MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 08:21:32| >> :120:15251:15251:
[monks data]
Stockport County
League Two | Gameweek 22
Mar 7, 2023 at 7.45pm UK
Edgeley Park
Gillingham

Stockport
0 - 0
Gillingham

FT

Jefferies (0'), Jefferies (75'), Tutonda (76')

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League Two clash between Stockport County and Gillingham, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Stockport County will face bottom-of-the-table Gillingham in League Two at Edgeley Park on Saturday.

The Hatters are well positioned on the heels of the heavily-contested playoff positions, while Neil Harris's side find themselves languishing at the foot of the League Two standings.


Match preview

Stockport County manager Dave Challinor pictured on August 23, 2022© Reuters

This will be the first meeting between the two sides since Gillingham emerged as victors, courtesy of a Cody McDonald hat-trick, in a 5-1 victory in January 2011.

After gaining promotion to the fourth tier of English football for the first time in the club's 139-year history, following winning the National League last season, Stockport County saw their match against Rochdale on Saturday called off due to a frozen pitch at the Crown Oil Arena.

Prior to the postponement, The Hatters claimed a 3-1 victory against Charlton Athletic on December 7 in their FA Cup second round replay after a sensational hat-trick from midfielder Will Collar. The notable win earned Stockport County a FA Cup third round tie against Walsall on the first full weekend in January.

Previous to their win against higher-league opposition, the Hatters had registered three victories in their last five matches, including a 5-0 hammering of Hartlepool United on December 3.

With eight victories and the same number of defeats in a so-far mixed campaign, Stockport County could move to within two points of the playoff positions with victory and if results go their way.

In contrast to their weekend hosts, Gillingham wrote a new chapter into their history books after suffering the heartbreak of relegation from League One at the end of last season.

After picking up only 14 points from a possible 60 on offer this season, Neil Harris's side were one of six sides to witness their respective matches called off last weekend, after temperatures in parts of the United Kingdom dropped below zero.

Gillingham registered a dramatic 3-2 win over Dagenham & Redbridge in their FA Cup second round replay last Wednesday after on-loan Lincoln City attacking midfielder Hakeeb Adelakun netted the winner in the 95th minute.

The morale-boosting victory saw The Gills draw a glamorous home tie in the FA Cup third round against Premier League side Leicester City on January 8.

Before their success in England's oldest and most prestigious club competition, second-half goals from Theo Vassell, Ryan Watson and Callum Hendry were enough to succumb Gillingham to 3-0 home defeat against Salford City on December 3.

Yet to find out when their rearranged fixture against Bradford City from last weekend will take place, Harris will hope a week off will have benefited the Gills' dressing room ahead of their trip to Greater Manchester.

Stockport County League Two form:


Stockport County form (all competitions):


Gillingham League Two form:


Gillingham form (all competitions):



Team News

Stockport County's Antoni Sarcevic reacts with teammates after missing a penalty during the shootout on August 23, 2022 © Reuters

David Challinor could hand Phil Bardsley his Stockport County debut if the former Scotland defender can prove his fitness after a spell on the sidelines.

In addition to bringing the undeniable experience of Bardsley into the Hatters' dressing room until at least the end of the season, the veteran full-back has announced he will donate all of his salary to the club's community trust.

After scoring the first hat-trick of his professional career against Charlton, Will Collar is again expected to line up in a midfield five alongside Macauley Southam-Hales, Ryan Croasdale, Myles Hippolyte and Ryan Rydel.

After recording their first victory in four matches across all competitions, Gillingham could line up with the same starting XI against Dagenham & Redbridge.

If Neil Harris decides to name the same side, Hakeeb Adelakun will start in the number 10 position behind lone frontman Lewis Walker.

Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchliffe; Bardsley, Horsfall, Johnson; Southam-Hales, Collar, Croasdale, Hippolyte, Rydel; Wootton, Madden

Gillingham possible starting lineup:
Turner; Wright, Ehmer, Baggott, Tutonda; Williams, Jefferies, Green, Adelakun, Reeves; Walker


SM words green background

We say: Stockport County 3-1 Gillingham

With Gillingham only registering four points on their League Two travels this season, Stockport County's plethora of attacking talent should be too much for their relegation-threatened visitors to Edgeley Park at the weekend.

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




ID:501766:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect13133:
Written by
Chris Heath

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Stockport vs Gillingham

Stockport County
74.2%
Draw
12.9%
Gillingham
12.9%
31
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Nottingham Forest's Cafu in action with Bradford City's Elliot Watt, August 11, 2021
Read Next:
Saturday's League Two predictions including Leyton Orient vs. Bradford
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe18124239211840
2Wrexham19124328111740
3Birmingham CityBirmingham17123232161639
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield18112528161235
5Stockport CountyStockport1996431191233
6Reading189453025531
7Bolton WanderersBolton179352827130
8Barnsley197662725227
9Lincoln CityLincoln197662423127
10Mansfield TownMansfield177372222024
11Exeter CityExeter187381619-324
12Charlton AthleticCharlton186571819-123
13Blackpool186572631-523
14Stevenage176471316-322
15Peterborough UnitedPeterborough186393332121
16Leyton Orient186391920-121
17Northampton TownNorthampton195682126-521
18Bristol Rovers186391726-921
19Wigan AthleticWigan185581516-120
20Rotherham UnitedRotherham175571620-420
21Crawley TownCrawley185491728-1119
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge1844101829-1116
23Burton Albion1825111630-1411
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1832131835-1711


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!