Stockportvs.AFC Wimbledon

The Hatters moved into first place thanks to a 3-0 win over Forest Green Rovers, while the Wombles are eighth following a 1-1 draw with Harrogate Town.

Match preview

Good Friday turned out to be a great Friday for the Greater Manchester club, as they took over the top spot in League Two with a second successive convincing triumph.

Dave Challinor has his side well positioned for a second promotion in three seasons, currently a point above Wrexham and Mansfield Town for first and four points clear of MK Dons in the race for one of the top three automatic promotional spots.

With seven matches remaining in the domestic campaign, Stockport also have the luxury of having at least one game in hand on the three sides nearest to them in the title race.

Heading into this encounter, Stockport are unbeaten in three successive domestic affairs at Edgeley Park, without conceding a goal over that stretch, while their 78 goals domestically this season are the most this club have scored in a single EFL campaign since 1992-93 (81).

The Hatters boast a 100% record when scoring multiple goals at home in this competition, and they have only dropped points in three domestic affairs all season when doing so, home or away.

Monday will only be the second time they host Wimbledon at Edgeley Park in a League Two fixture, with Stockport capturing the only previous home game against them by a 1-0 score last season.

In recent weeks, Wimbledon have neither helped nor hurt their chances of promotion, coming away with a second successive 1-1 draw on Friday.

Johnnie Jackson's men are winless in their last three League Two fixtures and have scored a goal or fewer in each of those encounters.

Currently 14 points behind Wrexham and Mansfield Town with five league fixtures remaining, an automatic promotional place is unlikely, though they are just a single point behind Gillingham for the final playoff spot.

Three of their final five matches in this competition will take place away from home, where the Dons have four points in their last two games.

Wimbledon have never lost a domestic fixture away from home this season when leading at the half, though they have dropped four points when scoring first in this competition as the visitors.

They have only beaten Stockport once in this competition before, claiming a 1-0 triumph at home last season while squandering a 1-0 half-time advantage at Plough Lane earlier in this campaign, losing that contest by a 2-1 score.

Stockport County League Two form:

D

W

D

D

W

W

AFC Wimbledon League Two form:

D

W

W

L

D

D

Team News

Louie Barry and Will Collar missed the previous Stockport County fixture with hamstring strains, with the former back training with the team and Challinor estimating a return for the Aston Villa loanee within the next few weeks.

Kyle Knoyle saw his first league action since sustaining a severe head injury on New Year's Day in their defeat to Mansfield Town (2-0), playing just over an hour versus Forest Green, while Antoni Sarcevic was back on the field after missing their match with MK Dons due to a minor knock, replacing captain Paddy Madden for the final 20 minutes on Friday.

Callum Camps and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans each scored for a second match running, with their other strike coming courtesy of Rico Richards, his first since joining them on loan from Aston Villa in January.

Ryan Johnson and Joe Lewis were back in the lineup for the Dons on Friday, having previously missed time with an ankle and knee injury respectively.

Omar Bugiel returned to the fold after missing their 1-1 draw versus Harrogate Town due to the international break, while Ronan Curtis will be suspended for this match, having been red-carded a few minutes after scoring on Friday.

Josh Davison put Wimbledon in the lead in their previous meeting with Stockport last September, only for his side to concede twice in the second half.

Stockport County possible starting lineup:

Hinchliffe; Knoyle, Horsfall, Pye, Touray; Lemonheigh-Evans, Sarcevic, Camps; Richards; Olaofe, Madden

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:

Bass; Balmer, O'Toole, Johnson; Neufville, Reeves, Ball, Currie; Tilley, Gordon; Davison

We say: Stockport County 2-0 AFC Wimbledon

Stockport County ended the month of March in sparkling form, looking strong across the board in their last two convincing triumphs.

Therefore, we believe they will have the upper hand against a Wimbledon side that have not been quite as consistent over 90 minutes and are not nearly as sharp in front of goal as the league leaders.

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