Promotion hopefuls Stockport County will welcome title hopefuls Wycombe Wanderers to Edgeley Park on Tuesday evening in their 14th League One match of the season.
The home team are 10th with 21 points and are two points from sixth-placed Bolton Wanderers, who occupy the final promotion playoff spot, while the away side are second with 26 points and beat Leyton Orient 3-0 last time out in the league on October 26.
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]")
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Stockport advanced to the second round of the FA Cup after beating Forest Green Rovers 2-1 on Saturday, though they were taken to extra time by the fifth-tier side.
The Hatters emerged as 4-1 victors on October 29 against Reading, a match in which they produced 16 shots, nine attempts on target and four big chances, while only conceding two shots in the entire game.
Boss Dave Challinor labelled his side's performance against Reading as his team's most consistent showing this term and even said that their win set the bar for the rest of the campaign.
Challinor's team have won their two most recent fixtures, but thy drew three and lost one of the prior four games.
Stockport have been strong at home for some time considering they have won 10, drawn two and lost just two of their last 14 matches at Edgeley Park.
The hosts have scored 20 goals and conceded on 12 occasions in League One, and this makes them the division's joint ninth-best offensive and joint fifth-best defensive side.
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As for the visitors, they come into the clash having beaten York City 3-2 on Saturday in the first round of the FA Cup.
Wycombe are just three points from first-placed Birmingham City, and while they are only five points ahead of Stockport, it should be noted that they have only played 12 games in League One.
The Blues were dominant against Leyton Orient having produced over 1.5 xG and created three big chances, while only conceding 0.1 xG and facing no big chances themselves.
Manager Matt Bloomfield's side have scored 26 goals and conceded 16 times in League One, and these records make his team the best offensive and joint 10th best defensive club.
Bloomfield's team have won their last five games in all competitions, scoring 13 times and conceding on five occasions, and they have also won 11 of their 14 most recent matches.
Wycombe have won four and drawn two of their last six away games and have kept just one clean sheet in that period.
Team News
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Stockport midfielder Nick Powell was substituted off against Lincoln City on October 26 and is likely to be unavailable on Tuesday.
Challinor could name a similar starting lineup to the team that played against Reading, so expect goalkeeper Corey Addai to be protected by a back three consisting of Callum Connolly, Fraser Horsfall and Ethan Pye.
Will Collar and Lewis Bate may start in a double pivot, while Lewis Fiorini, Kyle Wootton and Louie Barry may lead their side's attack.
Wycombe will be without Jack Grimmer, who was forced off as a result of injury against Leyton Orient, and Declan Skura could replace him on Tuesday.
Joe Low, Caleb Taylor and Daniel Harvie are likely to join Skura in defence, while Tyreeq Bakinson and Aaron Morley may start in midfield.
Bloomfield could field Garath McCleary and Fred Onyedinma as wingers either side of striker Daniel Udoh.
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Addai; Connolly, Horsfall, Pye; Diamond, Bate, Collar, Touray; Fiorini, Wootton, Barry
Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Ravizzoli; Skura, Low, Taylor, Harvie; Bakinson, Morley; McCleary, Humphreys, Onyedinma; Udoh
We say: Stockport County 2-2 Wycombe Wanderers
Tuesday's match could be an entertaining affair, and though Wycombe have been strong away from home, they have struggled for clean sheets on the road.
However, it is difficult to ignore the visitors' exceptional overall form in League One, and it would not be surprising if Stockport were held to a draw.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
