall, Pye; Knoyle, Norwood, Bailey, Touray; Diamond, Barry, Wootton
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Allsopp; Laird, Bielik, Davies, Cochrane; Paik, Iwata; Willumsson, Leonard, Stansfield; May
We say: Stockport County 1-1 Birmingham City
Taking to the pitch for the last time with Barry leading the line, Stockport will be raring to cause an upset to kick-start their 2025 schedule.
Birmingham are nearly at the end of a relentless period of five games in 13 days, and we feel that a mounting injury list could impact their ability to collect maximum points at Edgeley Park.
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Carter White
