Form
Stockport finished third in League One last season in their first season back in the third tier, five points behind second-placed Wrexham. They faced Leyton Orient in the playoff semi-finals but missed
out on a place in the final on penalties after drawing 3-3 on aggregate.
County are having another strong season and currently sit fourth in the league, six points off the automatic-promotion places. Their recent form has been mixed, having seen two wins, one draw and two losses in their last five games.
Their away form has been stronger than their home form, picking up 21 of their 39 points on the road. They come into this weekend’s game off the back of a 0-0 draw away to Northampton Town on New Year’s Day.
The two sides faced each other for the first time this season at the end of September, playing out a 1-1 draw at Edgeley Park. Jack Marriott scored a 72nd-minute equaliser, cancelling out Kyle Wootton’s first-half strike.
The boss
Dave Challinor: Challinor became Stockport manager in November 2021, taking over from Simon Rusk, who was sacked after only nine months in charge.
Challinor had a 17-year career as a player and was a centre-back who represented the likes of Tranmere Rovers, Stockport County and Bury. Challinor ended his career with Colwyn Bay but became their player-manager in 2010.
He went on to manage AFC Fylde, where he spent eight years, securing promotion to the National League North in 2014 and then to the National League in 2017. He guided the side to the National League playoffs in 2018 and 2019 and won the FA Trophy in 2019.
Challinor then managed Hartlepool, where he spent two seasons, guiding them back to the Football League via the playoffs in 2021. He joined Stockport the following season and returned County to the Football League, after finishing as National League champions.
He led the side to the playoff final in their first season back in the Football League, but lost to Carlisle United. However, Challinor secured promotion back to the third tier the following season, with the Hatters finishing as League Two champions, before leading them to an impressive third-placed finish in League One last season.
The 50-year-old likes his sides to play with high intensity while dominating possession.
Team news and predicted lineup
Former Royal Oliver Norwood has recently returned from injury so is likely to start against one of his former clubs. Midfielder Lewis Bate is expected to miss out as he continues to recover from injury.
Hinchliffe, Olowu, Hills, Pye, O’Keefe, Osborn, Norwood, Moxon, Mothersille, Diamond, Wootton
Key player
19. Kyle Wootton: Forward Wootton signed for Stockport in June 2022 from Notts County.
He started his career in the youth team at Scunthorpe United and signed his first pro deal with the club in 2014, making his debut that year in a League Cup game against Reading. He had a number of loan spells while at Scunthorpe and ended up making 78 appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals.
Wootton joined Notts County on loan at the start of 2019/20 and the deal was made permanent in the January of that season. He stayed at County for almost three years, scoring 52 goals for the club.
Since joining Stockport in 2022 the 29-year-old has 50 goals to his name, with nine of those coming this season, making him the club’s top scorer. Wootton is a striker who, standing at 6 foot 3, is strong in the air.
One to watch
15. Brad Hills: Defender Hills joined Stockport on a permanent deal in August last year, following a successful loan spell with the club the previous season.
He started his career in the youth setup at Norwich City and had a loan spell at Accrington Stanley before making his debut for the Canaries in 2024. Hills made another four appearances for Norwich before joining Stockport on loan for the second half of last season.
The 21-year-old has made 33 appearances for County in total and has one goal to his name. He has also been capped by the England under-20 side and has four Young Lions caps to his name.
Hills is a ball-playing centre-back who can also play as a full-back when required.
