Stockport County will be hoping to leapfrog holders Bolton Wanderers into top spot in Group E when the two sides meet in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.
The two sides have already secured their progression to the knockout stages, but the hosts must win if they are to claim first place in the group.
Match preview
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Having missed out on gaining promotion to the third tier at the first attempt when losing on penalties to Carlisle United in the playoff final last season, Stockport appear on course to right those wrongs this time around.
The Hatters racked up an astonishing 11th consecutive win in League Two when beating Swindon Town 4-2 away from home on Saturday, moving them five points clear of second-placed Wrexham in the process after only 17 games.
Dave Challinor's side had trailed 1-0 and 2-1 at the County Ground, where Swindon had won five of their seven home games heading into the encounter. However, late strikes from Odin Bailey and Callum Camps kept their team's winning run going as they aim to return to League One for the first time since 2010.
Stockport have already improved on their efforts in the EFL Trophy from last season, too, having booked their place in the knockout stages with a game to spare. However, they will be keen to prove their worth by competing against a side aiming for promotion into the Championship, especially as the group winners will face a runner-up from a different group.
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Bolton also suffered heartbreak in the playoffs last season, when they lost 2-1 on aggregate to Barnsley in the semi-finals in League One. They are clearly using that as motivation in their efforts to return to the Championship, having made a strong start to the campaign.
Indeed, the Trotters racked up a fifth successive league victory when narrowly beating Blackpool 1-0 at home on Saturday, with George Thomason's late effort proving enough to claim all three points from a tight and tense encounter.
That win kept Bolton level on points with second-placed Oxford United, while league leaders Portsmouth conceded a late equaliser at home to Charlton Athletic, meaning Pompey are only one point clear at the top after 16 matches.
Of course, Bolton won the EFL Trophy in some style last season when thrashing Plymouth Argyle - who went on to lift the League One title - 4-0 in the final, with Ian Evatt's side showing the type of football which they are capable of playing when everything clicks. In order to hold onto top spot in the group, they simply must avoid defeat at nearby Stockport on Tuesday.
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With his side already through to the knockout stages and promotion from League Two clearly taking priority for Stockport this season, Challinor is likely to make several changes against Bolton.
Paddy Madden scored a hat-trick against Salford City last time out in this competition and he will almost certainly lead the line having only been used from the bench against Swindon on Saturday, while Camps will also expect to start after scoring as a substitute in that important victory.
Likewise, Bolton will almost certainly freshen things up a little after battling hard to earn all three points against Blackpool, although there is less pressure on Evatt to rotate as their upcoming scheduled league game against Cambridge United has been postponed.
However, Dan Nlundulu will expect to start after scoring a brace against Manchester United Under-21s last time out in this competition, with Jon Dadi Bodvarsson likely to join him in attack after also scoring in that win.
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Smith; Knoyle, Pond, Farrar; Richardson, Johnson, Camps, Mee, Popoola; Stretton, Madden
Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Coleman; Forrester, Toal, Iredale; Matheson, Maghoma, Dempsey, Mendes, Morley; Nlundulu, Bodvarsson
We say: Stockport County 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
With both teams already booking their place in the knockout stages of this competition and fighting hard for promotion from their respective divisions, there is minimal pressure riding on this fixture.
Stockport will be keen to prove that they belong in League One by testing a side competing for promotion from that level, but we think Bolton have enough about them to avoid defeat and hold onto top spot in Group E.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Brett Curtis
