Stockport County vs. Charlton Athletic

Stockport County and Charlton Athletic will lock horns on Wednesday evening, with a spot in the third round of the FA Cup on offer for the two sides.

The pair could not be separated when they met on November 26, with Stockport scoring a 97th-minute leveller to secure a replay against the League One outfit.

Match preview

Stockport County's Antoni Sarcevic reacts with teammates after missing a penalty during the shootout on August 23, 2022

Stockport took the lead against Charlton at the Valley, registering in the third minute of the contest through Chris Hussey, but the Addicks then turned it around to lead 2-1 late in the first period.

The League Two outfit looked to be heading out of the FA Cup, as the match went into stoppage time, but Myles Hippolyte scored in the 97th minute of the contest to make it 2-2.

The Hatters were promoted from the National League as champions last season, and they will be pleased with their opening months of the 2022-23 campaign, currently sitting 12th in the League Two table.

Dave Challinor’s side will enter this match off the back of a thumping 5-0 victory over Hartlepool United in the league on Saturday, and they have only lost once in all competitions since the middle of October.

Stockport recorded a 4-0 victory over Swindon Town in the first round of the competition towards the start of November, and the League Two side will now be looking to pull off an upset in round two.

Swindon Town coach Ben Garner reacts on January 7, 2022

Charlton, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town in League One on Friday, which has left them in 17th position in the table.

The Addicks have struggled for consistency this season, picking up just 24 points from their 20 matches courtesy of a record of five wins, nine draws and six defeats.

Ben Garner’s side are seven points clear of the relegation zone, though, and it would be a huge shock if they were pulled into any sort of serious relegation battle this season.

Charlton actually won the FA Cup in 1946-47, recording a 1-0 victory over Burnley, with Chris Duffy scoring the only goal of the contest.

The League One side recorded a 4-1 victory over Coalville Town to advance to this stage of the competition, and while it is not a priority tournament for the club this term, they will be desperate to avoid an upset.

Team News

Stockport boss Challinor will make changes from the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Hartlepool in the league on Saturday.

Kyle Wootton hit a brace last time out and is set to keep his spot, but he could now be joined in the final third of the field by Oliver Crankshaw, who came off the bench at the weekend.

Callum Camps and Joe Lewis started the first clash with Charlton, meanwhile, and they are expected to be introduced into the XI for this match.

As for Charlton, there will be alterations from the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Cheltenham in the league on Friday.

Chuks Aneke, Samuel Lavelle and Ashley Maynard-Brewer should be among those to come into the XI for this match, having started the clash between the two sides at the end of last month.

However, Steven Sessegnon and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi should be among those to keep their spots.

Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchliffe; Wright, Lewis, Hussey; Southam-Hales, Collar, Camps, Croasdale, Rydel; Wootton, Crankshaw

Charlton Athletic possible starting lineup:
Maynard-Brewer; Clare, Lavelle, Inniss, Sessegnon; Morgan, Dobson, Fraser; Rak-Sakyi, Aneke, Kirk

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