Stockport County get their League Two campaign back in motion when they host Crewe Alexandra at Edgeley Park on Boxing Day.
Both sides have seen freezing temperatures in the country postpone their last two fixtures, meaning it will be a case of who comes out of the blocks quicker when the two teams meet on Monday afternoon.
Match preview
© Reuters
Although the World Cup did not halt proceedings at League Two level, Stockport have been afforded something of a winter break over the past fortnight due to frozen pitches becoming the norm during a cold blast in England.
Dave Challinor's side were in good short-term form before games against Rochdale and Gillingham were cancelled, dismantling a woeful Hartlepool United 5-0 in County Durham before a William Collar treble defeated League One's Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup second round.
Stockport's form holds up if you examine further back also, with the team losing just once in their last seven League Two fixtures, a record which has lifted them into 13th position in the league standings.
Considering this is the club's first time back in the Football League since the 2010-11 season, the Hatters are doing remarkably well to be a mammoth 14 points clear of 23rd-placed Colchester United - and dare it be said just five points from the playoff positions.
Things are looking promising at Edgeley Park, and with a third-round tie against Walsall in the FA Cup to come next month, Challinor's men could be making serious waves on several fronts in 2023.
Like Stockport, Crewe have seen successive weekends of league action fall to freezing conditions, and head into this weekend looking to avoid three consecutive defeats in all competitions.
A battering by League One Barnsley in late November ended Crewe's journey in this season's FA Cup, a disappointment followed by a narrow league defeat to Newport County at Alexandra Stadium.
Lee Bell's side took the lead in that encounter courtesy of Lachlan Brook's second of the season, but the hosts that day were unable to hold onto any points, with Offrande Zanzala's late strike securing a maximum for the Welsh visitors.
Having finished bottom of the third tier last campaign, an immediate return to League One is looking extremely unlikely if Alexandra's inconsistency continues, with the club only managing to record back-to-back victories on two occasions so far this season.
Team News
© Reuters
Stockport boss Challinor has admitted the 19-day break between fixtures has been good for allowing injured members of the squad to return to the fold, with Antoni Sarcevic available for selection against Crewe when a week ago he may not have been ready for action.
Vitezslav Jaros has trained over the past week after the goalkeeper suffered an injury in the victory at Salford City in October, but Challinor may opt to keep veteran Ben Hinchliffe between the sticks as the 21-year-old Czech regains match fitness.
Defender Joe Hussey sustained some heavy bruising during the FA Cup tie against Charlton and is being managed on a day-by-day basis ahead of his return to first-team action.
Crewe will also be without a defensive-minded player on Monday, with Luke Offord serving a one-match suspension for picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Newport last time out, meaning Billy Sass-Davies is likely to partner Rodney McDonald in the centre of the Crewe backline.
Bell's small squad have benefitted from an extended period off with no fresh injury concerns being reported ahead of this match, yet Crewe are still expected to be busy in the January transfer window after financial backing was confirmed by the club's ownership during a fan event earlier this week.
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchliffe; Wright, Horsfall, Johnson; Southam-Hales, Collar, Croasdale, Hippolyte, Rydel; Wootton, Madden
Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Mellor, Sass-Davies, McDonald, Williams; Colkett, Uwakwe, Thomas, Brook; Agyei, Sambou
We say: Stockport County 2-0 Crewe Alexandra
Stockport are in a good place after adapting to life in League Two admirably, and they have the attacking talent to take matches away from their opponents at this level.
Crewe will be refreshed and ready for a real battle after over a fortnight without football, but the hosts cheered on by a sold-out Edgeley Park should have enough to earn all three points on Monday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Carter White
