Stevenage
- A clash between Stevenage Borough and Stockport County awaits at Broadhall Way on Saturday in the first leg of a League One play-off semi-final.
- Alex Revell’s pragmatic approach to the game is ideal for low scoring games in which his team keeps it tight in defense, controls the tempo and pounces on any mistake.
- The main components of this tactical strategy are the well-drilled back four and mid-block that allow for quick transitions down the flanks.
- Stevenage have been on a five-match run of form (W, D, W, D, L) since the regular season ended, but their last two wins were the most crucial.
- A 1-0 win at Wigan on the final day of the season secured sixth place and a play-off spot, and a composed 1-0 home win over Barnsley underlined that resilience.
Stockport County
- The County are more high-tempo and prefer to attack than sit back, but Challinor is not averse to a change of formation to make the most of the personnel at his disposal.
- Kyle Wootton is the leading scorer for the County in 2025-26, but Challinor has a number of different options to slot into the hole behind the striker to good effect.
- In Oliver Norwood, he has an experienced set-piece specialist who can also dictate the tempo in the middle of the park, while Jack Diamond has the pace to get in behind defences on the wide areas and the quality to play the killer pass.
Head-to-Head
- Stevenage finished sixth with 75 points in League One and clinched their play-off place with a gritty 1-0 away win at Wigan on the last day.
- Stevenage have won both of their League One meetings with Stockport, away 3-1 and at home 2-1.
Key Players
- Stevenage
- Jamie Reid is the main attacking focal point of the team with 14 goals in all competitions this season.
- He is a constant threat in the box, whether his team are on the front foot or counter-attacking.
- Harvey White tops the team's assist chart and will take corners and free kicks that have caused the opposition all kinds of trouble when he has found the right players at the right time.
- Filip Marshall has been the cornerstone of Stevenage’s success in 2025-26 with some fine saves and clean sheets in the run-in.
- Dan Kemp adds an attacking edge from midfield and has come on strong in the latter stages of matches.
- Stockport County
- Kyle Wootton is the leading scorer for the County in 2025-26, but Challinor has a number of different options to slot into the hole behind the striker to good effect.
- In Oliver Norwood, he has an experienced set-piece specialist who can also dictate the tempo in the middle of the park, while Jack Diamond has the pace to get in behind defences on the wide areas and the quality to play the killer pass.
- Daniel Phillips remains a selection doubt due to suspension.
Betting Insights
- Stockport are a higher-scoring team and are likely to press for the opening goal in this play-off clash, but it is difficult to predict the flow of the match as both managers have very different approaches to the same game.
- The odds of 2.5 for a home win seem to be on the short side, especially considering Stockport are available at 2.88 and the draw at 3.08.
- The draw makes sense here given the nature of the two clubs and the match, but the 2.5 goal line at 1.66 also looks way too short considering Stevenage’s recent pattern of tight victories.
- Backing the home side to avoid defeat and continue the momentum they have created with two wins over Stockport this season also makes sense given these two clubs have traded results in lower-league clashes.
Prediction
Stevenage’s style should suit a first-leg match-up, but a lot will depend on how each team approaches the 90 minutes and which players are selected.
