Luton Town head to the north-west to take on the other Hatters, and Sky Bet League One leaders Stockport County, as we return to league action on Saturday.
The Hatters are on a run of three straight wins in all competitions, with Jack Wilshere picking up his first three points as a full-time manager in our last league game away at Northampton a fortnight ago.
A 3-1 home win over Brighton Under-21s in the Vertu Trophy and a thrilling, if nerve-jangling 4-3 victory over National League high-flyers Forest Green in the FA Cup first round last Friday have given the mood around Kenilworth Road a positive injection going into the 3pm kick-off at Edgeley Park.
Dave Challinor's Stockport side will be aiming to make it five league wins in a row and eight unbeaten, with progress in the FA Cup also coming last Saturday with a 3-1 success at Tranmere.
Where to watch/follow
Not with us at Stockport? If you are located abroad, you can watch the game live on LTFC+ by either purchasing a Global Hatters membership or an individual match pass.
Our UK and Ireland based fans can listen to Simon Pitts’ live commentary by purchasing an LTFC+ audio pass.
Our dedicated match centre will be providing written coverage on Saturday, with the match centre starting on our website around two hours before kick-off.
The opposition
Saturday’s hosts Stockport have shown no sign of a hangover to last season's play-off semi-final defeat to Leyton Orient, currently sitting a point clear of Bradford at the top of the League One table.
The Hatters have lost just two of their opening 14 matches, 2-1 at home to the Bantams in August and 4-2 at Plymouth on September 6th, while winning eight.
Since that second defeat, Challinor's side have won five and drawn two of their last seven league matches, with their last two home games being won by a solitary goal against struggling Blackpool and Exeter City, followed by their most recent three-point haul coming with a 3-0 win at another side in the relegation zone, Port Vale.
The men to look out for in the Stockport side are the division's two leading goal contributors, experienced striker Kyle Wootton and evergreen midfielder Ollie Norwood, both pictured above.
Wootton has six goals and three assists to his name this term, while 34-year-old former Sheffield United man Norwood has a total of eight, with an even split of four of each.
Their defence isn't bad either, with three successive league clean sheets leading into tomorrow and opponents having mustered only five shots on target in those matches.
What the managers say
Jack Wilshere
"Stockport are a really good team, top of the league for a reason. Dave Challinor is a really experienced manager, who was actually on my Pro Licence course, a top guy and you tell someone who really understands the level and knows what it takes to get out of it.
"I would say they were probably a little bit unlucky last year with Wrexham and Birmingham being in the league, they would have probably gone up.
"It's a good chance for us to go and see where we are at. Of course, we are going there to try and win the game, but we also know that they have got some strengths that we are going to have to pay attention to, but then we have to play our game and do the things that we have been talking about."
On injuries, he added: “Jordan Clark is still not available, he won’t be too long, there were some tests that they had to do so unfortunately we don’t have Jordan. Shayden Morris is also not available yet, Reuell Walters is training with us but only the last couple of days so he needs a little bit of time.
Dave Challinor
“Jack’s career as a footballer has had a little bit of everything, but he’s been right at the top end. He’s taken the plunge, and has gone throughit with Arsenal Under-18s, then jumping across and getting an opportunity at Norwich and learning his trade.
"He decided to walk away because he wanted that number one job. I know he was considered and speaking to clubs within our division when we were on our graduation from our Pro Licence, and has been close to getting opportunities.
"But for him it’s full circle going back to the club where he started as an eight-year-old and wanting to get a club that has had a brilliant rise, back to, maybe not where they should be, but where they’ve been over the last two years. There is always going to be that drive, and I’m sure he will go on to be a brilliant manager over time."
Kit colours
We will be back in orange home shirt - which you can purchase here - at Stockport on Saturday, featuring the poppies on the front as this match is Stockport's Remembrance fixture.
The actual shirts from tomorrow's match will be available to purchase via Match Worn Shirt in the days after the match, with all proceeds going to the Royal British Legion. You can purchase a home shirt here!
Officials
Referee: Josh Smith
Assistant Referees: Shaun Hudson and Daniel Leach
Fourth Official: Robert Massey-Ellis
League One fixtures
Northampton Town v Mansfield Town (12.30pm)
Wycombe Wanderers v Leyton Orient (12.30pm)
Blackpool v Cardiff City
Bolton Wanderers v Port Vale
Bradford City v Burton Albion
Doncaster Rovers v Barnsley
Exeter City v Wigan Athletic
Huddersfield Town v Plymouth Argyle
Peterborough United v AFC Wimbledon
Rotherham United v Lincoln City
Love Football. Protect The Game.
Luton Town Football Club has committed in its customer charter to providing safe match-day experiences for all supporters regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation, and this applies equally to home and away fixtures.
In the event that any Luton supporters do make discriminatory chants, the Club will work with the police and football authorities to help identify such individuals. Any such fans would then face the strictest club sanctions, including football banning orders that would prevent them attending any matches, in addition to any criminal charges.
Furthermore, we would like to warn against pitch incursions and the use of pyrotechnics or missiles – which could lead to potential prosecution.
The Club can also be held responsible for the behaviour of its supporters, which could lead to substantial fines being imposed.
As a diverse and inclusive football club, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our fellow EFL clubs in supporting the FA’s ‘Love Football. Protect the Game’ campaign and call on all fans to enjoy the game in a positive spirit.
If you are offended by any discriminatory abuse of any kind at any of our games, you can report it by clicking HERE, or by contacting your nearest steward immediately.
Alternatively, email [email protected] or report the incident via Kick it Out's free, confidential reporting app on the App Store and Google Play.
We're all Luton.
