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Stevenage and Stockport County will begin their battle for a place in the League One playoff final on Saturday, when they meet at the Stevenage FC Stadium in their semi-final first leg.
The hosts secured their playoff spot in dramatic fashion with an injury-time winner on the final day, setting them up a two-legged tie with the visitors who finished third but only two points better off.
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Stevenage vs Stockport County key stats
- Stevenage won both H2Hs in League One this season, most recently winning 2-1 at home in late February.
- Stevenage have lost just one of their last nine League One games.
- The 2025-26 season was Stockport County's sixth consecutive top-four finish across the National League, League Two and League One.
Stevenage vs Stockport County preview: Can Stockport win League One playoffs at the second time of asking?
| Stevenage vs Stockport County – Tale of the Tape | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stevenage | vs | Stockport County |
| 6th | Position | 3rd |
| 75 | Points | 77 |
| 49 | Goals For | 71 |
| 46 | Goals Against | 58 |
| 19 | Clean Sheets | 12 |
| 4th | Home Rank | 7th |
| 12th | Away Rank | 4th |
Entering injury time on the final day of the League One regular season last weekend, Stevenage looked to have dropped out of the playoff spots in agonising fashion, seemingly cruising towards a goalless stalemate that would have seen them leapfrogged and pipped to sixth spot by Luton Town in the chasing pack.
Dan Sweeney had other ideas, though, coming off the bench to break the deadlock in the 92nd minute and keep his side in sixth spot, booking their first League One playoff bid since 2012 and the second in their history with a joint-highest ever finish.
Alex Revell's side would finish on a tally of 75 points from their 46 games including 21 wins, despite their 49 goals being the fewest of any side in the division outside of the relegation zone.
| 🔍 Whispers Insight |
| No side in League One have kept more league clean sheets than Stevenage (19) this season. |
Indeed, their success has come at the back with only league leaders Lincoln City allowing fewer than the 46 goals they have shipped this season.
Now on a high having kept hold of a playoff spot in dramatic fashion, Stevenage head into the weekend without Lewis Freestone and Harry Cornick with the aim of gaining an edge in their semi-final tie before heading to Stockport next week.
Their visitors, meanwhile, come into the weekend aiming to go further than last season and continue their quick ascent through the English pyramid.
Stockport County headed into the 2025-26 season on the back of five straight top-four finishes and two promotions, having fallen in the playoff semi-finals last time around, and they again sealed third spot by earning 77 points from their 46 matches.
| 🔍 Whispers Insight |
| Stockport County have scored in all but five of their League One away games this season and notched up 33 goals on the road – the fourth most in the division. |
That is largely down to a strong away record, having managed nine wins and 34 points from their 23 league games on the road, while only four teams have topped their tally of 71 goals.
They confirmed a top-six spot with a strong run in the final months of the term, in spite of an unenviable injury list with Callum Camps, Callum Connolly, Brad Hills and Joseph Olowu sidelined, leaving Ethan Pye as the only fit senior centre-back and forcing striker and top scorer Kyle Wootton to join him at the back for the last six matches.
Wootton will likely continue his makeshift defensive role for the start of the playoffs, as Stockport bid to bring a lead back to Edgeley Park and take a step towards the final.
Stevenage vs Stockport County form guide & betting tips
| Last 5 Form Guide – League One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stevenage | vs | Stockport County |
| L-D-W-D-W | League Form | D-L-W-L-W |
| 8 | Points | 7 |
| 8th | Form Table | 10th |
| 6 | Goals For | 10 |
| 8 | Goals Against | 8 |
| W-D-W | Form (all comps) | W-L-W |
Whispers predicts: Stevenage 1-1 Stockport County
Playoff ties can often be tight and low-scoring affairs, particularly first legs with both sides keen to stay in the game heading into the pivotal second legs, while Stevenage boast League One's second strongest defence and one of its weakest attacking records. Under 2.5 goals in the game is priced at 13/20.
While goals are not expected to flow freely at the Stevenage FC Stadium, Stockport County have seen Both Teams to Score hit in 14 of 23 away league games this season, while their injury crisis is forcing striker Wootton to deputise in the middle of the defence. We would not be surprised to see both teams get on the board at 19/20.
The enforced movement of Wootton into defence has allowed Adama Sidibeh more opportunity to lead the Stockport line, scoring six goals in the process since his Janaury arrival including on the final day. He may be good value to score anytime at 12/5, with their main threat often out of the picture in attacking moves.
| 📈 Whispers' Tips |
| Under 2.5 goals at 13/20 | Likelihood: Likely |
| Both Teams to Score at 19/20 | Likelihood: Probable |
| Adama Sidibeh to score anytime at 12/5 | Likelihood: Possible |