County can take another big step towards a place in League One on Tuesday night when we take on promotion rivals Crewe Alexandra, in a massive game under the lights at Edgeley Park.
A third win in four league games was secured last time out away at Grimsby, thanks to first-half goals from Antoni Sarcevic, Tanto Olaofe and Lewis Cass in a dominant display from Dave Challinor’s side. Our gap at the top of the table remains four points following Mansfield’s win at Forest Green Rovers, but defeats elsewhere for Wrexham and Barrow on Saturday mean we’re now eight points clear of fourth place with a game in hand still to play.
Those other results meant that Crewe’s 1-0 win over Crawley Town, secured through a goal from Rio Adebisi on the hour mark, moved Lee Bell’s side into the top three for the first time since October. The Railwaymen have bounced back from a disappointing December to put them right back in the mix for automatic promotion, as they look to close the gap on County at the top to just four points.
There is a full list of fixtures due to be played elsewhere in League Two on Tuesday night too, as Mansfield host in-form Harrogate Town, Barrow host basement side Forest Green Rovers, Wrexham go to Sutton and high-flying MK Dons take on former boss Graham Alexander at Bradford City.
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 6.00pm! For more information on all the food and drink on offer this week, click here.
- Coming to the game on Tuesday? Click here to view our Fan Information pack, containing all you need to know ahead of your visit to Edgeley Park.
- This midweek fixture will be available for all supporters to stream over on Stockport County Live, featuring live commentary from Jon Keighren and Sam Byrne. Click here to purchase your video match passes today.
Since we last met:
It was also 1st v 3rd the last time these two sides went head-to-head in League Two back in October, as County put in one of their best performances of the season to emerge with a 2-0 win at the Mornflake Stadium through goals from Kyle Wootton and Tanto Olaofe.
It was a ninth straight league win for the Hatters that night, keeping us two points clear of Notts County at the top of the table, whilst for Crewe a first home defeat of the season saw them slip down to fifth place.
Lee Bell’s impressive young side initially bounced back impressively from that defeat, winning their next three league games against Harrogate Town, Notts County and Doncaster Rovers, as well as knocking League One high-flyers Derby County out of the FA Cup in a First Round Replay.
Their promotion ambitions looked to have hit the brakes over December though, as they finished 2023 outside of the play-off places after a run of six league games without a win, which included defeats to Grimsby, Barrow and Walsall.
The New Year brought with it an opportunity to reset and go again, and the Railwaymen certainly did just that after embarking on a run of four straight wins, which included crucial, superb victories away at fellow promotion chasers Mansfield and Barrow.
Manager Lee Bell, in his first full season in management, has had to deal with the loss of key players last month in defender Connor O’Riordan, sold to Blackburn Rovers, and midfielder Joe White, who has returned to parent club Newcastle United.
Nevertheless, the 41-year-old has impressively guided his side through a difficult fixture list in recent weeks, and despite defeat at home to Salford and a draw away at Tranmere, that win against Crawley at the weekend has them firmly in the race for automatic promotion.
Another away win at a promotion rival here will have plenty believing that a return to League One after two years away is a very realistic possibility.
Match Stats:
- Tuesday night will be the 155th competitive meeting between these historic Cheshire rivals. County have had the head-to-head advantage down the years, winning 67 of those encounters to Crewe’s 52.
- County have lost only one of the last eight meetings with Crewe – a 2-0 defeat in April 2011 that saw the club’s relegation from the EFL confirmed. Our last home defeat to the Railwaymen came as far back as October 2002.
- The Hatters have already matched their goal tally for the whole of last season in League Two, scoring 65 times so far with 16 games left to play. The top scorers in the entire division last season were Salford City and Mansfield Town, who both finished on 72 goals.
- After a run of only two goals in 14 games in all competitions, Tanto Olaofe now has three in his last four and 16 in the league this season. He is looking to become the first County player to score 20 goals in an EFL season since Luke Beckett managed 27 in the 2002/03 campaign.
