Sports Mole previews Saturday’s League One clash between Stockport County and Wrexham, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Two newly-promoted teams will face off when Stockport County welcome Wrexham to Edgeley Park for Saturday’s League One contest.
The hosts are sitting in sixth place in League One with 24 points to their name, while the visitors are four points better off in fourth position.
Match preview
After winning League Two last season, Stockport appear to be in the frame to battle for a top-six spot as they bid to win back-to-back promotions.
The Hatters are currently sitting in the playoffs on goal difference after winning six, drawing six and losing three of their 15 league matches this season.
Stockport have experienced contrasting emotions in their last three league games, recording sizeable victories on either side of a heavy defeat to Wycombe Wanderers.
Dave Challinor‘s side followed a 4-1 win over Reading with a 5-0 defeat to Wycombe, before they returned to winning ways with a dominant 5-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers, which came courtesy of goals from Will Collar, Kyle Wootton, Fraser Horsfall, Louie Barry and Odin Bailey.
While Stockport may have lost 2-0 in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy meeting with Tranmere Rovers, they will fancy their chances of taking all three points from Saturday’s fixture after winning each of their last three home games against Wrexham.
The hosts will have particular fond memories of their most recent home meeting in September 2023 when they produced a free-scoring display to sweep past Wrexham via a 5-0 scoreline.
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Wrexham are currently two points adrift of the automatic promotions places after winning eight, drawing four and losing two of their 14 league games this season.
The Red Dragons have managed to put together a five-game unbeaten league run since losing to Stevenage at the start of October.
They began that run of form with consecutive victories, before they played out back-to-back draws with Huddersfield Town and Charlton Athletic.
Phil Parkinson‘s side returned to winning ways in last Saturday’s home clash against Mansfield Town, with Ryan Barnett scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory to maintain Wrexham’s unbeaten home record for the season.
The Red Dragons were unable to claim another win in Tuesday’s EFL Trophy meeting with Port Vale, which saw them play out a 1-1 draw before losing on penalties to hand the bonus point to the Valiants, ensuring the two sides finished level on seven points in Group 2, with Wrexham claiming top spot on goal difference.
Wrexham will now be looking to claim maximum points in Saturday’s league fixtures, but their hopes of pulling off a victory may be tempered by the fact they have won just one of their last five away league games.
Stockport County League One form:
Stockport County form (all competitions):
Wrexham League One form:
Wrexham form (all competitions):
Team News
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Stockport will have to assess the fitness of Callum Camps, who has been forced to miss the last eight matches due to injury.
After making several changes in midweek, Challinor could revert back to the side that started the 5-0 win over Bolton last weekend.
Barry will continue to offer one of Stockport’s main goal threats, having scored 10 times in 15 league appearances this season.
As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Arthur Okonkwo, George Evans, Jack Marriott and Steven Fletcher.
Will Boyle picked up an injury in the warm-up for Tuesday’s EFL Trophy match, while Luke Bolton was forced off in the first half of the midweek outing.
Parkinson rotated his squad for the EFL Trophy clash with Port Vale, but he may decide to select the same lineup that started the win over Mansfield last Saturday.
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchliffe; Connolly, Horsfall, Touray; Southam-Hales, Norwood, Bate, Rydel; Collar; Wootton, Barry
Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Barnett, Cleworth, Scarr, O’Connor, McClean; Cannon, Dobson, Lee; Palmer, Mullin
We say: Stockport County 2-1 Wrexham
Stockport have won each of their previous three home games against Wrexham, and while we do not expect them to replicate the 5-0 win from last season’s home clash, we think they will do enough to extend that run by claiming a narrow victory on Saturday.
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