Stockport County take on Blackburn Rovers at Edgeley Park on Friday evening in their penultimate pre-season friendly match before the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
The hosts have had a mixed pre-season so far with two wins and two draws, while the visitors have won two, drawn two and lost one of their five friendly fixtures.
Match preview
© Imago
After suffering three relegations in four seasons from 2009-10 to 2012-13, Stockport had to slowly rebuild themselves in the National League North, finishing in 14th, 11th, ninth, eighth and fifth before eventually being promoted as champions in 2018-19.
That promotion sparked an incredible rise up the English football pyramid in the following years, being promoted three times in six seasons as they now prepare for their return to League One, 14 years after their relegation from that level.
David Challinor, who has been in charge of the side since November 2021, has done a phenomenal job in overseeing their rapid climb to League One, and his side have been thoroughly tested in pre-season.
They beat Chester 3-2 in their opening friendly before suffering back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Oldham Athletic and Championship side Derby County, and most recently returned to victory against Stoke City with another 1-0 scoreline.
Challinor will now be looking for his side to build positive momentum in their final two friendlies against Blackburn and Carlisle United, as they prepare for the 2024-25 campaign.
As for Blackburn, after narrowly missing out on a place in the Championship playoffs in 2021-22 and 2022-23 - being edged out by Sunderland on goal difference - Rovers would have been expecting another push for a playoff spot in the following season.
However, instead of fighting for promotion, Blackburn faced a fight for survival in the league, eventually securing their seventh straight campaign in the second division by finishing three points above the relegation zone.
Sammie Szmodics proved vital in their survival as the attacking midfielder finished the season as the league's top scorer with an impressive 27 goals, but Blackburn may have to prepare for life without the Irishman amid rumours of his departure to a Premier League outfit.
Szmodics has been absent in all but one game of Blackburn's busy pre-season schedule, an 8-3 win against Tranmere Rovers, but the Rovers have performed well in the remaining matches, winning one, losing one and drawing two.
John Eustace will now be looking for his side to pick up a victory in their final friendly ahead of their opening Championship fixture against newly-promoted Derby County a week later.
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Team News
The hosts fielded a strong side in their 1-0 victory against Stoke City last time out, and Challinor could opt to name a similar 11 in this one in preparation for the upcoming season.
Michael Mellon went off in the 16th minute due to an injury in that match, joining Lewis Fiorini on the treatment table, leaving Kyle Wootton likely to start alongside Jack Diamond in attack.
Blackburn also started a formidable lineup in their draw with Wigan Athletic, and Eustace is expected to field a similar team in their final pre-season match before the new campaign.
Jack Vale led the line for the Rovers, scoring his second of pre-season in that game, and is anticipated to start here, supported by Joe Rankin-Costello, who impressed in a more advanced midfield role last time out.
Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Addai; Pye, Touray, Horsfall; Knoyle, Collar, Fevrier, Bailey, Bate; Diamond, Wootton
Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pears; Brittain, Carter, Hyam, Pickering; Tronstad, Travis, Rankin-Costello; Dolan, Vale, Bloxham
We say: Stockport County 1-2 Blackburn Rovers
Stockport County may have performed well against Championship opposition in their last match, but we believe that Blackburn boast much more quality throughout their ranks and will ultimately take the victory here.
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