Stevenage vs Stockport County - prediction, team news, lineups

Fighting for a accidental astatine Wembley Stadium occurrence aboriginal this month, Stevenage and Stockport County clash for the archetypal limb of their League One playoff semi-final connected Saturday afternoon.

The Boro volition beryllium looking for consecutive Hertfordshire victories aft beating Wigan Athletic past weekend, whilst the Hatters are battling to physique connected their caller away triumph astatine Barnsley.

Match preview

Courtesy of a four-game unbeaten tally (W2 D2) astatine the decision of the 46-game season, Stevenage person snuck into the League One playoffs by the tegument of their teeth, breaking hearts successful Luton and Plymouth past weekend.

Managing a melodramatic 3-2 occurrence astatine already-relegated Northampton Town, Plymouth Argyle appeared acceptable to snatch the last top-six berth earlier a 91st-minute victor from Boro's Dan Sweeney claimed maximum points astatine the disbursal of Wigan.

After a melodramatic decision of the regular run past weekend, Alex Revell's troops are successful the process of composing themselves for a two-legged conflict with Stockport, who finished conscionable 2 points up of Saturday's hosts successful the League One standings.

The Boro volition beryllium hoping to thin connected their exceptional antiaircraft capabilities successful Hertfordshire this weekend, with Stevenage conceding conscionable 13 goals crossed 23 third-tier location contests successful 2025-26 - 4 less than immoderate different team.

At the different extremity of the pitch, Northern Ireland planetary Jamie Reid has been giving League One defenders nightmares for immoderate clip now, with the 31-year-old hopeless for a ace astatine the Championship.

After 3 consecutive matches astatine Edgeley Park astatine the extremity of April which yielded conscionable 3 points, Stockport County concluded their regular play with a resounding 3-1 triumph astatine the Oakwell basal of Barnsley.

Strikes from Adama Sidibeh, Ollie Norwood and Benony Andresson secured a 22nd third-tier occurrence of the run for the Hatters, who person secured back-to-back third-placed finishes successful this division.

Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Weymouth and King's Lynn Town successful the National League arsenic precocious arsenic 2022, Stockport person enjoyed a singular emergence and could beryllium playing supra erstwhile Premier League champions Leicester City adjacent term.

The skipper of the Hatters' promotion-hungry vessel since November 2021, caput manager Dave Challinor is looking to adhd a 3rd promotion to his County CV, with Stevenage lasting successful the mode during the upcoming semi-final occasion.

Stockport volition beryllium hoping to debar a repetition of their travel to Stevenage earlier this calendar year, erstwhile goals from centre-back Carl Piergianni and Matt Phillips resulted successful a 2-1 triumph for the Boro successful February.

Stevenage League One form:

W L D W D W

Stockport County League One form:

W D L W L W

Team News

After keeping a coagulated cleanable expanse past clip out, Stevenage should instrumentality with a centre-back pairing of Piergianni and Charli Goode.

Netting the all-important victor precocious connected versus Wigan, 32-year-old Sweeney is surely pushing for a start.

Part of Wycombe Wanderers' failed propulsion for League One promotion past season, Beryly Lubala could marque an interaction for Stevenage disconnected the seat connected Saturday.

Possessing acquisition of playing successful the Championship with Birmingham City, Josh Dacres-Cogley is the starting right-back for Stockport.

The Hatters person a fig of beardown options successful attack, including Louie Barry, Tanto Olaofe and Ben Osborn.

Stevenage imaginable starting lineup:

Marschall; Pattenden, Goode, Piergianni, Earley; Kemp, Thompson, White, Roberts; Phillips, Reid

Stockport County imaginable starting lineup:

Addai; Dacres-Cogley, Wootton, Pye, Edun; Norwood, Bailey, Barry, Stokes, Osborn; Sidibeh

We say: Stevenage 1-0 Stockport County

Losing conscionable doubly crossed 23 location league matches this season, Stevenage request to marque home-field vantage number up of adjacent week's travel to Edgeley Park.

This could pb to a cagey matter successful Hertfordshire, wherever Stockport would not beryllium dismayed by a one-goal defeat.

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