Preview: Stockport County vs. Grimsby Town - prediction, team news, lineups

It is a meeting between the two promoted sides from the National League last season, with neither side having been able to establish themselves in League Two so far.

Match preview

Promoted as champions of the National League last term, it has not been the return to EFL football that Stockport would have hoped for, with the Hatters boasting just three wins from their opening 12 matches.

Tipped among the favourites to challenge for promotion in League Two before the campaign kicked off, a shaky start had Dave Challinor's side struggling towards the bottom of the table.

Last weekend's win against high-flying Bradford City has been mooted as a potential turning point for the Greater Manchester outfit, but only time will tell if Challinor's men can use the victory as a catalyst for better results.

Despite their poor start, Stockport remain among the favourites for a top-seven finish in League Two, with Saturday's clash the perfect opportunity to register their first back-to-back league wins of the campaign.

Much like Stockport, Grimsby also earned promotion back to League Two last season, triumphing in extra time against Solihull Moors in the National League playoff final.

While they may enter Saturday's clash five places and seven points ahead of Stockport, Grimsby have struggled for form in recent weeks, winning one of their last four outings.

That victory came at home to Crawley Town last weekend, which what was the Mariners first triumph at home all season.

Ranked in the bottom five for home form this term, Grimsby have been reliant on their performances on the road so far, picking up 13 of their 19 points away from Blundell Park.

Such strong form on the road will likely inspire the Mariners faithful, not least because they come up against a Stockport side they have not lost to in the league since August 2012.

Unbeaten in each of their league meetings with Stockport last season, Grimsby travel to Stockport with the stronger head-to-head record, with County's only victory over the Mariners in over a decade coming in the FA Trophy.

In fact, Stockport's EFL form over Grimsby makes for even worse reading, as the Hatters last took three points against the Lincolnshire outfit in December 2006 - a timespan of just under 16 years.

Stockport County League Two form:

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Stockport County form (all competitions):

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Grimsby Town League Two form:

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Grimsby Town form (all competitions):

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Team News

Having seen red earlier in the campaign, Stockport captain Paddy Madden continued his resurgence with another goal last weekend during the win against Bradford.

He will be joined in attack by Kyle Wootton, whose presence at the top of the Stockport attack has troubled defences in recent weeks.

Myles Hippolyte returned to the County side for the Bradford victory and he will likely be paired with Antoni Sarcevic in midfield.

As for Grimsby, Ryan Taylor was on target in the 3-0 triumph over Crawley last time out, with the 34-year-old likely to lead the line once more.

Fellow goalscorer Gavan Holohan will retain his place in midfield and will likely be partnered by Harry Clifton in the centre of the park.

Max Crocombe kept a clean sheet on Saturday and the Grimsby goalkeeper will be eyeing up back-to-back shutouts for the first time since mid-August.

Stockport County possible starting lineup:

Jaros; Kitching, Johnson, Horsfall, Collar; Croasdale, Camps; Hippolyte, Sarcevic; Madden, Wootton

Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:

Crocombe; Driscoll-Glennon, Smith, Waterfall, Efete; Clifton, Holohan; Khan, Drew; Kiernan, Taylor

We say: Stockport County 2-0 Grimsby Town

Given their form this season, it is difficult to know what to expect from Stockport, with inconsistency having plagued the Hatters' campaign so far.

Being said, last weekend's triumph over Bradford could be the catalyst that they have been looking for and Stockport will be keen to back it up with another win this weekend.

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