Next Up: Stockport County vs Exeter City
With all attention this week on off-field matters and changes in the boardroom and the shameful act of racism from the away end last Saturday, the playing side has taken something of a back seat, but City are two games unbeaten for the first time this season following the 1-1 draw with Reading.
Gary Caldwell will have one more player available to him for this weekend with Josh Magennis returning from international duty where he made two substitute appearances for Northern Ireland. One player definitely not available, not that he has been playing anyway as he battles his way to fitness, will be Ryan Rydel, who is ineligible to face his parent club. On the other hand Danny Andrew has settled in well with City since moving on from his short-term deal at Stockport. Jack Aitchison and Sil Swinkels featured in the 0-0 draw with West Brom’s U21s on Wednesday night as they return to fitness, both will be hoping for a spot on the bench on Saturday while Magennis is likely to return for Akeel Higgins, whose first start in City colours showed promise.
Having missed out on a third promotion in four seasons in the playoffs last season Stockport have set about going one better this time and go into Saturday’s match in fourth place in the table. With crowds touching five figures, things are on the up for a Hatters side that was in the National League North as recently as 2019 before new owners came in and restored them to former glories under Dave Challinor. Kyle Wootton is the top scorer with six in all competitions, while veteran Oliver Norwood continues to dominate midfields, the former Sheffield United playmaker has four.
Last season’s fixtures, the first since Stockport dropped like a stone in 2010, saw the Hatters record two comfortable 2-0 victories – the corresponding fixture in December was 0-0 at half time but was one of City’s “rabbit in headlights” performances against the big spenders of the division, with a Tristan Crama OG and a late Louie Barry penalty sealing the points. The return at the Park saw a Wootton brace in the first quarter of the match put the game to bed early on. Those wins now mean Stockport have the edge in league head to heads with 20 wins to City’s 19, nine matches finishing level.
The match officials for this game will be-
Referee Aaron Bannister
Assistant Referees: Joseph Larkin and Matt Archibald
Fourth Official : Steven Copeland
Aaron Bannister has not taken charge of an Exeter City game previously. His record so far this season in the game games he’s taken charge of is 42 yellows and he’s sent off four players.
Interview with Gary Caldwell
Interview with Jayden Wareham