Stockport County FC Face Leyton Orient in League One Play-Off Semi-Final
The League One Play-Offs are set to get underway this weekend, with Stockport County FC potentially just three games away from securing a return to the Championship. The team will travel to Leyton Orient for the first leg of their semi-final, looking to make a strong impression and bring a positive result back to Edgeley Park.
According to Stockport County’s official website, the team secured a highest finish in the third tier of English football since 1996/97 last weekend with a 3-1 win at fellow play-off semi-finalists Wycombe Wanderers. Despite falling behind in the first half, goals from Beno Andrésson, Ollie Norwood, and Will Collar saw the Hatters once again come from behind to secure three points at Adams Park.
As the source reports, Stockport County ended the campaign five points shy of the automatic promotion places with 87 points, a new club-record points tally for the third tier, after winning seven of their final eight games and losing just two of their final 21 league fixtures.
Form goes out of the window now, though, as the team enters the mini-competition of the play-offs, facing a two-legged tie against a Leyton Orient side who ended the campaign in sixth place. Richie Wellens’ side won their final six games of the season to clinch the final play-off spot on the final day of the campaign, finishing three points clear of Reading following a 4-1 win at Huddersfield Town.
As quoted in Stockport County’s official website, Leyton Orient are bidding to reach the second tier for the first time since 1982, just two years on from winning the League Two title. The Os have had a remarkable turnaround in their fortunes, having found themselves in the relegation zone as late as December, after winning only four of their opening 16 league games.
The two teams have a history of competitive matches, with Saturday’s game set to be the 67th competitive meeting between the two sides. The source states that Stockport County have won 21 of those previous encounters, with Orient winning 28 of them. Six of the last eight meetings between these two sides have been won by the away side, including each of the last four.
Stockport County will be looking to make a strong impression in the play-offs, having conceded the first goal in each of their last five games, but have come back to pick up 13 points during that run. As Stockport County’s official website reports, the team will be without the services of several key players, but will be buoyed by their impressive form over the course of the season.
In related news, Leyton Orient’s manager, Richie Wellens, will be looking to lead his side to a positive result, having achieved so much in his time at the club, winning the League Two title just two years ago. Wellens will now prepare for the first play-off campaign of his managerial career – and much like Stockport County, his side will be heading into Saturday’s game with form and momentum behind them, looking to cap an unforgettable season with glory at Wembley.
The match statistics, as provided by Stockport County’s official website, show that:
* Saturday will be the 67th competitive meeting between the two sides, who first met in December 1905.
* Six of the last eight meetings between these two sides have been won by the away side, including each of the last four.
* This will be Stockport County’s seventh play-off campaign in the Football League, and their first in the third tier since 1994. Of those six previous occasions, Stockport County have progressed to the final four times.
* Over the last 20 games in League One, only Champions Birmingham City picked up more than Stockport County’s 46.
* Stockport County have conceded the first goal in each of their last five games, but have come back to pick up 13 points during that run.
The stage is set for an exciting encounter between Stockport County and Leyton Orient, with both teams looking to make a strong impression and take a positive step towards the League One Play-Off final.
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