Stockport County vs Stevenage Prediction 13.05.2026 | League One

Stockport County head into this decisive second-leg encounter holding a slender, yet valuable, advantage after securing a dramatic 1-0 victory at the Lamex Stadium, with Ben Osborn’s stoppage-time strike placing the Hatters firmly in control of the tie ahead of their return to Edgeley Park.

After finishing third in the regular season for a second consecutive campaign, Dave Challinor’s side have once again built their promotion challenge around a formidable home record, winning 10 of their 13 matches across all competitions on home soil during the 2025-26 season, turning Edgeley Park into one of the division’s most intimidating venues.

The painful memories of last season’s playoff semi-final heartbreak against Leyton Orient still linger around the club, a disappointment that Challinor has openly referenced as a driving force behind a squad that now appears far more battle-hardened and composed in high-pressure moments.

However, the Hatters will be unable to call upon Callum Connolly, Brad Hills, Arttu Hoskonen and Tyler Onyango, with all four sidelined through injury, while defender Joseph Olowu remains a major doubt for the contest.

Stevenage make the trip to Edgeley Park with their promotion hopes hanging by a thread, following a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat in the first leg, where a costly defensive lapse deep into stoppage time erased 90 minutes of disciplined and resilient work.

The Boro head into the return fixture as the surprise package of the play-off race, having dramatically snatched sixth place on the final day of the regular season courtesy of a stoppage-time 1-0 victory over Wigan Athletic, a result that capped off an impressive late push into the top six.

Although their away form has been somewhat inconsistent throughout the campaign, averaging just over a point per game on the road, Alex Revell’s side have built a reputation as one of the division’s toughest teams to break down, relying heavily on a league-high tally of 19 clean sheets, anchored by Golden Glove winner Filip Marschall between the posts.

Unlike their opponents, Stevenage head into this encounter with relatively few injury concerns, as Harry Cornick remains the only confirmed absentee due to an ankle issue, while Lewis Freestone is considered doubtful after missing the previous couple of matches for undisclosed reasons.