2025-26 League One Play-Off Semi-Finals: First Leg – Stevenage vs Stockport

Stevenage host Stockport in the first leg of their 2025-26 League One Play-Off Semi-Final. 

Stevenage finished sixth in the league table with a 1-0 win at home to Wigan on the final day to secure their place in this tie against Stockport, whilst their visitors finished third with a 3-1 win at Barnsley.

 

Team News

Jasper Pattenden is a doubt for Stevenage after he suffered an unspecified injury during their 1-0 win at home to Wigan on the final day of the regular season.

Jordan Houghton is a doubt after he missed that match due to an unspecified injury.

Lewis Freestone (unspecified), Harry Cornick (ankle) and Mathaeus Roberts (Achilles) remain sidelined.

Stockport could again be without Lewis Bate as the midfielder continues his recovery from a recent knock.

Tyler Onyango (hamstring) and Brad Hill (knee) are still ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Stevenage host Stockport at LAMEX Stadium on Saturday 9 May at 3pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Stevenage’s first EFL Play-Off against Stockport County, but they have lost just two of their eight previous meetings against Stockport in the EFL (W5, D1, L2).
• Stockport have never beaten Stevenage at the LAMEX Stadium in EFL competitions before (L4).
• Stevenage have never kept a clean sheet at home to Stockport in the EFL, in which they won their last three clashes on their own turf by a 2-1 result.
• Stevenage have won five of their last six home matches by a 1-0 result (W5, D1).
• Seven of Kyle Wootton’s 18 league goals for Stockport were scored away from home this season.

 

Prediction

Although they scraped past Wigan to snatch the last play-off spot, Stevenage have lost just twice at home all season and know how to grind out results so I expect them to be confident of getting a result to take into the second leg if they can continue to dig in and again be clinical.

Stockport though have a poor record at Stevenage in the EFL so they ideally will view a draw as a strong result from this first leg, yet they’re coming into this game on a five-match unbeaten away run after a solid win at Barnsley which will give them some confidence.

Throw in the fact that there is yet to be a clean sheet in this fixture at the LAMEX Stadium and I think that we’re in for a good battle between two teams with strong promotion aspirations, but a draw feels likely if Stockport have learned from their two regular-season defeats.

Prediction: Stevenage 1-1 Stockport County