Stockport County welcome Peterborough United to Edgeley Park on 26 September 2026, ninth in League One with 10 points from seven games and already the division's highest scorers, whereas Peterborough sit 23rd with just five points and arrive under caretaker management after Luke Williams's sacking.
Jimmy McNulty, appointed on 5 June 2026 and caretaker Ryan Harley, installed on 19 September 2026, have never faced each other. McNulty has taken 10 points from seven games since his June appointment, while Harley has no recognised senior centre back available, which removes any choice about how he sets up defensively. Stockport's last five reads W-D-L-L-W, the most recent a 0-0 draw at Sheffield Wednesday on 20 September despite registering 18 shots, before which came a 3-4 loss at Leicester City around 13 September and earlier wins over Wigan Athletic (4-0), Plymouth Argyle and Wycombe Wanderers. Peterborough's last five reads L-D-L-D-L, the most recent a 0-2 home defeat to Doncaster Rovers on 19 September that triggered the managerial change.
Stockport are without Brad Hills, Ryan Rydel and Adama Sidibeh through injury, though 16 goals in seven league matches suggests the attack has absorbed the losses well. Peterborough's situation is considerably worse: Tom O'Connor is a doubt, multiple senior defenders are out and 18 year old Lucca Mendonca is reportedly the only confirmed fit centre back, which is about as thin a defensive basis as any side could bring to a away fixture.
Stockport's high pressing game has made them the most prolific side in League One. Jack Diamond and Kyle Wootton have four goals each and Harry Wood has three, with Norwood and Bate supplying chances from midfield regularly. There will be space to exploit between the lines and in behind a Peterborough defence missing experienced personnel.
Peterborough have scored the fewest goals of any side in the bottom six and conceded at more than two per game. Ben Woods has two goals from midfield and Harry Leonard leads the line but Harley has had less than a week with the squad and his defensive shape is an open question. Leonard's movement in behind is Peterborough's most obvious outlet if they can win the ball high up the pitch, though the absence of senior defenders makes sustained resistance unlikely. Stockport lose defensive cover in Hills and Rydel but have enough attacking depth to maintain pressure throughout and Peterborough's reliance on youth at the back increases the likelihood of individual errors under a sustained high press.
Recent meetings have been reasonably balanced, with Stockport winning 3-1 at home on 25 April 2026, Peterborough taking a 3-0 win on 20 November 2025, a 1-1 draw on 18 April 2025 and a 2-1 Stockport win on 20 December 2024. Norwood's delivery at set pieces is a problem Peterborough's makeshift backline has no senior aerial presence to deal with and the injuries at the back make lapses under sustained dead ball pressure more likely than not.
Stockport 3-0 Peterborough. Diamond, Wootton and Wood should find openings regularly and the absence of O'Connor alongside multiple senior defenders leaves Peterborough unable to cope for ninety minutes. A clean sheet is realistic. Peterborough have scored once in their last three away games and arrive without established starters in midfield. A defeat here would leave Peterborough six points from safety before October.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
