Stevenage vs Stockport Predictions

• Louie Barry has 27 goals in 45 league appearances for Stockport
• Stevenage have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight meetings with these opponents
• Seven of the last eight head-to-heads have gone over 2.5 goals

Defence vs attack

Stevenage and Stockport produced dramatic wins to ensure their League One play-off spots on the final day of the season and now the pair face off in the first leg of their semi-final.

This should be a fascinating matchup, with County much the stronger team for the majority of the season before a defensive injury crisis saw them fall away towards the end of the campaign.

By contrast, Stevenage’s resolute defending has been crucial to their success, only league leaders Lincoln conceded fewer goals than their 46 in 46 games.

Barry can net

Stockport’s injury crisis has meant that star striker Kyle Wootton has had to play central defence but they have a pretty solid replacement in Louie Barry, who has not played as much as he would have liked after struggling with injury and a suspension since his February loan.

It is the Aston Villa forward’s third loan spell at the club and he has an impressive goalscoring record, netting 27 goals in 45 league games for Stockport. If there are any players who can produce a piece of magic to decide the first leg of this game, it could be Barry.

Seven of the last meetings between these two have gone over 2.5 goals and Stockport are fancied to edge a 2-1 win.