Stockport County are the visitors to The Hive London this afternoon for a 3pm kick off, as 10^th takes on 13^th.

Nickname: The Hatters, County

Manager: Jim Gannon

Stadium: Edgeley Park

League Position: 13^th (National League)

 

Form Guide:

Stockport County FC: Last 5 = W2 D1 L2

Stockport 1 – 0 Dagenham and Redbridge

Stockport 1 – 3 Woking

Bromley 2 – 2 Stockport

Dover Athletic 0 – 1 Stockport

York City 2 – 0 Stockport

 

Barnet FC: Last 5 = W2 D0 L3

Barnet 0 – 2 Fleetwood

Barnet 2 – 1 Chorley

Harrogate Town 2 – 1 Barnet

Hartlepool 2 – 0 Barnet

Barnet 3 – 1 Potters Bar Town

 

The Opposition:

Having won the National League North title last season, Stockport have started the new campaign well, currently sitting in 13^th. A mixed bag of results in the last 5 games has seen the Hatters level on points with the Bees with 28.

Under Jim Gannon, Stockport have proven a difficult side to beat since returning to the fifth tier and raised eyebrows when they were unlucky not to beat top of the table side Bromley in late October.

 

The Gaffer: Jim Gannon

Gannon is a much-travelled player and manager and spent 10 years at Stockport between 1990 and 2000, as well as wearing the shirts of Dundalk in Ireland, Notts County and Crewe Alexandra in a 17-year playing career.

In his third stint at Edgeley Park, Gannon has managed in Scotland with Motherwell, and in Ireland with Dundalk, but has also taken the reigns at Peterborough United, Port Vale and Northwick Victoria.

Having won the title last season, Gannon has led his side to mid-table in the league this campaign, with an eye on advancing up the table with six months left of the season to play.

 

One to watch: Elliot Osborne

A creative midfielder with four goals this season in the league, Osborne is a player with an eye for a goal. This is his third spell with Stockport, having spent time with the club on loan in 2017 and 2018, signing permanently last November.

He began his career with Port Vale as a youngster, before spells with Newcastle Town and Nantwich Town, where he earnt a move to Fleetwood having scored 22 goals from midfield. This campaign, he has been one of the Hatters star performers, and a dangerous goal threat for defences to contain.

 

Darren Currie’s thoughts:

 

Coverage

Today’s game can be followed via iBarnet where Sam Avery and Adam Rowe will be providing full 90-minute commentary.

Alternatively, minute-by-minute match updates will be provided via the official Club Twitter account, @BarnetFC.