National League’s Stockport County welcome West Ham United to Edgeley Park in Monday Night Football to bring the Third Round of 2020-21 FA Cup to a conclusion.
86 league positions current separate both teams as Stockport look to cause a cupset and reach the Fourth Round, whereas West Ham look to advance for the fifth time in six seasons.
Team News
Stockport have no fresh injury concerns to report with a full squad available for selection.
West Ham will be without Lukasz Fabianski after the goalkeeper suffered a thigh injury in warm-up for their New Year’s Day win at Everton.
Arthur Masuaku (knee) and Ryan Fredericks (Coronavirus) are also ruled out.
Stat Attack
- Stockport are unbeaten in two of three previous FA Cup meetings against West Ham (W1, D1, L1), winning their only previous home clash 1-0 in a Third Round replay in 1934-35 season.
- West Ham have never won in seven previous trips to Stockport in all competitions (D1, L6).
- The Hammers have won each of their last three FA Cup meetings against Non-League opposition (W3), defeating Emley (1997-98), Kidderminster (1993-94) and Farnborough (1991-92) respectively.
Prediction
Stockport have done a fabulous job to scrap their way to this round and will certainly fancy their chances here, given their unbeaten home record over West Ham across all competitions which will give them a psychological morale boost.
West Ham however are set to field a strong team and if they can show more attacking control with clean finishing than they produced in their last five matches, this would certainly be their match to lose.
My biggest concern though is that the Hammers’ defence hasn’t been particularly impressive despite keeping clean sheets in their last two outings, whereas Stockport have been robust in this competition so expect a tough battle here but the visitors should edge it if deliver a strong performance.
Prediction: Stockport County 1-2 West Ham
Result: Stockport County 0-1 West Ham
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