Alex Revell's Stevenage are set to host Dave Challinor's promotion-chasing Stockport County at Lamex Stadium on Saturday in League One.
The Boro will be looking to make it three wins in a row this weekend, while the Hatters will be hoping to get back to winning ways after being eliminated from the EFL Trophy last time out.
Match preview
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Three points above the relegation zone, Stevenage are currently 14th in League One, having picked up 22 points from their 17 matches so far.
Revell's side have recorded consecutive wins in their last two games, beating league rivals Northampton Town 2-0 on December 3 and thrashing relegation-threatened Burton Albion 4-0 on the road in Tuesday's EFL Trophy tie.
Those wins represent the first time that the Boro have managed to win back-to-back matches since the end of September and start of October, when they bested Charlton Athletic and emerged 1-0 victors against high-flying Wrexham.
It is also notable that Stevenage have kept consecutive clean sheets for the first time since the same period, though only Wrexham have bettered their 16 goals conceded this season in League One.
This defensive resilience will be crucial for Revell's side on Saturday given that the Boro have contrastingly scored the fewest of any side in the division, while the Hatters have netted the fourth-largest tally.
![Dave Challinor manager of Stockport County during the Pre-season friendly match Stockport County vs Blackburn Rovers at Edgeley Park Stadium, Stockport, United Kingdom, August 2, 2024 [on August 11, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/dave-challinor.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Dave Challinor manager of Stockport County during the Pre-season friendly match Stockport County vs Blackburn Rovers at Edgeley Park Stadium, Stockport, United Kingdom, August 2, 2024 [on August 11, 2024]")
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Meanwhile, Challinor's Stockport are currently fifth and in the playoff spots after accumulating 33 points from 19 matches this term.
County have won four of their last five league matches, though they did lose 3-2 in their most recent game against League Two Bradford City in the EFL Trophy.
In that cup tie, the Hatters went 2-0 down at home by the 15th minute, and despite the fact that Oliver Norwood and Odin Bailey levelled the score before half time, the League One side were unable to recover when Bradford's Calum Kavanagh netted the winner in the second period.
As disappointing as the defeat was to boss Challinor, he may be even more troubled by a performance that saw his team control possession yet produce just three shots on target compared to the 10 recorded by their lower-tier opposition.
On Saturday, Stockport will need to rediscover their offensive prowess if they are to have any chance of breaching Stevenage's strong defence and pick up all three points in their hunt for promotion.
Team News
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Stevenage boss Revell mentioned after his side's victory in the EFL Trophy that his team thrive on competition for places, and though long-term absentees Dan Sweeney and Jake Forster-Caskey remain sidelined, centre-back Charlie Goode may return in the new year.
Less positively, Jake Young was withdrawn with an injury in midweek, and may be replaced in the XI by Ken Aboh.
Challinor's Hatters have agreed a deal to sign young striker Benony Breki Andresson in January amidst talk that Aston Villa want loanee striker Louie Barry to join a Championship side this winter.
In the meantime, the Villa forward, who netted against Exeter City last week and was rested against Bradford, can be expected to start with Kyle Wootton and Will Collar in the forward line this weekend.
Also, Tayo Adaramola was taken off with an injury in the latter stages of Stockport's midweek match and was replaced by Lewis Bate, who will likely play alongside Callum Camps in the middle of the park on Saturday.
Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Mahoney; James-Wildin, Thompson, Piergianni, Butler; Thompson, White; List, Kemp, Aboh; Reid
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchcliffe; Connolly, Horsfall, Pye; Mingi, Camps, Bate, Touray; Collar, Wootton, Barry
We say: Stevenage 1-1 Stockport County
Though Stockport County have not drawn any of their last 12 matches, they may find themselves frustrated by Stevenage's defence.
Additionally, given Stevenage are the lowest scorers in the division, Saturday's game is unlikely to be a high scoring affair and could end in a stalemate.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
