County will be looking to make it an Easter weekend double on Monday afternoon as we host Newport County at Edgeley Park, on a day where a win could take us into the top three for the first time this season.
Jack Stretton’s first goal since returning to the club in January saw County become just the third team since Boxing Day to beat play-off chasing Sutton United, as we further consolidated our place in the top seven. Defeat for Salford City, who now sit just outside the play-off places, saw us open up a four point gap over the Ammies, whilst dropped points for Bradford City, Stevenage and Northampton Town turned Good Friday into a great Friday for Dave Challinor’s side.
Although we remain in fifth place, those results saw us move to within two points of third-place Carlisle United and only three points behind Northampton in second – with County having a superior goal difference over the Cobblers. A first win in five at Edgeley Park could see us climb into those automatic promotion places for the first time this season.
Standing in our way on Monday are Newport, who issued a reminder of what they are capable of on their day last Friday – the Welsh side hammering Northampton 3-0 at Rodney Parade to make it six games unbeaten, lifting them up to 17th in the table. They now sit nine points clear of the relegation zone with a game in hand, and with a tenth successive season in League Two now looking secure.
Things you need to know:
- At the time of writing, there are still a limited amount of tickets are still available for this fixture. We recommend purchasing tickets for this game in advance to avoid disappointment – click here to order yours today!
- County fans can now park at the NCP Car Park at Stockport Train Station for a discounted price of just £3 on a match day, via the ParkPass App! Click here for more information.
- Coming to the game on Monday? Click here to view our Fan Information pack, containing all you need to know ahead of your visit to Edgeley Park.
- Don’t forget to turn up early to Edgeley Park to visit the County Courtyard, which will be opening its doors from 1.00pm! For more information on all the food and drink on offer this week, click here.
- Monday’s Bank Holiday fixture will be available for both domestic and overseas supporters to stream over on Stockport County Live, featuring live commentary with Jon Keighren and Sam Byrne. Click here to buy a pass today!
Since we last met:
The reverse fixture saw County come from behind to inflict a first league defeat on Newport under their new manager, Graham Coughlan, in his fourth game in charge, as second-half goals from Chris Hussey and Paddy Madden secured our first win at Rodney Parade.
That win on the road made it five games unbeaten for Dave Challinor’s side, moving us up into 12th as we continued to recover from our slow start to the campaign. For Newport, play-off contenders for much of the previous season, it was a tenth defeat from their opening 18 league games, leaving them in 19th – just four points clear of the relegation zone.
Both results and performances were starting to improve under former Bristol Rovers boss Coughlan though, and the Exiles went on to lose just two of their next 13 in League Two – a late 1-0 win at Hartlepool United in February moving them 11 points clear of the bottom two.
Consecutive defeats to Sutton and Salford did then follow, but they have since put together another six-game unbeaten run – capped off by that sensational win over promotion-chasing Northampton last Friday. It leaves the Irishman with an impressive record of just five defeats from his 25 league games in charge.
Too many draws has been their problem though – 14 of them in total in League Two, with ten of them coming in the 18 games played since Boxing Day. Only Crewe (15) and Walsall (17) have had more stalemates so far this season, and they have managed consecutive wins just once under Coughlan.
A draw is what County will be desperate to avoid on Monday afternoon, with each of our last four games at Edgeley Park now ending level. With things really tightening up at the top, three points here would be vital in maintaining our push for a return to League One.
One to watch:
The dangerman for Newport County remains their experienced forward and top scorer, Omar Bogle. The 30-year-old was a thorn in County’s side during his time at Solihull Moors and has gone on to have a good career in the Football League at the likes of Cardiff City, Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic.
He made the move to Rodney Parade after a short but successful stint at Hartlepool last season, and has scored 11 times in 39 appearances for the club in League Two. In that win against Northampton, he grabbed himself a brace – his first goals since February, and he has formed an effective partnership in recent weeks with Manchester United loanee Charlie McNeill.
Match Stats:
- County will be looking to complete a Good Friday/Easter Monday double for the first time since 2003, when we won 3-0 at Northampton Town before defeating Huddersfield Town 2-1 at Edgeley Park – with Dave Challinor playing in both games for County.
- Jack Stretton has now scored four goals for County across his two spells, despite starting just three games in that time. His last two starts for the club came over the course of two years, both of them coming on Good Friday, and he has found the back of the net in both of them.
- In 39 previous competitive meetings, County have the historical edge in this fixture – winning 14 to Newport’s 12. We are unbeaten in our last seven games against the Exiles, dating back to 1980.
