As the race for promotion from League One intensifies, Stockport County will welcome struggling Stevenage to Edgeley Park on Tuesday.
The Hatters will be looking to build on their win last time out, while the Boro are without a win of their own for four games and will be hoping to bounce back in midweek.
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]")
© Imago
Dave Challinor's Stockport have only lost one of their last six matches, but they will be ruing the fact that they have won just three of those games given that they are now nine points behind second-placed Wrexham.
Most recently, the Hatters survived a late scare to take maximum points against relegation-threatened Burton Albion when Ethan Pye was sent off and the Brewers netted a late goal to reduce the deficit.
That victory left Challinor's side fifth in the third tier with 68 points, seven more than seventh-placed Huddersfield Town, who have fallen out of the playoff spots.
Tuesday's hosts will be confident of making it 71 in midweek considering the strength of their home record, and having tasted defeat just once at Edgeley Park in 2025 with a six-game unbeaten streak that features just one draw ahead of this clash, fans may even be expectant.
Three points would be enough to take Stockport above promotion rivals Charlton Athletic and into fourth place, though automatic promotion would still remain at least six points out of reach.
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Meanwhile, Alex Revell's Stevenage won just one of their five games in March and have alternated between losses and draws across their last four leading up to Tuesday.
On Thursday, the Boro were beaten 1-0 by playoff hopefuls Leyton Orient, and the boss will be disappointed with the fact that his team had more than three times as many shots as their opponents but were unable to impact the scoreline.
Dropping those three points has Revell's men 13th, and being 13 points clear of relegation but 13 behind the playoff spots, they are the epitome of mid-table with eight games to play.
While this week's visitors are unlikely to make up the ground on the clubs pushing for promotion, they will be keen to end the campaign in strong fashion, but they may be low on confidence for the trip to Stockport given that they have lost four of their last seven away matches.
Victory on Tuesday would be enough to take Stevenage up to 12th ahead of Lincoln City and to within 10 points of sixth-placed Reading in a best-case scenario, though they will need to recapture the type of form that saw them go seven without defeat on the road at the turn of the year if they are to beat one of the division's strongest sides.
Team News
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Stockport will be without centre-back Ethan Pye after he was sent off last time out for a desperate challenge.
Luckily, Brad Hills will be back in contention after he served a suspension of his own against Burton, so expect him to join Callum Connolly at the heart of the defence.
As for Stevenage, striker Brandon Hanlan should be supported by Daniel Kemp from an attacking midfield position, while Jordan Roberts and Jamie Reid provide width.
Further back, captain Carl Piergianni will be marshalling the defence alongside Charlie Goode, with Louis Thompson and Eli King offering protection from the base of midfield
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Addai; Knoyle, Connolly, Hills, Touray; Norwood, Bate; Fevrier, Collar; Olaofe, Wootton
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Mahoney; James-Wildin, Goode, Piergianni, Butler; Thompson, King; Roberts, Kemp, Reid; Hanlan
We say: Stockport County 2-0 Stevenage
Stockport are in strong form ahead of this clash, and with their place in the playoffs looking more secure by the week, they will be looking to bolster their immense home record and add three more points to their total.
Contrastingly, Stevenage have struggled over the past month, and they may find it difficult to score against one of the division's strongest teams on Tuesday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
