County get their Bristol Street Motors Trophy campaign underway on Tuesday night, as we travel to League Two outfit, Accrington Stanley for our group stage opener.
County, still unbeaten in League One after Saturday’s 1-1 draw away at Mansfield Town, will be looking to reach the knock-out stages of the competition for the second consecutive season after reaching the second round last year.
Opponents Accrington are currently 22nd in League Two after a 1-1 draw at home to Colchester on Saturday left them two points from their opening four games. Stanley reached the third round of the competition last season, before losing out to Bolton Wanderers.
The other two opponents in County’s group, Tranmere Rovers and Everton U21s, faced each other two weeks ago, as Everton came from behind to win 3-1 at Prenton Park – with £25 million striker Beto scoring twice for the Toffees.
The top two from each group will qualify for the next round – in the event of a draw after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout will take place, with the winner gaining an additional point.
Our opponents:
It was a day to remember when County last faced Accrington Stanley just five months ago, as Dave Challinor’s side lifted the League Two title shortly after beating the Reds 4-2 at an emotional Edgeley Park.
Whilst the party was well underway in SK3, Accrington were left to rue a 21st league defeat of the season, one that left them sitting 18th in League Two. A 4-1 win over Tranmere Rovers on the final day of the campaign lifted them to 17th, in their first season back in the fourth tier following relegation in 2023.
Last season marked the end of an era at the Wham Stadium, after long-serving manager John Coleman was sacked by the Club in March. The 61-year-old first took charge of Stanley back in 1999, taking charge of over 1,000 games across two spells at the Club and taking them from non-league up into League One.
First-Team Coach, John Doolan was placed in interim charge, taking four points from three games before being given the job on a permanent basis. In the remaining eight games of the campaign, Stanley won two, drew one and lost five.
The Club have moved to bring in 13 players over the Summer transfer window, six of them coming in on loan. Amongst those additions, Tyler Walton and Kelsey Mooney, plucked from Southport and Boston United in the National League North, have caught the eye with two goals each in Stanley’s four league outings.
The Reds are still looking for their first win of the campaign though, after five games in league and cup. They have suffered heavy defeats at Doncaster Rovers, Tranmere Rovers and Newport County so far, but are unbeaten at home – claiming draws against Harrogate Town and Colchester United.
Match Stats:
- Neither side has ever won this competition, although County have finished as runners-up twice in 1992 and 1993.
- County have the historical advantage in this fixture, winning 33 of the 70 previous meetings between the two teams – including a league double over the Reds last season. Accrington, by comparison, have won 22.
- Ethan Pye’s next appearance for Stockport County will be his 50th for the Club.
