Crewe Alexandra vs Stockport County — Match Preview
The EFL Trophy knockout stages arrive at the Mornflake Stadium (Alexandra Stadium) this Tuesday as Crewe Alexandra host League One side Stockport County in the Round of 32.
For Lee Bell’s Crewe Alexandra, this competition has been a bright spark in a fluctuating season. Having topped their group with a perfect record (including a win over Liverpool U21s), the Railwaymen will view this as a “free hit” against higher-division opposition. However, they enter this tie on a slight wobble, winless in their last three League Two outings, including a frustrating 2-1 loss to Cambridge United last weekend.
Stockport County, managed by Dave Challinor, arrive in Cheshire with a point to prove. Their recent form has been inconsistent, typified by a 3-0 loss to Peterborough and a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Barnsley. While the Hatters’ priority remains their League One campaign, Challinor will likely demand a professional performance to build momentum and avoid an upset against a side they beat comfortably earlier in the season.
Crewe Alexandra vs Stockport County — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Crewe Alexandra vs Stockport County
- Competition: EFL Trophy (Round of 32)
- Venue: Mornflake Stadium, Crewe (Capacity: 10,153)
- Date: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
- Kickoff Time: 19:00 GMT
- Referee: Richie Watkins
- TV Channel: Sky Sports+ (UK)
- Live Stream: Sky Go, iFollow
Crewe Alexandra vs Stockport County — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Crewe Alexandra:
- League Position: Mid-table in League Two.
- Form: Stuttering. After a strong start to November, they have drawn two and lost one of their last three games. The 2-1 defeat to Cambridge highlighted defensive lapses late in games.
- EFL Trophy Record: Excellent. They won all 3 group games, showing they take this competition seriously as a platform for their younger talents.
Stockport County:
- League Position: Playoff chasers in League One.
- Form: Inconsistent. They have won just one of their last four games across all competitions. The 1-1 draw vs Barnsley showed resilience, but they struggled to create clear-cut chances.
- Previous Meeting: Stockport won 3-1 in the EFL Cup back in August, giving them a psychological edge.
Crewe Alexandra vs Stockport County — Team News
Crewe Alexandra:
- Injuries: Shilow Tracey (broken leg) and Joel Tabiner (ligament) remain long-term absentees. Josh March is a doubt with a hamstring issue.
- Suspensions: Max Sanders has served his suspension and should be available to return to the midfield, providing a much-needed boost.
- Rotation: Lee Bell is expected to rotate but keep a strong spine. Expect Filip Marschall to continue in goal for cup competitions, while young prospects who impressed in the group stage may get another run-out.
Stockport County:
- Injuries: Ben Osborn remains a doubt with a recurring muscle issue.
- Rotation: Dave Challinor has hinted at changes to keep his squad fresh for the league. This could mean starts for fringe players like Michael Mellon or Jayden Fevrier to stake a claim for the first team.
- Key Man: Louie Barry (if selected) has been the standout performer this season. Even a cameo from the bench could be decisive.
Crewe Alexandra vs Stockport County — Head to Head
- 13 Aug 2025: Stockport 3–1 Crewe (EFL Cup)
- 14 Feb 2024: Stockport 1–3 Crewe (League Two)
- 25 Oct 2023: Crewe 0–2 Stockport (League Two)
- 01 Feb 2023: Crewe 1–1 Stockport (League Two)
- 26 Dec 2022: Stockport 2–0 Crewe (League Two)
Crewe Alexandra vs Stockport County — Predicted Lineups
Crewe Alexandra (3-5-2):
- GK: Filip Marschall
- CB: Mickey Demetriou (C)
- CB: Zac Williams
- CB: James Connolly
- RWB: Ryan Cooney
- CM: Max Sanders
- CM: Jack Lankester
- CM: Matus Holicek
- LWB: Max Conway
- ST: Kane Hemmings
- ST: Omar Bogle
Stockport County (3-4-3):
- GK: Ben Hinchliffe
- CB: Fraser Horsfall
- CB: Ethan Pye
- CB: Ibou Touray
- RWB: Macauley Southam-Hales
- CM: Callum Camps
- CM: Oliver Norwood
- LWB: Tayo Adaramola
- RW: Jack Diamond
- ST: Michael Mellon
- LW: Jayden Fevrier
Crewe Alexandra vs Stockport County — Prediction
Score Prediction: Crewe Alexandra 1–2 Stockport County
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Stockport County to Win.
- Both Teams to Score: YES (Crewe score freely at home in this cup; Stockport’s defense has been leaky).
- Over/Under: Over 2.5 Goals (Cup ties between these two often open up).
Analysis: Crewe have been fantastic in the group stages, but the step up in quality against a League One side—even a rotated one—is significant. Stockport have the depth to field a lineup full of players hungry for minutes. While Crewe will make it competitive and likely score, Stockport’s superior firepower and recent H2H dominance should see them edge into the last 16.
Crewe Alexandra vs Stockport County — Final Word
This is a classic “Banana Skin” tie for Stockport County, but one they should navigate if their attitude is right. Crewe Alexandra will look to play on the front foot, but their recent defensive wobbles might be their undoing against higher-tier opposition.
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Will the Railwaymen cause an upset, or will the Hatters march on? Drop your score predictions below!
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