Two newly-promoted outfits lock horns at the One Call Stadium in League One on Saturday, when Mansfield Town host Stockport County.
The visitors enter the weekend top of League One following a perfect start, while Mansfield will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing result last weekend.
Match preview
![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]")
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Stockport could hardly have asked for a better introduction to third-tier football, as they sit top of the pile thanks to three wins and three clean sheets from their opening three outings.
Dave Challinor's side extended that start with a fine 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers a week ago, having already won at Blackpool, and versus Cambridge United on the opening weekend.
The glaring blemish so far was their 6-1 EFL Cup defeat to Blackburn Rovers, but that can be attributed to the fact Challinor made 10 changes from the side that has been lining up in the league.
This start has given the Edgeley Park faithful dreams of returning to the Championship after 23 years away, and it would be a remarkable feat given where the club was just a few years ago.
County only won promotion to the EFL back in 2022, and they were a sixth-tier club as recently as 2019, which says it all about the job Challinor has done with the Hatters.
Mansfield have found their adjustment to League One slightly more challenging, but they have proved they can compete at this level.
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An opening day win over Barnsley showed what they are capable of, and Nigel Clough's side were unfortunate to lose on penalties to Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup.
After a 97th-minute equaliser saw them salvage a point against Burton Albion though, Mansfield have struggled, as a rotated side lost to Rotherham United in the EFL Trophy, before Clough's men were thrashed 4-1 at Lincoln City last weekend.
Despite having 73% possession, the game was out of reach before the hour as the Imps raced into a 4-0 lead, and Mansfield must now show their mettle to recover from that potentially bruising defeat.
Stockport were a side they enjoyed success against in League Two last season though, winning home and away, including a 3-2 win here at the One Call Stadium, despite finishing six points behind the eventual champions.
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Team News
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After suffering that heavy defeat at Lincoln, Mansfield boss Clough may turn away from playing strikers Lucas Akins and Jordan Bowery as makeshift full-backs here.
Frazer Blake-Tracy may not be too far away from a return in defence, but Alfie Kilgour and Baily Cargill are set to remain out.
George Maris, who scored in both victories against Stockport last season, will be a big miss for Mansfield, while attacker Rhys Oates is also currently sidelined.
Despite being without a number of potential starters, Stockport have not let those injuries affect performances on the pitch.
Sam Hughes could be close to a return, but Callum Connolly, Macaulay Southam-Hales, Jack Stretton and Nick Powell are among those currently out.
The man to watch in the Stockport ranks will be Louie Barry, as the Aston Villa loanee has scored in all three league games so far.
Oliver Norwood may also make a huge impact in the side, as he made a fine debut last weekend following his move from Sheffield United, where he made 27 Premier League appearances last season.
Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:
Pym; Hewitt, Flint, Oshilaja, MacDonald; Baccus, Reed, Quinn; Keillor-Dunn, Gregory, Evans
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Addai; Mingi, Horsfall, Pye, Touray; Camps, Norwood, Collar; Diamond, Wootton, Barry
We say: Mansfield Town 0-2 Stockport County
Stockport have lost on their last five visits to this stadium, but with the form they are in, the visitors will be the slight favourites.
Last week's heavy defeat could weigh heavily on Mansfield, and facing the league leaders straight after is not ideal, so this could prove a difficult ask.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
