Two sides at opposing ends of the League One table will come together at Edgeley Park on Tuesday evening when Stockport County host Northampton Town.
The hosts are ninth in the division with 17 points from 10 outings, while the visitors are 19th in the standings with 11 points from their first 10 games.
Match preview
Stockport have enjoyed a phenomenal rise up the English football pyramid in recent seasons, climbing from the National League North in 2018-19 to competing in the top half of League One at the beginning of 2024-25.
They have won three league titles on their journey to the third division, lifting the National League North title in 2018-19, the National League title in 2021-22 and, most recently, the League Two title in 2023-24.
The Hatters, alongside fellow promoted sides Wrexham and Mansfield Town, find themselves in an early battle for the promotion places, with Stockport currently trailing sixth-placed Huddersfield by just a point.
Stockport had started the season unbeaten in their first five league fixtures, with three wins and two draws, but a 4-1 loss to Leyton Orient started a slight downturn in form.
Dave Challinor's men have since drawn three and won one, causing them to slip slightly down the table, but the manager will be pleased with their start to the campaign nonetheless.
Aiming to return to winning ways, Challinor's outfit will now face a struggling Northampton side that are sitting just ahead of the relegation zone heading into this one.
Northampton, who were promoted just ahead of Stockport in third place from League Two in 2022-23, finished comfortably in the middle of the League One table last campaign, placing 14th with 60 points, equally 16 points from the drop zone and the playoff places.
With sights set on surviving for yet another year in the third tier, Northampton have had a slightly underwhelming start to the 2024-25 season, sitting 19th in the table with 11 points, just three ahead of the relegation places.
They kickstarted the campaign with a defeat, followed by a win and two draws, but were unable to build on that beginning, suffering four defeats in the following five outings.
However, a win against Notts County in the EFL Trophy brought an end to a three-game losing streak, and they have subsequently defeated Leyton Orient to win back-to-back games for the first time this term.
Jon Brady, manager since February 2021, will now be aiming to record three successive wins when they face Stockport on Tuesday, a side they have failed to beat at Edgeley Park in any of the last three visits.
Team News
Will Collar, Tyler Onyango, Ryan Rydel, Kyle Knoyle and Macauley Southam-Hales are all unlikely to feature for the hosts due to ongoing injury issues.
Fraser Horsfall has been ruled out of Tuesday's fixture after the defender received a red card for an accumulation of yellow cards in the 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic last time out.
Louie Barry scored in that game to take his tally to seven for the season, six in the league, and the striker is sure to keep his place in the team here.
The visitors are dealing with a lengthy injury list that includes Patrick Brough, Ali Koiki, Luke Mbete, Harvey Lintott, Callum Morton, Jordan Willis and Aaron McGowan.
After winning their second consecutive match across all competitions with a triumph over Leyton Orient last time out, Brady could name the same starting team here.
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Addai; Mingi, Fevrier, Pye; Connolly, Norwood, Bate, Touray; Powell; Wootton, Barry
Northampton Town possible starting lineup:
Burge; Odimayo, Guthrie, Baldwin, Guinness-Walker; McGeehan, Sowerby; Hoskins, Fox, Pinnock; Eaves
We say: Stockport County 2-1 Northampton Town
Stockport's form may have dipped slightly heading into this game, while Northampton's has improved, but the hosts, with the advantage of playing at home, should still be strong enough to secure the win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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