Football – England – Blue Square Premier
Saturday 19th January 2013 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
Fourth from bottom in the BSP, Stockport County, take on play-off candidates Forest Green Rovers at Edgeley Park on Saturday afternoon as they too will be looking to climb away from immediate danger by taking all the points here today.
I get the feeling this will be easier said than done though on the back of Stockport’s recent results; home losses to Hyde and Mansfield Town have been added to by a heavy 1-4 defeat at Cambridge United and a draw against AFC Telford. Stockport’s one success in their last nine matches was a 1-0 away win at Hyde on New Years Day but too many defeats have been inflicted upon the Lancashire side.
At home, Stockport County have not won in their last four matches as defeats against Southport, Hyde and Mansfield Town have been inflicted upon them with the aforementioned AFC Telford result the only point taken out of the last twelve on offer.
Stockport’s home record then stands at a disappointing 4-2-7 22/25, and they’ve kept just one clean sheet in their last twelve home matches so far which is not the kind of form you want under your belt when entertaining one of the top five in the BSP.
Onto Forest Green Rovers then, and the play-off candidates appear to be back on track again following back-to-back defeats against Braintree Town and Newport County, as they secured wins over second placed Newport County in a devastating 5-0 victory along with a 1-0 win at Hyde and a point at hard-working Nuneaton Town where many teams have failed to win so far this season.
Away from home, Forest Green have lost just once in their last six matches and they possess an overall away record of 7-3-4 20/14, have kept four clean sheets on their travels so far and failing to score just twice. It’s also worth pointing out that Forest Green have not lost to Stockport County in their previous three meetings, with two wins (4-1 at home and 1-0 away) along with a 1-1 draw.
Stockport County are no Nuneaton Town when it comes to solid home form, and with Forest Green being the better side and needing the points to keep the likes of Luton Town and Dartford at bay, I’ll back Forest Green for an away win here. Another 1-0 win for Forest Green.
Pick: Forest Green Rovers straight win @ 1.92 Pinnacle
