Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Accringtonvs.Stockport

sportsmole.co.uk, 1 September 2024, 17:59
League One meets League Two in Tuesday's EFL Trophy contest at The Wham Stadium, as Accrington Stanley and Stockport County square off in Northern section Group A.

Everton Under-21s and Tranmere Rovers are also present in the section, and the Toffees' prospects currently lead the way at the summit thanks to their recent beating of the latter.

Match preview

Progressing from the group stage is hardly ever a problem for Accrington Stanley in the EFL Trophy, but making waves in the tournament beyond the first phase is where the problems lie for the League Two side, who have never lifted the cup in their modest history.

A semi-final exit to Bolton Wanderers in 2022-23 represents the hosts' best-ever finish in this competition, and they were coincidentally also eliminated from last year's EFL Trophy by the Trotters, albeit in the last-16 stage rather than the final four.

Under the wing of John Doolan, who oversaw a rather miserable end to proceedings in 2023-24, Accrington have picked up where they left off at the end of last season and remain winless after five matches in the current term, including a 3-0 EFL Cup beatdown at the hands of Tranmere.

The hosts have also followed a disappointing loss-draw-loss-draw pattern in League Two thus far, suffering chastening defeats away to Doncaster Rovers and Newport County while taking a point off of Harrogate Town and Colchester United on home territory, although they were only a few minutes away from beating the latter at the weekend.

Indeed, Colchester needed an 85th-minute leveller from Ben Goodliffe to cancel out Kelsey Mooney's second goal of the campaign, and Doolan's men at least have a respectable four-game unbeaten sequence to boast at The Wham Stadium, in competitive matches at least.

As Accrington fans wait patiently - or not so patiently - for their maiden win of 2024-25, Stockport have taken to League One football like a duck takes to water since storming to the League Two crown in the 2023-24 campaign, where they amassed a mammoth 92 points.

Indeed, Tuesday's visitors have accrued a brilliant 10 points from the first 12 on offer this term, opening the campaign with three straight successes over Cambridge United, Blackpool and Bristol Rovers, scoring seven goals and shipping none in the process.

Dave Challinor's side lost their 100% record at Mansfield Town on Saturday, though, settling for a 1-1 draw against Nigel Clough's side, although their superior goal difference is keeping them above Wrexham and Birmingham City in first place in the rankings.

Stockport have already suffered one knockout humiliation this season, being subjected to a 6-1 home dismantling against Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup, suggesting that Challinor's side have some way to go if they are to mix with the second-tier big boys next season.

Talk of a promotion push is still premature, though, and Stockport - who have never been past the EFL Trophy semi-finals - now aim to replicate their League Two double over Accrington from last season, where a 3-1 away win preceded a 4-2 home success.

Accrington Stanley form (all competitions):

Stockport County form (all competitions):

Team News

A summer loan arrival from Manchester United, 19-year-old defender Sonny Aljofree is cup-tied for the midweek contest, having taken part in the Red Devils' 3-2 win over Barnsley in their opening match.

The 19-year-old was not involved in the draw with Colchester anyway, having only signed up on deadline day, but another Premier League loanee - Southampton-owned Zach Awe - could man the backline once again.

Regarding Stockport County, Crystal Palace-owned defender Tayo Adaramola - a 20-year-old left-back - will not be seen for at least another few weeks, having sustained a nasty knee injury in pre-season action.

However, the League Two champions did not pick up any new concerns in the draw with Mansfield Town, and Tuesday's game could see another start for Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry, already on three goals for the league season.

Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:

Crellin; O'Brien, Awe, Rawson, Batty; Khumbeni, Conneely; Whalley, Knowles, Costelloe; Mooney

Stockport County possible starting lineup:

Hinchcliffe; Onyango, Horsfall, Mapengu, Touray; Camps, Norwood; Fevrier, Bailey, Barry; Wootton

We say: Accrington Stanley 0-2 Stockport County

Stockport's midfield has a bit of a decimated feel to it right now, but they have taken League One by storm and were scoring for fun in their two games versus Accrington last year.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk At least one of Moldova and Estonia will collect their first points of World Cup 2026 Qualifying when they lock horns at Stadionul Zimbru on Tuesday evening. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Northern Ireland will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run of form to six matches when they take on Sweden in an international friendly at Strawberry Arena in Solna on Tuesday night. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Joint-top of the early Group J table, North Macedonia and Wales will lock horns in Skopje on Tuesday night, both aiming to make a perfect start to World Cup 2026 qualifying. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly locked in a two-way battle with Aston Villa to sign Villarreal left-back Sergi Cardona in the summer transfer window. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool attacker Luis Diaz will supposedly 'not hesitate' to leave Anfield if one particular club makes a firm move for him in the summer transfer window. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Both beaten on the opening matchday, Group J outsiders Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan will seek their first points in World Cup 2026 qualifying when they meet in Vaduz on Tuesday. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are hoping to offload under-performing goalkeeper Andre Onana to one of the financial powerhouses of Saudi Arabia this summer, according to a report. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Georgia vs. Armenia (Sunday, 2.00pm) Battling for a place in League B of the UEFA Nations League, Georgia are set to host Armenia at the Boris Paichadze Stadium for the second leg of their playoff on Sunday. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are said to be locked in a battle for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato with the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly decided to target Stuttgart midfielder Enzo Millot in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Peru can leapfrog Venezuela for eighth in CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying on Tuesday when they travel to Estadio Monumental de Maturin on matchday 14. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly reluctant to extend Diogo Jota's deal at Anfield and are said to be growing increasingly frustrated by the forward. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has told Rasmus Hojlund he aims to celebrate in front of the Denmark striker in Sunday's crunch Nations League tie. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has received a boost as Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha's ban has been extended to four games, meaning he will miss his side's next two fixtures. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Everton Women star Rikke Madsen won't forget her team's 3-0 win over Crystal Palace any time soon. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo is the most lethal goalscorer in history - but Lionel Messi edges him in the never-ending 'greatest of all time' debate. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool may have one hand firmly on the Premier League trophy, but more recent matches have shown that the Reds board cannot rest on their laurels during the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk After a disappointing start to World Cup qualifying, Romania will look to get their campaign up and running when they visit Serravalle to face minnows San Marino on Monday night. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two nations who made the perfect start to World Cup qualifying meet in Zenica on Monday night when Bosnia-Herzegovina host Cyprus. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly among three Premier League teams to have taken an interest in signing Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney this summer. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly received a significant boost in their efforts to sign Rayan Cherki, whom Lyon have decided to sell in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has reportedly made a final decision on whether he plans to re-integrate Marcus Rashford into his squad this summer. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Manchester United have been told to seek wisdom from darts sensation Luke Littler over how to handle high-pressure situations. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Peter Crouch has scored his first goals for Liverpool in nearly 17 years and he made sure to celebrate accordingly. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's reported capacity to purchase a new striker in the summer transfer window is in excess of £100m due to their good financial health. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle United will have a special Carabao Cup trophy parade next weekend after ending 70 years of hurt. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle United will finally get their trophy-winning party in front the Toon Army. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are set to be active during this summer's transfer window, as the recently-appointed Ruben Amorim looks to bring in players capable of thriving in his 3-4-3 system. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate reportedly has no release clause in his current contract amidst interest from Real Madrid in his signature.