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The Story So Far
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| Town | Stockport |
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Town meanwhile, have exceeded all expectation with an admirable start to the season. Despite crashing to a 5-0 defeat to Palace on Tuesday, the Mariners still lay in a highly creditable 6th place, with 14 points already in the bag, ultimately meaning only 36 points are needed from the next 38 games in order to maintain their first division status. This, without question, is a worthy achievement for a team that has consisted mainly of 11 senior players and a bench of untried youngsters. So, after the dreadful display of Tuesday night, there is no better place to get back on track than the team at the bottom of the table.
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Stockport have had a nightmare start to their division one campaign, mustering just two points from their first seven games. Their first four games saw them loose them all with defeats to Coventry, Crystal Palace, Portsmouth and Birmingham. The season of late has got a little better with draws against Barnsley and a point at Molineux against Wolves, but a home defeat to Sheffield United on Tuesday has set back their plans further. Anything less than a win against Town on Saturday will put manager Andy Kilner under immense pressure, something he, and his players, could do without.
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Recent Form
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| Town | Stockport |
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| L | Sheff Utd | (h) | 1-2 |
| D | Wolves | (a) | 2-2 |
| L | Forest cup | (a) | 1-1 (AET)
8-9 Pens |
| D | Barnsley | (a) | 2-2 |
| L | Birmingham | (h) | 1-2 |
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Overall League Record
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Leading Goalscorers (League + Cup)
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| Town | Stockport |
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| Jevons | 3 |
| Jeffrey | 2 |
| Rowan | 2 |
| Pouton | 2 |
| Allen | 1 |
| Jevons | 1 |
| Broomes | 1 |
| Burnett | 1 |
| Butterfield | 1 |
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| Kuqi | 6 |
| Taylor | 5 |
| Rihilahti | 2 |
| Flynn | 1 |
| Roget | 1 |
| Fradin | 1 |
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Town Team News
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Striker Phil Jevons is certain to miss out, and could be on the sidelines for sometime after suffering a groin injury. The extent of which will not be known for a few days.
Marlon Broomes will probably drop to the bench, meaning that David Beherall will get his chance at the back, after being strangely dropped from the side in the week.
Midfield maestro Alan Pouton is likely to miss the game with an injury he picked up on Tuesday night, meaning Danny Butterfield will fill the hole down the right flank. Playmaker Wayne Burnett will then fill the vacant midfield spot, meaning only his second start of the whole season.
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Stockport Team News
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Steffi Kuqi is certainly out with an injury he picked up in his side's 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United in midweek. Neiil Hardy will replace him.
Otherwise, Andy Kilner has a full squad to pick from.
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Expected Line Ups
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| Town | Stockport |
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Danny Coyne
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| Undoubtedly one of Towns prize assets, who to the relieve of the Town fans, signed a new three year contract in the summer after much transfer speculation. |
| John McDermott |
| Towns all time record appearance holder who is, and has been for the past 15 years, a regular member of the back four. |
| Marlon Broomes |
| Expected to return to the squad at the weekend, after missing Tuesday nights defeat to Crystal Palace due to illness. |
Paul Groves (c)
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| The lynchpin of the Town defence, Groves’ performances have been of the highest standards this season, once again. |
David Beharall
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| Another player missing from Tuesday night, after being strangely dropped from the side after some fine displays at the back. Expected to replace Marlon Broomes. |
Stuart Campbell
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| Former Leicester winger who has switched from the right of midfield to the left with ease and is now a regular member down the left hand flank. |
| Wayne Burnett |
| The former Wembley hero, almost released this summer, makes only his second start of the campaign. |
Menno Willems
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| Tough tackling Dutch midfielder who has started the season with some impressive displays in midfield. Possesses a powerful left foot. |
| Danny Butterfield |
| Has made the transition from right back to midfield with ease, showing composure on the ball and willingness to break forward at all times. |
| Mike Jeffrey |
| Not exactly a fans favourite, but a player whose recent performances have given Lennie Lawrence an extra option up front, putting in some very impressive displays. |
Johnny Rowan
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| Burst onto the scene with two goals this season, proving that he has made the transition from being a regular reserve player to a first team player, with ease. |
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Lee Jones
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| Current first choice keeper after the sale of Carlo Nash to Manchester City, Jones joined County last year from Bristol Rovers. |
| Robert Clare |
| 18 year old who is already a regular member of Stockports side and is tipped to go on to bigger and better things. |
| Leo Roget |
| Tall, dominating centre back who was snapped up on a free transfer this summer. The former Southend defender will hope to put his career back on track after a few stop start seasons. |
Colin Woodthorpe
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| Former Norwich player who left Carrow Road to join Scottish side Aberdeen a few years ago. His move did not work out and is now at County to make a name for himself again and is a big part of Stockports strong defence. |
| Mike Flynn |
| Since signing in 1993 from Oldham Athletic, Captain Mike Flynn has become a firm favourite with the fans, making over a 300 appearances for the club. |
Karim Fradin
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| Midfielder who signed for County on transfer deadline day last season, joining up with his international team mate Jarko Wiss. |
| Ali Gibb |
| Midfield player snapped up from Northampton Town after progressing through their youth system, he made a name for himself last season with a string of fine performances. |
Richard Sneekes
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| Former WBA and Bolton midfielder who signed in the summer on a bosman style transfer. His skill on the ball and goals from midfield will play a big part in Stockport's battle for survivial. |
| Niell Hardy |
| Young player who’s versatility and pace is an asset to Andy Kilners side, and often a thorn in many defences. |
Aaron Wilbraham
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| After coming through the County youth ranks, Wilbraham has been a regular scorer for the Edgely Park side, his big presence giving County an extra dimension. |
| Scott Taylor |
| Classy forward who joined County last season after impressing manager Andy Kilner with some gutsy performances. |
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| Subs | Subs |
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| Marlon Broomes |
| Chris Boulder |
| Bradley Allen |
| Michael Boulding |
| Ronald Ermes (GK) |
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| Glynn Hurst |
| Jarko Wiss |
| Petri Helin |
| Dave Smith |
| Andy Dibble (GK) |
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Last Time Out
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The last time the two sides met was in January, when after a horrendous 3-1 defeat at home to Wycombe in the cup, no-one expected Town to get anything against a Stockport side that were in a rich vein of form. But after Stockport took the lead through Finn Jarko Wiss, Town equalised with only a few minutes left, when County keeper Lee Jones dropped the ball in the path of Kevin Donovan, who sealed a valuable point for Town. A few weeks earlier, on boxing day, the score was again 1-1 with Wayne Burnett scoring a top corner cracker with his left foot, for Town. Report
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Stockport Head-to-Head
(18th on The Opposition Ladder).
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Prediction For Game
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Well, I can’t say I’m overly confident of Town getting a result, especially with Tuesday nights humiliation. Stockport need a result much more than Town, but I can’t see a total collapse of Towns early season form. All thing considered I’m afraid I’ll go for a boring, dower 0-0 draw!
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