Stockport County vs Barnsley: Preview, Prediction, Lineups

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Match Preview

A pivotal League One clash takes place under the lights at Edgeley Park this Tuesday as playoff-chasing Stockport County host a resurgent Barnsley. Currently sitting 5th in the table, Dave Challinor’s Stockport have enjoyed a strong start to the campaign but come into this game looking to bounce back from a heavy 3-0 defeat to Peterborough.

Their opponents, Barnsley, are flying high after a stunning 5-0 demolition of Luton Town last weekend. Now managed by player-coach Conor Hourihane, the Tykes have climbed to 10th and are just four points behind their hosts with two games in hand. With both sides eyeing promotion, this is a genuine six-pointer in the race for the Championship.

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Quick Match Info

Fixture: Stockport County vs Barnsley
Competition: League One (Matchday 17)
Venue: Edgeley Park, Stockport (Capacity: 10,841)
Date: Tuesday, 27 November 2025 (Date adjusted to match weekday context)
Kickoff Time: 19:45 GMT / 20:45 CET / 01:15 IST (Wednesday)
Referee: Craig Hicks
TV Channel (UK): Sky Sports+
TV Channel (International): iFollow
Live Stream: Sky Go, iFollow

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Match Context (2025/26 Season)

Stockport County:

Position: 5th in League One (28 Points).
Form: Mixed. They have won 3 of their last 5 games, but the losses have been heavy (0-3 vs Luton, 0-3 vs Peterborough). Their goal difference (+2) is surprisingly low for a top-six side.
Current Challenge: Finding defensive consistency. Conceding six goals in their last two league defeats is a major worry for Challinor.

Barnsley:

Position: 10th in League One (24 Points).
Form: erratic but explosive. They have alternated between wins and losses recently, but the 5-0 win over Luton was a statement performance.
Current Challenge: Away form. Can they replicate their dazzling home performances on the road at a tough ground like Edgeley Park?

Stockport County vs Barnsley — What’s at Stake

For Stockport County:

Solidifying Playoff Spot: A win would keep them firmly in the top 6 and potentially close the gap on the automatic promotion places. A loss could see them dragged back into the mid-table pack.

For Barnsley:

Closing the Gap: A win away at a direct rival would be massive. It would move them to within one point of Stockport with games in hand, signaling their intent to crash the playoff party.

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Team Form

Stockport County (Last 5 Matches):

L vs Peterborough (0-3)
W vs Wigan (2-1 – Trophy)
L vs Luton Town (0-3)
W vs Tranmere (3-1 – FA Cup)
W vs Port Vale (3-0)

Barnsley (Last 5 Matches):

W vs Luton Town (5-0)
L vs Lincoln City (0-2 – Trophy)
W vs Doncaster (2-1)
W vs York City (3-2 – FA Cup)
L vs Rotherham (0-1)

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Team News

Stockport County:

Lewis Bate: Out (Knee Injury – A huge loss in midfield control).
Tayo Edun: Out (Ankle Injury).
Oliver Norwood: Out (Inactive).
Tyler Onyango: Questionable (Inactive/Fitness).
Ben Osborn: Questionable (Inactive).
Key Man: Kyle Wootton continues to lead the line, looking to add to his goal tally.

Barnsley:

Fabio Jalo: Out (Knee Injury – The exciting young forward is missing).
Jonathan Bland: Suspended (Yellow Cards accumulation).
Artturi Hoskonen: Questionable (Muscle Injury).
Georgie Gent: Out (Inactive).
Davis Keillor-Dunn: Fresh off a starring role in the 5-0 win, he is the main danger man.

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Head to Head

08 Feb 2025: Stockport 2–1 Barnsley
29 Sep 2024: Barnsley 1–1 Stockport
22 Jan 2005: Stockport 2–2 Barnsley
28 Dec 2004: Barnsley 3–3 Stockport
08 May 2004: Stockport 2–3 Barnsley

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Predicted Lineups

Stockport County (3-5-2):

Challinor likely reshuffles to tighten up the defense after shipping three goals.

GK: Ben Hinchliffe
CB: Callum Connolly
CB: Ibou Touray (Replacing the injured/inactive Hills)
CB: Ethan Pye
RWB: Kyle Knoyle
CM: Callum Camps
CM: Jayden Fevrier (Operating in a deeper role or wide)
CM: Odin Bailey
LWB: Macauley Southam-Hales
ST: Jack Diamond
ST: Kyle Wootton

Barnsley (3-4-1-2):

Hourihane will likely keep faith with the XI that destroyed Luton, with minor tweaks for the suspended Bland.

