Stockport regained their Football League place last season after impressively winning the National League, and after a slow start, losing four of their first five league games, they have shown signs of finding their feet in recent weeks and have won three of their last four league games, all against sides currently in the top ten of the league table. Tuesday’s win against Carlisle was their third at home, where Wimbledon and Colchester have also been beaten, while Barrow and Grimsby are the two teams that have come back from Edgeley Park with maximum points and there have been draws with Harrogate, Swindon and Walsall. 

Manager Dave Challinor took over midway through last season to guide Stockport to the National League title, but has previously come up against U’s while in charge of Hartlepool and Fylde, while leading scorer Paddy Madden was last season’s Player of the Year after his move from Fleetwood. During the summer County also signed striker Kyle Wootton, who U’s have faced on several occasions with Notts County.

U’s manager Matt Gray is expecting a difficult game at Edgeley Park, saying: ‘We had some good games with Stockport when they were challenging for the National League along with us two seasons ago, and they were excellent in winning the league last season. They’re a big and ambitious club with a big fan base, so we know we will need to be at our best in what should be a good atmosphere.”

Sutton’s comeback in the second half at Northampton earned a deserved point, extending U’s unbeaten record to four games in all competitions, and skipper Craig Eastmond and defender Louis John, who both missed the game at Sixfields, have an outside chance of being fit for Saturday’s game.

Referee on Saturday is Simon Mather, who is in his second EFL season and refereed last season’s home games against Carlisle and Scunthorpe, although he had to be replaced during the latter due to injury. He was also in the middle for the 3-0 win over Hartlepool with which U’s clinched the National League title, when Stockport boss Dave Challinor was in the opposing dug-out.

Ticket prices are: Adults (age 18+) £20; Students/Age 65+/Disabled £14; Youth (age 14-17) £7; Junior (age 6-13) £7 (must be accompanied by a paying adult, at a limit of four children per adult); Infant (age 5 and under) Free with full paying adult.

Tickets and further details are available on line here, and will be available on the day from the ticket office at Edgeley Park, with no change in price. 

If you can’t make the game you can listen to our iFollow commentary, with a match pass costing £2.50 and a monthly pass £4.49. Click here to buy a pass. Overseas viewers can watch the game for £10, clicking on the same link, with monthly and seasonal passes also available.

The Supporters’ Coach leaves at 6.45am.

Drivers should leave the M6 at Junction 19 and travel via the A556 and M56 to join the M60. Exit the M60 at Junction 1 (sign-posted ‘Stockport Town Centre’). At the roundabout, follow signs to ‘Cheadle A560’ also ‘Stockport County FC’ into Hollywood Way. Go straight on at the first set of traffic lights and turn right at the next (sign-posted ‘Cheadle A560, Stockport County FC’) onto the A560 towards ‘Ye Olde Woolpack’ pub. After 1.1 miles, turn left (no signpost, by the ‘Farmers Arms’) onto the B5465 Edgeley Road. After approximately 1 mile turn right into Dale Street at the traffic lights and take the second left into Hardcastle Road for the stadium. There is no car parking at the ground, but there are a number of pay and display car parks within a 5-10 minute walk of the ground.

By rail, Stockport station is very close to the ground but engineering works in the West Midlands on Saturday mean that journey times are longer than usual, taking around three hours, and the quickest options may not be direct services. For those wanting a simple journey, there are direct services from Euston at 9.11, 9.55, 10.14 and 10.52 which will all get you to Stockport in good time. Walk up Station Road, turn left at the top and cross at the pelican crossing before the roundabout.  Take the A5464 (Mercian Way) and turn left into Caroline Street for the stadium. Return direct to Euston at 17.04, 17.44, 18.03 or 18.44. For other options, which involve changes at either Birmingham International or Crewe, or journeys via Sheffield from St Pancras, go to www.nationalrail.co.uk.