With their slender aggregate lead, Stockport County host Stevenage in the second leg of their Sky Bet League One Play-Off Semi-Final tie.
With a 1-0 aggregate lead after Ben Osborn’s 94th-minute winner in the first leg, Stockport will qualify for the League One Play-Off Final with a win or draw.
Stevenage must win by two goals or more in order to progress beyond this stage, although a victory by an one-goal margin would send the tie to extra time and potentially penalties.
Team News
Stockport have no fresh injury concerns to report, with Dave Challinor having a near-full squad available for selection.
Lewis Bate (knock), Tyler Onyango (hamstring) and Brad Hill (knee) are still ruled out.
Stevenage have no fresh injury concerns to report, with Alex Revell having a near-full squad available for selection.
Lewis Freestone (unspecified), Harry Cornick (ankle) and Mathaeus Roberts (Achilles) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Stockport host Stevenage at Edgeley Park on Wednesday 13 May at 8pm BST, live on Sky Sports Action and Mix channels in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Stockport won their only previous EFL play-off meeting against Stevenage by a 1-0 result, which came in the first leg of this semi-final tie.
- Stevenage are making their first play-off visit to Stockport, but have won one of their four previous visits to Edgeley Park (W1, D1, L2).
- Stockport have kept two clean sheets in four previous home meetings against Stevenage.
- Excluding penalty shootouts, Stockport have won each of their three previous EFL Play-Off semi-final second-leg matches played at home (W3).
- Stevenage have won one of their two previous EFL Play-Off semi-final second-leg matches played away from home (W1, L1).
Prediction
With a slender lead after a cagey first tie in which momentum swung back and forth between both clubs, Stockport now have a dilemma of whether to protect that lead and go defensive or attack and hope that Stevenage don’t score first, otherwise the momentum will swing Stevenage’s way psychologically.
Stevenage though simply have to come out and attack from the get-go and ideally score first if they’re to stand any chance of qualifying for the final, but they will have to be more clinical than they were in their home leg although they can take heart from their 3-1 win here in December.
I think the fate of this second leg ultimately rests on who if anyone scores first because if Stockport get in front, I can see them going on to progress even if this finishes as a draw, otherwise anything could happen if Stevenage get in front on the night.
My instinct though is that this could finish in a draw which would suit Stockport.
Prediction: Stockport 1-1 Stevenage
Result: Stockport 2-0 Stevenage (Stockport win 3-0 on aggregate)
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