Stockport County v Hartlepool United
National League
Wednesday 9th October 2019, 7.45pm
Edgeley Park
In Opposition
Stockport County secured promotion back to the fifth tier with their first title in over 50 years when they pipped Chorley to win National League North last term.
The Hatter went on to make a reasonable start to 2019/20 and
a 2-1 triumph over AFC Fylde at the beginning of last month was their fifth in
sixth games to lift them in to the play-off spots.However, a 3-0 defeat at old foes Chorley a week later
seemed to knock them off course and they had lost five in a row before Saturday's
battling goalless draw at Sutton United.Boss Jim Gannon – now in his third stint as County boss –
moved to reinvigorate his squad on Tuesday with the loan signings of former
Pools forward Devante Rodney and winger Tom Walker on loan from Salford City.One To Watch
The loan signing of Tom Walker from Salford City this week will give Stockport an added dimension ahead of Wednesday evening's meeting with Pools.
The midfield ace has found regular football hard to come by
with The Ammies since their promotion to League Two so a temporary switch down
the road to Edgeley Park makes perfect sense.Blessed with plenty of pace and a positivity in possession,
Walker was one of the key men for Salford during their 3-0 win over Pools at
The Peninsula Stadium last term, scoring the third goal on the night.Head To Head
Wednesday night's game will be the 135th competitive meeting between the two clubs – indeed, Pools have played no other opponent in this year's National League more times over the years.
County have the edge, historically but Pools took four
points from the two games when the sides last shared a division – though that
was a decade ago.The last meeting was in April 2010 at The Vic when goals
from Joe Gamble, Andy Monkhouse and Roy O'Donovan ensured a 3-0 victory for
Pools.The last visit to Edgeley Park was in the previous September
when Stockport raced in a 2-0 lead thanks to Nicholas Bignall and a certain
Michael Raynes – only for Adam Boyd and Denis Behan to drag Pools back level
and make it 2-2 by the end.Last Meeting
Pools 3 Stockport County 0
Tuesday 13th April 2010
Pools: Flinders, Austin, Collins (Clark 46), Hartley, Haslam, Humphreys, Gamble, McSweeney (Sweeney 89), Monkhouse, Brown (Boyd 79), O'Donovan.
Subs not used: Cook, Jones, Larkin, Bjornsson.
Stockport County: Fon Williams, Huntingdon, Swailes, Sadler, Turnbull, Partridge (Vincent 72), Poole (Johnson 72), Halls, Perkins, Ibehre, Donnelly.
Subs not used: Gerrard, Barnes, Rowe, Murty.
On The Whistle
Simon Mather will take charge of his third Pools game on Wednesday evening but his first of this season when Craig Hignett's men travel to Stockport County.
The official is now in to his second campaign on the
National League's list of referees and previously oversaw our 2-1 home win over
Maidenhead United last August and our 1-1 draw with Havant & Waterlooville
in December.So far this season, Mather has presided over five games –
his most recent appointment was on Saturday when he watched Eastleigh run out
2-1 winners at Chesterfield.Live Coverage
Wednesday night's game is being broadcast live on BT Sport 1 from 7.30pm.
Matt Smith will once again present the coverage from
pitchside where he will be joined by Chris Hargreaves and Steve Morison, while
commentary will be from Adam Summerton and Adam Virgo.Live Commentary
We'll once again be delivering full live and uninterrupted online commentary of Wednesday night's game here on the Official Website.
Mark Simpson will be on-air from Edgeley Park from 7.35pm to
set the scene, talk you through the breaking team news and then describe all
the action as it unfolds – and it's completely FREE!Click here now to access the live online commentary.
Buying Tickets
Pools fans can but tickets for the game in advance online or visit Stockport County's Ticket Office upon arrival at Edgeley Park before kick-off.
Click here for all the information you need on tickets for Wednesday's match.
Betting Odds
Stockport 13/10
Pools 15/8
Draw 23/10