Stockportvs.Mansfield

Stockport drew 1-1 with second-placed Birmingham City on Wednesday, and the result left them one place and one point from the promotion playoff spots in seventh with 38 points, while the visitors are ninth with 34 points and beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 on January 1.

Match preview

The hosts trailed after five minutes against big-spenders Birmingham but restricted them to just two big chances throughout the game and eventually netted a 78th-minute equaliser.

Head coach Dave Challinor was thrilled with his players after the full-time whistle, telling reporters: "I'm delighted with our performance against, in my opinion, the best team in the league.

"Today was a massive test of our belief, seeing what we could do in the game. From the off we probably lacked a little bit there and doubted ourselves, and I said if you're going to challenge or change people's beliefs then you have to go and be positive, and we battled and tackled, and made people think we're up for it. We should have won the game."

Challinor's side have scored 36 goals and conceded on 25 occasions in the third tier, and these are the division's joint fifth-best offensive and joint ninth-best defensive records.

The Hatters have drawn their last two games 1-1 and have lost three, drawn two and won one of their past six matches, and it should be noted that they drew 1-1 with Mansfield in the league on August 31.

Stockport's form at home is strong considering they have triumphed in four of their six most recent outings, succumbing to defeat in just one game in that time.

Opponents Mansfield were under pressure for much of the second half against Bolton having had their two-goal lead halved in the 40th minute, but while they produced no shots on target after the interval they restricted Bolton to just one shot on target themselves.

Long-term manager Nigel Clough admitted that his team were forced to defend for longer than he would have liked, but also praised his players' commitment, saying: "We had to sit in and defend a bit second half which is not generally how we like to do it. But we didn't have much choice today. Bolton are exceptionally good going forward."

The visitors have played two games fewer than their hosts and have scored six fewer times and conceded the same number of goals in the league.

Mansfield are in good form having won three of their last four matches, though they lost five, drew one and won just one of the prior seven games.

Clough's side have been poor away from home, with the club suffering four defeats, being held to one stalemate and emerging triumphant in just two of their seven most recent fixtures on the road.

Stockport County League One form:

W

L

W

L

D

D

Stockport County form (all competitions):

L

L

W

L

D

D

Mansfield Town League One form:

L

D

W

W

L

W

Team News

Stockport could name a similar starting XI to the team that drew with Birmingham, with Callum Connolly and Ethan Pye likely to retain their places in defence, though Kyle Knoyle could have to come in for Jay Mingi, who was taken off before half time against Birmingham.

Oliver Norwood and Odin Bailey will almost certainly feature in midfield either side of wing-backs Macauley Southam and Ibou Touray.

Forward Tanto Olaofe will miss out due to injury, and in his absence striker Kyle Wooten could be flanked by Will Collar and Jack Diamond.

Mansfield started Alfie Kilgour, Adedeji Oshilaja and Baily Cargill in a back three in front of goalkeeper Christy Pym against Bolton, and they could do so again on Saturday.

In midfield, Clough may start Louis Reed in a holding midfield role alongside Hiram Boateng and Stephen Quinn in the middle of the pitch.

Lee Gregory scored against Bolton last time out, and he is likely to be joined in a front two by Rhys Oates.

Stockport County possible starting lineup:

Hinchliffe; Knoyle, Connolly, Pye; Southam, Norwood, Bailey, Touray; Collar, Diamond; Wootton

Mansfield Town possible starting lineup:

Pym; Kilgour, Oshilaja, Cargill; Bowery, Boateng, Reed, Quinn, McLaughlin; Gregory, Oates

We say: Stockport County 1-1 Mansfield Town

Stockport will be confident of at least avoiding defeat considering their record at home in recent weeks has been strong.

Written by

Lewis Nolan

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