The Foxes travel to Edgeley Park to face Stockport for the second time in five days following a 1-0 carling cup victory on Tuesday night.
Vital Quotes:
This will not be an easy game for the Blue Army but I would expect a good result. County, who drew away from home to Huddersfield last week will be hoping to put our clash on Tuesday behind them. Leicester forward, Matty Fryatt who got a brace in the first game of the season against MK Dons will be hoping to add to his goal tally of 2.
Stockport County Team News:
Matty McNeil is suspended after his straight red card in the Carling Cup match on Tuesday and Jason Taylor is still injured.
Player to watch: Tommy Rowe
The 19 year old came through the Stockport youth system and made his debut when he was only 17. The left-winger impressed manager Jim Gannon so much after scoring a hat-trick against Rotherham that Gannon stated: “Physically, he is a supreme athlete with Premier League fitness and technically he is excellent. What an accomplished performance – the only thing is maybe the England scouts won’t come to look at him. I’ve said it to him personally, I think he has a great future.” If anybody is to create the spark for Stockport it is most likely to be Rowe.
Leicester City Team News:
City travel to Edgeley Park with only long-term absentees, Patrick Kisnorbo, Stephen Clemence and Joe Mattock set to miss out. The injury to Mattock from midweek will cause a selection problem for Nigel Pearson as Leicester don’t have a recognised left-back in the squad. Unless Pearson goes into the transfer market in such short notice it could be Levi Porter who could well play at left-back having played their before in his youth days.
Player to watch: Matty Fryatt
Last week, my man to watch was Maxi Gradel and this week it was a tough call between Fryatt and Gradel but Fryatt has just piped Gradel to the post. Fryatt has already 2 goals to his name and is just oozing confidence at the minute; he’s had a good pre-season and will be hoping to get last-season’s horror show out of the way. A confident Fryatt will always guarantee goals.
Match Facts & Stats
The last time the two sides met before Tuesday night was a whole 83 years ago. This is Stockport’s 125th anniversary year and coincidence is that they will open their home campaign to the side that they played their first ever league game against in 1900. Two City players have played for County in the past: Irish goalkeeper Conrad Logan had a spell on loan at County last season, playing in goal for the play-off final as well as Harry Worley being signed from Stockport by Chelsea as a 16 year-old although neither are likely to feature tomorrow. Stockport utility man Leon McSweeney also spent his youth days at Filbert Street.
Ref Watch:
Saturday’s ref will be Andy Hall. Hall didn’t have the privilege of refing us last season and overall took charge of 33 games in the Championship, League 1 and League 2. The linesmen are Mr.Bramley and Mr.Whiteley and the fourth official is Mr.Dudley.
Match Prediction:
My match prediction is a City 2-0 win, with Fryatt and Morrison being the scorers.
Next Fixtures:
The next match for City will be a home clash against Tranmere Rovers with the last time the two clubs meeting was the Worthington Cup Final in 2000 when City ran out 2-1 winners thanks to a Matty Elliott brace.
