Promotion hopefuls Stockport County are set to host Exeter City at Edgeley Park on Saturday in League One.
Stockport are currently fifth with 30 points from their 18 matches so far, while Exeter are 11th after picking up 24 points from 17 games.
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 County are in the hunt for promotion this season and occupy one of League One's four playoff spots.
The Hatters have won four of their last six league games, including an emphatic 5-0 victory over rivals Bolton and a 4-1 drubbing of Reading in late October, scoring 13 goals and keeping three clean sheets in the process.
It is also important to highlight that only three clubs have scored more than County's 29 goals this season, and this offensive capability has been key to their position in the top six.
However, they did lose 5-0 to top-of-the-league Wycombe Wanderers in between those two major victories, and more recently lost 2-0 to rivals Birmingham City in their last match.
On Wednesday at St Andrews, Challinor's side succumbed to a first-half brace from Alfie May, and were unable to recover the early-game momentum they had when Will Collar struck the woodwork in the fifth minute.
That loss means that County are now in fifth place, six points behind the Blues - and seven behind Wrexham - having played two games more than Chris Davies's team.
This weekend, the Hatters will be keenly aware that while they are in the playoff spots, they have played more matches than all of the teams around them and will need to build momentum with wins against sides like Exeter if they are to stay in contention as the campaign progresses.
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Meanwhile, Gary Caldwell's Exeter City are six points behind Challinor's side with a game in hand.
Last time out, the Grecians drew 2-2 with Wycombe Wanderers at home, a match that ended the Chairboys' 11-game winning streak across all competitions.
In Tuesday's clash, Caldwell's team raced into a two-goal lead thanks to Millenic Alli's second-minute chip and Jack McMillan's 22nd-minute finish from close range, but failed to hang on to their lead.
Unfortunately for Exeter fans, the Chairboys proved their title credentials by clawing one back before half time through Joe Low and netted an equaliser shortly after the restart when Cam Humphreys curled in an effort from range in the 54th minute.
Regardless of the potentially disappointing nature of the draw, Exeter boss Caldwell made sure to praise his players for competing with such a high-level team, describing his group's performance as 'outstanding'.
Caldwell's side are winless in their last four League One games, with two draws and two losses in that period, though all four fixtures were against teams that are currently above them in the table.
With their performance against Wycombe in hand, the Grecians will be hoping to make up ground on Saturday's opponents with a victory, and should they recapture their early-season form that saw four wins from five league games between late September and mid-October, then Caldwell could hope to achieve that 'something special' he was looking for when he signed his new contract in the summer.
Team News
© Imago
Challinor's Hatters are reportedly in the market for a forward in January and have been linked to Manchester United's Ethan Wheatley, who would likely replace Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry, who is rumoured to be considered ready for the Championship by his parent club.
In the meantime, Barry will likely make the XI this weekend alongside Will Collar and Kyle Wootton up front.
Exeter City's Jack Fitzwater recently signed a new two-year contract extension and will be hoping to put in a good performance to thank the club and fans, so expect him to line up alongside fellow centre-back Tristan Crama at the heart of defence.
Elsewhere, Millenic Alli, who scored the Grecians' opener against the Chairboys, is expected to start, as is right-back Jack McMillan, who netted the second for Caldwell's side.
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchcliffe; Connolly, Pye, Touray; Southam, Norwood, Bate, Rydel; Collar, Wootton, Barry
Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Whitworth; McMillan, Fitzwater, Crama, Francis; Niskanen, McDonald, Richards; Magennis, Aitchison, Alli
We say: Stockport County 2-1 Exeter City
Exeter have proven they have the capacity to be competitive with teams higher in the table, so they can be expected to net on Saturday.
However, the Hatters will be keen to get back to winning ways this weekend, and their greater offensive output could see them score more than once to take all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
