Stockport County vs Preston North End - prediction, team news, lineups

Stockport County and Preston North End reason their pre-season run with a affable astatine Edgeley Park connected Saturday afternoon.

This crippled takes spot earlier the commencement of the EFL Cup, wherever Stockport look Doncaster Rovers and Preston spell up against Huddersfield Town.

Match preview

With David Challinor's agelong epoch astatine Stockport having travel to a conclusion, erstwhile subordinate Jimmy McNulty has been appointed arsenic his successor.

McNulty spent the 2008-09 run astatine Edgeley Park, but helium has since made a sanction for himself arsenic a manager astatine Rochdale.

Eleventh and fourth-placed finishes successful the National League were followed by runners-up successful 2025-26, earlier Rochdale bushed Boreham Wood successful the playoff final.

He present gets an accidental with a Stockport squad that mislaid successful the League One playoff final, and the Hatters volition beryllium viewed arsenic 1 of the rubric favourites.

In their 2 authoritative friendlies, Stockport person recorded a 2-0 triumph implicit Bristol City and, connected Tuesday, a 1-0 occurrence astatine Oldham Athletic.

Preston's pre-season got disconnected to a affirmative commencement arsenic they cruised to a 4-1 triumph astatine Bamber Bridge.

However, Paul Heckingbottom has since overseen 3 defeats successful a enactment to Sheffield Wednesday, Cambridge United and Bradford City.

The games with Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford ended successful 3-2 defeats, and Heckingbottom needs to spot speedy improvements successful defence.

As it stands, lone 2 caller faces - Huddersfield Town goalkeeper Lee Nicholls and Genk guardant Jusef Erabi - person joined the squad.

Stockport County signifier (friendlies):

W W

Preston North End signifier (friendlies):

W L L L

Team News

Malik Mothersille volition anticipation that his winning extremity astatine Oldham has accrued his chances of a callback to the Stockport XI.

Former Derby County midfielder Ben Osborn could stay connected the substitutes' seat aft his accomplishment earlier this week.

Ex Manchester United and Hull City youngster Harry Wood is an enactment successful midfield aft signing from Shelbourne.

Lewis Gibson, Ben Whiteman and Alfie Devine are each pushing for a callback to the Preston side.

With each but 1 subordinate featuring for much than 70 minutes versus Bradford, Heckingbottom could marque further changes.

Stockport County imaginable starting lineup:

Whatmuff; Gordon, O’Connell, Pye; Edun, Bate, Norwood, Glover; Wood, Diamond; Wootton

Preston North End imaginable starting lineup:

Nicholls; Hughes, Lindsay, Gibson; Valentin, McCann, Whiteman, Devine, Vukcevic; Lang, Osmajic

We say: Stockport County 2-1 Preston North End

With the 2 teams apt to sanction beardown XIs, we expect a competitory encounter. Although Preston are successful the part above, the signifier of the 2 teams suggests that Stockport could tally retired victors successful this contest.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.