Stockport County vs Wrexham: Team news, form guide, predicted line-ups

Wrexham will try to exercise some demons when they travel to Edgeley Park for a Saturday date with Stockport County in League One.

Both sides are currently in the play-off spits, with Wrexham sitting third on 28 points and Stockport in sixth on goal difference.

Phil Parkinson’s men are on a five-match domestic unbeaten run following a 1-0 win over Mansfield Town, while Dave Challinor’s Stockport are coming off a 5-0 thrashing of Bolton Wanderers, a second convincing triumph in their last three league outings.

Birmingham City are idle this weekend due to international call-ups, meaning Wrexham can temporarily surpass them into second (and an automatic promotional place!).

Wrexham’s record at Edgeley Park

The Red Dragons have had a miserable run of form at Edgeley Park against the Hatters for decades.

In their previous visit last season, they suffered a 5-0 shellacking at the hands of Stockport in what was their worst domestic defeat since Parkinson took charge.

Wrexham have lost their last three visits to Edgeley Park and are winless against them in the EFL since claiming a 4-1 triumph in April 2005 thanks to a hat-trick from cult hero Juan Ugarte.

After being crushed by Stockport last season, Wrexham went on an eight-match unbeaten run in League Two to majorly bolster their promotion credentials.

Wrexham’s only two defeats this season came away from home against Birmingham City (3-1) and Stevenage (1-0) and they will be determined not to see two become three.

Injury News

Wrexham suffered some devastating news this week as it was confirmed that first-choice goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo will miss at least six weeks with a broken wrist.

Leading goalscorer Jack Marriott is still recovering from a broken fibula, George Evans has torn ankle ligaments, while Will Boyle and Luke Bolton are questionable with calf injuries.

James Jones has a sore foot, and Steven Fletcher is still dealing with a persistent knee problem.

In goal, the Red Dragons will likely turn to Callum Burton, who played the opening 45 minutes against Port Vale in the Football League Trophy group stage this week, with third choice goalkeeper Mark Howard playing the second half.

Parkinson has hinted that recent free agent signing, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, may get his first League One start for the club on Saturday, admitting that he took him off against Port Vale to rest his legs.

Stockport’s Player to Watch

While Wrexham have had balanced scoring in League One this season, Stockport have been reliant on an Aston Villa loanee.

Louie Barry leads the league in Expected Goals (6.5) and is the joint top goalscorer alongside Kwame Poku of Peterborough United (10).

Barry has accounted for 40% of Stockport’s goals in League One this season (10 of 25), doing most of his damage around the penalty spot.

He has one goal in two career games versus Wrexham, bagging a goal and an assist in that 5-0 result last season, with Isaac Olaofe scoring a hat trick on the day.

Predicted XIs

Stockport County (3-4-3): Hinchcliffe; Connolly, Horsfall, Touray; Fevrier, Norwood, Bate, Rydel; Collar, Olaofe, Barry

Wrexham (5-3-2): Burton; Barnett, Cleworth, Scarr, O’Connor, McClean; Cannon, Dobson, Lee; Bodvarsson, Mullin