GK: Paul Cooper (Note: Listed as 1 in recent lineup)
CB: Marc Roberts (C)
CB: Mael Durand de Gevigney (Expected to start given Hoskonen doubt)
CB: Josh Earl
RWB: Corey O’Keeffe
CM: Luca Connell
CM: Matthew Craig
LWB: Kyran Lofthouse
CAM: Davis Keillor-Dunn
ST: Sam Cosgrove
ST: Stephen Humphrys

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Impact Bench Options

Stockport County:

Nathan Lowe: A physical presence off the bench if Stockport need to go long.
Malik Mothersille: Offers pace and direct running against tired legs.

Barnsley:

Adam Phillips: One of the best midfielders in the league on his day. If he’s fit enough for the bench, he’s a game-changer.
David McGoldrick: The veteran striker has the quality to unlock a tight game in the final 15 minutes.

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Tactical Outlook

Stockport County:

Playing Style: Wing-Back Overloads. Challinor relies heavily on his wing-backs providing width. Without Bate in the middle to dictate play, they might look to bypass midfield and hit Wootton early.
Weakness: Defensive Fragility. They have looked vulnerable to pace on the break in recent weeks. Barnsley’s energetic front line will test their recovery runs.

Barnsley:

Playing Style: High Energy Press. Under Hourihane, they play with intensity. The 5-0 win vs Luton showed they can be ruthless when they win the ball high up the pitch.
Strength: Set Pieces. With Roberts and Earl, they are giants in the box. Stockport must avoid giving away cheap free-kicks.

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Key Battles

Matchup	Battle Type	Edge
Kyle Wootton vs. Marc Roberts	Heavyweight Fight: Wootton loves a physical battle. Roberts is an experienced warrior. Whoever wins the aerial duels wins the game.	Tie
Callum Camps vs. Luca Connell	Midfield Control: Both players are technically gifted. With Bate out, Camps has extra responsibility to stop Connell from running the show.	Barnsley
Jack Diamond vs. Josh Earl	Pace vs. Power: Diamond’s speed in the channels is Stockport’s best outlet. Earl needs to be disciplined and not get dragged wide.	Stockport

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Spotlight Players

Davis Keillor-Dunn (Barnsley):

The creative spark for the Tykes. He floats between the lines and has an eye for a spectacular goal. If Stockport’s defensive midfielders don’t track him, he will punish them.

Kyle Wootton (Stockport County):

Stockport’s talisman. When the team is struggling, he is the one who holds the ball up and brings others into play. He scored in the last H2H win and will be desperate to lead his team back to winning ways.

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Fan Reactions

Stockport Fans:

“We need a reaction after the Peterborough mess. Edgeley Park needs to be rocking.”

“No Lewis Bate is a massive miss. Someone else needs to step up in midfield.”

Barnsley Fans:

“5-0 against Luton! We are back! Let’s smash Stockport and get into the playoffs.”

“Hourihane is doing a great job. In Conor we trust!”

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Match-Defining Factors

Confidence Levels: Barnsley are buzzing; Stockport are bruising. If Barnsley score early, the home crowd could get anxious very quickly.
Midfield Battle: Without Bate (Stockport) and potentially Phillips (Barnsley bench), the midfield battle will be scrappy. The team that wins the second balls will control the territory.
Set Pieces: In tight League One games, corners often decide the result. Barnsley have a clear height advantage.

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Prediction

Score Prediction: Stockport County 2–2 Barnsley

Betting Insights:

Outcome: Draw or Over 2.5 Goals.
Both Teams to Score: YES (Stockport score at home; Barnsley are fresh off scoring 5).
Anytime Goalscorer: Davis Keillor-Dunn (Barnsley).

Analysis: Barnsley have all the momentum, but Stockport are a wounded animal at home. While Barnsley’s attack looks lethal right now, their away form is still inconsistent. Expect an entertaining, open game where both defenses struggle to keep a clean sheet, ultimately sharing the spoils.

Stockport County vs Barnsley — Final Word

This has all the ingredients of a Tuesday night classic. Stockport County are fighting to prove they are genuine contenders, while Barnsley arrive with the swagger of a team that just won 5-0. It will be physical, it will be intense, and it will likely be full of goals. Don’t miss this one.

Stockport County vs Barnsley — FAQs

When is the Stockport vs Barnsley match?

The match kicks off on Tuesday, 27 November 2025, at 19:45 GMT.

Is Fabio Jalo playing?

No, Barnsley’s young forward Fabio Jalo is out with a knee injury.

Who is the Barnsley manager?

Conor Hourihane is the current player-coach of Barnsley.

Where can I watch the match in the UK?

You can watch the match live on Sky Sports+ or via iFollow.

Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community

Can the Tykes make it two big wins in a row? Drop your score predictions below!

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