Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s EFL Trophy clash between Stockport County and Tranmere Rovers, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
League One promotion hopefuls Stockport County will welcome League Two side Tranmere Rovers to Edgeley Park on Tuesday in their third match in the EFL Trophy.
The home team are first in their four-team group with six points from two games and defeated Everton U21s 4-1 in their last game in the competition on September 17, while their opponents are second with three points and beat Accrington Stanley 2-1 on October 8.
Match preview
The hosts were utterly dominant against Everton U21s, accumulating 71% possession and producing six big chances while facing just one themselves.
Stockport ran out 5-0 winners against Bolton Wanderers in League One on Saturday in their most recent match and despite having just 39% possession, the Hatters created five big chances and restricted Bolton to no shots on target.
The result left the team sixth in the division with 24 points from 15 games, and they currently occupy the final promotion playoff spot, though they are six points from the two automatic promotion spots at the top of the league.
Manager Dave Challinor was particularly pleased by his side’s aggressive approach without the ball in that match and also highlighted the impact of striker Kyle Wooton, who he said acted as a focal point for his team.
Challinor’s side have won three of their four most recent games, scoring 11 goals and conceding seven times in that period.
Stockport’s recent record at Edgeley Park is also strong given they have triumphed in three of their last four home fixtures, though they drew two and lost one of the prior three.
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Meanwhile, the visitors produced 24 shots and five big chances in comparison to Accrington Stanley’s nine attempts and three big chances.
Tranmere are 17th in League Two with 17 points from 14 games and beat Newport County 2-1 in their last league match on Saturday, a game in which they conceded few opportunities and were deserving winners.
The Rovers are six points from 23rd-placed Carlisle, who occupy the first of two relegation spots, and they are seven from seventh-placed Grimsby, who occupy the final promotion playoff spot.
Boss Nigel Adkins‘s side have scored 10 goals and conceded 17 times in the league this term, and this makes them the division’s worst offensive and joint 10th best defensive club.
Adkins’s team are in poor overall form considering they lost the three games prior to their victory against Newport County, including a 2-1 defeat against Oldham Athletic in the first round of the FA Cup on November 2.
Tranmere’s away record this season is also concerning having lost four, drawn two and won two of their eight fixtures on the road in 2024-25.
Stockport County EFL Trophy form:
Stockport County form (all competitions):
Tranmere Rovers EFL Trophy form:
Tranmere Rovers form (all competitions):
Team News
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Stockport could name a similar starting XI to the side that beat Forest Green Rovers 2-1 on November 2 in the FA Cup first round, so expect Ben Hinchliffe to be given the nod in goal behind centre-backs Sam Hughes and Fraser Horsfall.
Lewis Bate, Oliver Norwood and Jayden Fevrier are likely candidates to feature in a midfield three, while Odin Bailey may start in an advanced role.
In the forward line, Kyle Wootton could be joined by Isaac Olaofe in a front two given Michael Mellon has not made an appearance since suffering an injury against Forest Green Rovers.
As for Tranmere, Luke McGee is a probable option to start as a goalkeeper, and he could be shielded by a defence consisting of Cameron Norman, Tom Davies, Jordan Turnbull and Connor Wood.
Sam Finley and Regan Hendry partnered each other in a double pivot against Oldham, and there is no reason to think why they would not do so again on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, Connor Jennings and Luke Norris could be selected to start together in a front two.
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchliffe; Diamond, Hughes, Horsfall, Adaramola; Norwood, Fevrier, Bate; Bailey; Olaofe, Wootton
Tranmere Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGee; Norman, Davies, Turnbull, Wood; Morris, Finley, Hendry, Patrick; Jennings, Norris
We say: Stockport County 2-1 Tranmere Rovers
Given the calibre of Tranmere’s opponents, it is difficult to see them avoiding defeat on Tuesday.
Additionally, Stockport have been in good form at home in recent weeks, and they should come into the clash as favourites.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
