Preview: Peterborough United vs. Stockport County - prediction, team news, lineups

Promotion-chasing Stockport County will be aiming to make it five League One wins in a row when they head to Peterborough United on Friday afternoon for a huge game in the context of their season.

Stockport are fourth in the League One table, five points behind second-placed Wrexham, while Peterborough occupy 16th, six points above 21st-placed Bristol Rovers in the battle to remain in the division.

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Match preview

Peterborough had a famous afternoon at Wembley last weekend, beating Birmingham 2-0 in the final of the EFL Trophy, becoming the first club to retain the trophy, and it was an upset against the League One champions.

The Posh finished fourth in League One last season, which saw them qualify for the playoffs, but they were beaten by Oxford United in the semi-finals, with the team remaining in the third tier of English football.

Peterborough have underperformed during the 2024-25 campaign, though, with a record of 13 wins, nine draws and 19 defeats bringing them 48 points, which has left them down in 16th spot in the division.

Darren Ferguson's team, who lost 2-1 at home to Birmingham in the league last time out, will not be making the playoffs this term, while they are in slight relegation danger at this stage of proceedings, sitting just six points above 21st-placed Bristol Rovers.

Peterborough have underwhelmed at home this season, only picking up 29 points from 21 matches, while Stockport have been solid on their travels, claiming 31 points from their 21 away fixtures.

The Posh will be bidding to gain revenge on Stockport on Friday, having suffered a 2-1 defeat when the two teams locked horns for the reverse fixture earlier this season.

Stockport are bidding to make it back-to-back promotions, having finished top of League Two last season, and it would be a wonderful achievement for the Greater Manchester outfit to secure Championship football for 2025-26.

So much focus has been placed on Wrexham and their quest for another promotion, but Stockport will not mind going under the radar in the final stages of the season, with automatic promotion still a real possibility.

Dave Challinor's side have picked up 77 points from their 42 league matches this season courtesy of a record of 22 wins, 11 draws and nine defeats, which has left them fourth, five points behind second-placed Wrexham.

Stockport are crucially 11 points clear of seventh-placed Leyton Orient in the race for the playoffs, so they are in a very comfortable position when it comes to finishing inside the top six, which is an excellent achievement in itself.

The Hatters will enter this match off the back of a run of four straight wins in the third tier, having beaten Burton Albion, Stevenage, Exeter City and Rotherham United since a 1-0 defeat to Wrexham on March 22.

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Team News

Peterborough head coach Ferguson could name the same side that performed brilliantly against Birmingham in the EFL Trophy final last weekend.

Malik Mothersille and Ricky-Jade Jones have both scored 15 times during impressive campaigns, and the duo will be in the starting side on Friday.

There should also be spots for Kwame Poku and Abraham Odoh, with Peterborough's front four managing 52 goals between them this season, which makes their underwhelming league campaign even more surprising.

As for Stockport, no fresh issues have been reported from their home success over Rotherham last time out, so it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field on Friday.

The visitors again lined up in a 4-2-2-2 formation against Rotherham, and that is set to be the case in this match, with Kyle Wootton featuring in the final third of the field.

Wootton has scored 12 times in all competitions during the 2024-25 campaign, and he will be joined by Isaac Olaofe, who is also in double figures in terms of goals this term, finding the back of the net on 10 occasions.

Peterborough United possible starting lineup: Steer; Dornelly, Fernandez, Wallin, Mills; Kyprianou, Collins; Poku, Mothersille, Odoh; Jones

Stockport County possible starting lineup: Addai; Hills, Horsfall, Pye, Touray; Moxon, Norwood; Fevrier, Diamond; Olaofe, Wootton

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We say: Peterborough United 1-1 Stockport County

Peterborough's success over Birmingham last weekend would have given them so much confidence, and with that in mind, we are expecting the home team to be good enough for a point against Stockport on Friday afternoon.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.