County will be looking to bounce back from the unfamiliar feeling of defeat this Tuesday, as we host Salford City at a near sell-out Edgeley Park.
Saturday saw our club record 12-game winning run in League Two finally come to an end, as Newport County ran out 2-1 winners at Rodney Parade on a rare off-day for Dave Challinor’s side.
Defeats elsewhere for Mansfield Town and Notts County mean we still hold a five-point lead at the top of League Two, with Wrexham climbing to second after their 6-0 win over Morecambe. Wins for Crewe Alexandra and Barrow AFC have also moved them to the edge of the automatic promotion places.
Opponents Salford were also beaten at the weekend, throwing away a 2-1 half-time lead to lose 4-2 at home to MK Dons. It marks a third straight league defeat for the Ammies that leaves them in 17th place – six points above the relegation zone and eight points off a play-off place.
Things you need to know:
- Tickets in the Together Stand are still available for this fixture, with the Cheadle End and Danny Bergara Stand now sold out! Click here to order yours today!
- 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 watch over on Stockport County Live, featuring live match commentary from Jon Keighren and Sam Byrne. Click here to purchase your video match passes today.
Our Opponents:
Tuesday sees Salford City return to Edgeley Park for the first time since that epic play-off semi-final second-leg last season, that saw County emerge victorious on penalties to book a place at Wembley.
It was a cruel end to what was a successful first season in charge for manager Neil Wood, who guided the Ammies to a highest ever league finish of 7th – claiming a play-off place ahead of Mansfield on goal-difference.
Despite a few notable departures over the summer, with long-serving captain Ibby Touray joining Louie Barry and Odin Bailey in moving to Edgeley Park, Wood has retained the majority of his squad over the close season in a bid to maintain consistency, and build on the promise of last year.
So far though, the campaign has been a struggle for the Greater Manchester outfit. Just two wins from their opening nine league games, including a run of five straight defeats, left them languishing just a point above the relegation zone in 21st.
A good run in the Carabao Cup, with wins against Championship opposition in Preston North End and Leeds United, provided a boost, and three straight league wins then followed against Newport, Sutton United and Crewe to give the feeling things were heading back in the right direction.
They have won just one in seven since then however, losing each of their last three to slip closer to the relegation battle than the promotion picture.
As was the case last season, they have particularly struggled for form at the Peninsula Stadium in the opening months, with only Forest Green and Harrogate picking up fewer points at home than their eight. Away from home, they’ve picked up 13 – the 6th best away record in the division.
For a side that is struggling, they have continued to find the back of the net on a regular basis, scoring 30 times in League Two, with top scorer Matt Smith chipping in with 14 of them. It’s already the best goalscoring season of the 34-year-old’s career, and only Swindon forward Jake Young has scored more than him in League Two.
It’s at the other end of the pitch where the Ammies have been punished. Only four sides have let in more than their 33 goals, whilst they have kept just four clean sheets kept all season.
On Tuesday night, they will also be without two of their key midfielders. Matty Lund is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season on Saturday, whilst Elliot Watt missed that game through injury and is not expected to be back in time for this game.
Match Stats:
- This will be the 11th competitive meeting between the two sides and the sixth since the start of last season. County have the historical advantage, winning five previous encounters to Salford’s two. We are unbeaten at Edgeley Park against the Ammies.
- County will be looking to win a seventh straight league game at Edgeley Park, for the first time in the EFL since a run of eight successive home wins in the 2006/07 season.
- Tanto’s late goal on Saturday was his 12th in the league this season – already just two shy of his best ever scoring season, when he hit 14 in the National League for Sutton United.
