League One meets League Two in Tuesday's EFL Trophy contest at The Wham Stadium, as Accrington Stanley and Stockport County square off in Northern section Group A.
Everton Under-21s and Tranmere Rovers are also present in the section, and the Toffees' prospects currently lead the way at the summit thanks to their recent beating of the latter.
Match preview
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Progressing from the group stage is hardly ever a problem for Accrington Stanley in the EFL Trophy, but making waves in the tournament beyond the first phase is where the problems lie for the League Two side, who have never lifted the cup in their modest history.
A semi-final exit to Bolton Wanderers in 2022-23 represents the hosts' best-ever finish in this competition, and they were coincidentally also eliminated from last year's EFL Trophy by the Trotters, albeit in the last-16 stage rather than the final four.
Under the wing of John Doolan, who oversaw a rather miserable end to proceedings in 2023-24, Accrington have picked up where they left off at the end of last season and remain winless after five matches in the current term, including a 3-0 EFL Cup beatdown at the hands of Tranmere.
The hosts have also followed a disappointing loss-draw-loss-draw pattern in League Two thus far, suffering chastening defeats away to Doncaster Rovers and Newport County while taking a point off of Harrogate Town and Colchester United on home territory, although they were only a few minutes away from beating the latter at the weekend.
Indeed, Colchester needed an 85th-minute leveller from Ben Goodliffe to cancel out Kelsey Mooney's second goal of the campaign, and Doolan's men at least have a respectable four-game unbeaten sequence to boast at The Wham Stadium, in competitive matches at least.
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As Accrington fans wait patiently - or not so patiently - for their maiden win of 2024-25, Stockport have taken to League One football like a duck takes to water since storming to the League Two crown in the 2023-24 campaign, where they amassed a mammoth 92 points.
Indeed, Tuesday's visitors have accrued a brilliant 10 points from the first 12 on offer this term, opening the campaign with three straight successes over Cambridge United, Blackpool and Bristol Rovers, scoring seven goals and shipping none in the process.
Dave Challinor's side lost their 100% record at Mansfield Town on Saturday, though, settling for a 1-1 draw against Nigel Clough's side, although their superior goal difference is keeping them above Wrexham and Birmingham City in first place in the rankings.
Stockport have already suffered one knockout humiliation this season, being subjected to a 6-1 home dismantling against Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup, suggesting that Challinor's side have some way to go if they are to mix with the second-tier big boys next season.
Talk of a promotion push is still premature, though, and Stockport - who have never been past the EFL Trophy semi-finals - now aim to replicate their League Two double over Accrington from last season, where a 3-1 away win preceded a 4-2 home success.
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Team News
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A summer loan arrival from Manchester United, 19-year-old defender Sonny Aljofree is cup-tied for the midweek contest, having taken part in the Red Devils' 3-2 win over Barnsley in their opening match.
The 19-year-old was not involved in the draw with Colchester anyway, having only signed up on deadline day, but another Premier League loanee - Southampton-owned Zach Awe - could man the backline once again.
Regarding Stockport County, Crystal Palace-owned defender Tayo Adaramola - a 20-year-old left-back - will not be seen for at least another few weeks, having sustained a nasty knee injury in pre-season action, while fellow defender Ibou Touray is on international duty with Gambia.
However, the League Two champions did not pick up any new concerns in the draw with Mansfield Town, and Tuesday's game could see another start for Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry, already on three goals for the league season.
Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Crellin; O'Brien, Awe, Rawson, Batty; Khumbeni, Conneely; Whalley, Knowles, Costelloe; Mooney
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchcliffe; Onyango, Horsfall, Mapengu, Rydel; Camps, Norwood; Fevrier, Bailey, Barry; Wootton
We say: Accrington Stanley 0-2 Stockport County
Stockport's midfield has a bit of a decimated feel to it right now, but they have taken League One by storm and were scoring for fun in their two games versus Accrington last year.
With the hosts still lacking that winning formula, Tuesday's game might be a foregone conclusion from the first whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
