Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Match Preview
Boxing Day football arrives at Edgeley Park on Friday, 26 December 2025, as promotion-chasing Stockport County host relegation-threatened Doncaster Rovers. The Hatters sit 5th in the table with 35 points and will look to solidify their playoff standing after a solid 2–1 win away at Mansfield. In stark contrast, Doncaster Rovers are in freefall. Grant McCann’s side languish in 23rd place (22 points) and have conceded 12 goals in their last three league matches, including a humiliating 1–5 home defeat to Plymouth last weekend. Stockport won the reverse fixture 2–0 just two weeks ago, and they will be confident of completing the double in front of a festive home crowd.
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Match Info
- Competition: League One (Matchday 22)
- Venue: Edgeley Park, Stockport (Capacity: 10,841)
- Date: Friday, 26 December 2025 (Boxing Day)
- Kickoff: 15:00 GMT | 16:00 CET | 10:00 ET
- Referee: TBC (EFL Appointment)
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Match Stakes
Stockport County (5th — 35 pts):
- Win → Moves to 38 pts; keeps pace with the top 2 and cements playoff grip.
- Draw → Maintains top 6 spot but viewed as two points dropped against struggling opposition.
- Loss → Could drop to 6th or 7th; dents morale after recent good away form.
Doncaster Rovers (23rd — 22 pts):
- Win → Moves to 25 pts; potentially lifts them out of the relegation zone if results go their way.
- Draw → Stops the losing streak (3 games); a morale-boosting point on the road.
- Loss → Crisis deepens; gap to safety could widen to 4+ points; heavy pressure on the manager.
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Team News
Stockport County:
- Full Squad Available: No major fresh injuries reported after the Mansfield win.
- Wootton K. — Expected to start (Top Scorer).
- Olaofe T. — Available (Pace threat).
- Defensive Stability: Manager Dave Challinor likely to stick with the back three that has served them well, despite the blip vs Stevenage.
Doncaster Rovers:
- Defensive Crisis: After conceding 5 vs Plymouth and 3 vs Cardiff, changes are expected in the backline.
- Molyneux L. — Available (Key Creator).
- Sharp B. — Available (Veteran striker needed for leadership).
- Confidence Low: The squad is leaking goals (-14 Goal Difference), and morale is fragile.
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Team Form (Last 5 Matches)
Stockport County
- 20/12 — 2–1 vs Mansfield (League One)
- 13/12 — 1–3 vs Stevenage (League One)
- 10/12 — 2–0 vs Doncaster (League One)
- 06/12 — 0–1 vs Cambridge Utd (FA Cup)
- 04/12 — 2–1 vs Crewe (EFL Trophy)
Doncaster Rovers
- 20/12 — 1–5 vs Plymouth (League One)
- 13/12 — 3–4 vs Cardiff (League One)
- 10/12 — 0–2 vs Stockport (League One)
- 07/12 — 2–1 vs Chesterfield (FA Cup)
- 03/12 — 5–1 vs Chesterfield (EFL Trophy)
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Head-to-Head (Last 5 Meetings)
- 10/12/2025 — Doncaster 0–2 Stockport (League One)
- 27/01/2024 — Doncaster 1–5 Stockport (League Two)
- 07/10/2023 — Stockport 1–0 Doncaster (League Two)
- 04/03/2023 — Stockport 0–0 Doncaster (League Two)
- 17/08/2022 — Doncaster 2–1 Stockport (League Two)
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Playing XI (Predicted Lineups)
Stockport County (3-5-2)
Hinchliffe; Horsfall, Pye, Connolly; Southam-Hales, Camps, Bate, Powell, Touray; Wootton, Olaofe
Doncaster Rovers (4-2-3-1)
Lawlor; Sterry, Anderson, Olowu, Maxwell; Bailey, Broadbent; Molyneux, Clifton, Gibson; Ironside
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Impact Bench
Stockport County: Barry (Game-changer), Madden (Experience)
Doncaster Rovers: Sharp (Goal poacher), Adelakun (Direct pace)
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Tactical Analysis
Stockport County
Dave Challinor’s side will look to dominate physically. With Kyle Wootton leading the line, they have a focal point to play off, allowing dynamic midfielders like Callum Camps to arrive late in the box. Stockport’s wing-backs will push high, pinning Doncaster back. Having already beaten Doncaster 2–0 away recently, they know exactly how to exploit Rovers’ defensive gaps.
Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster are in disarray defensively, conceding 35 goals in 21 games. They try to play expansive football but are getting punished in transition. To get a result, they must tighten up and rely on Luke Molyneux’s individual brilliance on the counter-attack. Expect them to try and slow the game down to frustrate the Edgeley Park crowd.
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Key Battles
- Wootton vs Anderson — Physical duel in the box.
- Camps vs Bailey — Battle for midfield control.
- Molyneux vs Touray — Doncaster’s best attacker vs Stockport’s reliable wing-back.
- Hinchliffe vs Ironside — GK needs to command his area against set-pieces.
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Spotlight Players
Stockport County — Kyle Wootton
The big striker is the perfect target man for League One. His hold-up play brings others into the game, and he scored in the reverse fixture earlier this month.
Doncaster Rovers — Luke Molyneux
The one shining light in a tough season. Molyneux has the ability to score from nothing, and Doncaster will need a moment of magic from him to salvage anything from this game.
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Prediction
Stockport County 3–1 Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster’s defense is currently too fragile to trust, especially against a Stockport side that scores freely at home (28 goals this season). Stockport have the psychological edge from their recent H2H wins and should secure a comfortable Boxing Day victory.
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Betting Insights
- Stockport to Win — High Probability
- Over 2.5 Goals — Likely (Doncaster concede 1.6 goals/game)
- Kyle Wootton to Score — High Value
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Where to Watch
- UK: Sky Sports+ (Red Button)
- International: iFollow (Select Regions)
Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — FAQs
Q: When is the Stockport vs Doncaster match?
A: The match kicks off on Friday, 26 December 2025, at 15:00 GMT.
Q: Who is the favorite?
A: Stockport County are heavy favorites due to their league position (5th) and Doncaster’s poor form (23rd).
Q: Did they play recently?
A: Yes, Stockport beat Doncaster 2–0 away on December 10th, 2025.
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Stockport County vs Doncaster Rovers — Match Preview
