County will be looking to continue their perfect start to life back in League One at the weekend, as we host Bristol Rovers in a 12.30pm kick-off at Edgeley Park.
An unforgettable afternoon in Blackpool last Saturday saw County storm to a 3-0 win in front of almost 4,000 travelling supporters, with well-taken goals from Louie Barry, Jayden Fevrier and Tanto Olaofe sending us top of the early League One table.
It’s now two wins from two for Dave Challinor’s side, with five goals scored and none conceded, as we became the first visiting side to win at Bloomfield Road in the league since November. On Saturday, we will be looking to become the first County team to win the first three games in an EFL season since our 1976/77 side under Eddie Quigley.
Standing in our way at Edgeley Park on Saturday is Bristol Rovers, who themselves have yet to concede a goal in League One so far. The Gas claimed a credible 0-0 draw away at recently relegated Rotherham in their last league outing, leaving them tenth with four points from their first two games.
Things you need to know:
- Tickets in the Vitality Railway End are still available for this fixture, with all other stands now sold out! Click here to order yours today!
- As part of our County Collective programme, we aim to make Edgeley Park a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone who visits. Click here to see a full list of new initiatives that have been introduced at the ground this year!
- Don’t forget to turn up early to Edgeley Park to visit the County Courtyard, which will be opening its doors from 10.30am! For more information on all the food and drink on offer this week, click here.
- Coming to the game on Saturday? Click here to view our Fan Information pack, containing all you need to know ahead of your visit to Edgeley Park.
- Saturday’s game will be available for overseas supporters to stream over on Stockport County Live, featuring live commentary from Jon Keighren and Sam Byrne. Audio commentary will also be available for supporters based in the UK. Click here to purchase your video and audio match passes today.
Our opponents:
Bristol Rovers are now heading into their third consecutive season at this level, following promotion in the most remarkable of circumstances under Joey Barton in 2022.
Rovers went into the final day of that season sat in 4th, trailing Northampton Town on goal difference and needing to better their result by five clear goals to secure the third automatic promotion place.
Northampton would go on to win their game 3-1, with Fraser Horsfall on the scoresheet for them that day, but a remarkable second-half display saw The Gas destroy already relegated Scunthorpe 7-0 to secure a return to League One.
In their first season following promotion, the Club finished 17th under Barton, a comfortable eight points clear of the relegation zone.
A slow start to the following campaign, however, saw them win just four of their opening 13 league games, leading them to part company with the former Fleetwood Town boss after three years in charge at The Memorial Stadium. He departed with Rovers in 16th place, five points above the bottom four.
First-team coach, Andy Mangan, now working under Dave Challinor at County, was placed in interim charge for a month, winning four and losing only one of his seven games in charge to take them up to 11th.
36 days on from Barton’s departure, the Club moved to appoint former Exeter City and Rotherham United boss Matt Taylor on a three-and-a-half year deal. Taylor, 42, had guided Exeter to promotion from League Two in 2022 after a second-place finish, but was dismissed by Rotherham just three weeks prior to taking the Rovers job.
He enjoyed a good start to life at The Memorial Stadium too, with three wins from his first five league games in charge – including 2-1 wins away at promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers and at home to eventual Champions, Portsmouth. They ended 2023 in ninth place, nine points off a play-off spot.
Their form quickly nosedived heading into the New Year, hampered by injuries as well as the loss of previous top scorer, Aaron Collins, who was sold to Bolton Wanderers. The Welshman had scored 16 times in League One in the previous season, and despite not hitting those same heights in the first half of the campaign, remained a key figure at The Memorial Stadium.
Without him, Taylor’s side lost seven of their first ten league outings in 2024 to slip down the league table, and through March and April then went on a club-record seven-game run without scoring a single goal.
At the other end of the pitch Rovers were porous, with only four sides conceding more than their 68 goals in League One last season. Relegation was never really a concern though, thanks mainly to the points built up in the first half of the season, and back-to-back wins to end the campaign saw them eventually finish in 15th place, four points and two places better off than the previous year.
There has been a significant turnover of players over the Summer, as Taylor looks to put his own stamp on things for the new season. Walsall’s Isaac Hutchinson has added quality to the midfield after an impressive season in League Two, whilst Taylor Moore and Clinton Mola have impressed early on in Rovers’ back three.
Pleasingly for the manager after their defensive woes last season, The Gas have started the new campaign well with two clean sheets in the league, scoring late to beat Northampton Town on the opening day before holding Rotherham to a draw last weekend. Those results have provided a solid foundation for the Club to build on, as they visit Edgeley Park looking to leapfrog County in the league table.
Match Stats:
- Saturday will be the first meeting between the two sides since the 2009/10 season, when Bristol Rovers completed a league double over County in League One.
- The two sides have met 25 times previously in all competitions, with County winning nine of the previous encounters to Bristol Rovers’ 11.
- Louie Barry will look to become the first County player to score in the first three games of an EFL season since Luke Beckett at the start of the 2004/05 campaign.
- Jayden Fevrier has now registered a goal and an assist in just 39 minutes of league action so far this season.
