Preview: Rotherham United vs. Stockport County - prediction, team news, lineups

League One leaders Rotherham United play host to Stockport County in the FA Cup second round looking to extend their unbeaten record in all competitions to 18 matches.

Meanwhile, National League side Stockport have gone seven games without defeat, setting up the prospect of an entertaining clash at the New York Stadium.

Match preview

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The third tier of English football is too close to call at this stage of the season with the top nine clubs being separated by just six points.

However, possessing the second-best attack and best defensive record, Rotherham have been the most impressive team of the lot, holding an unbeaten record since the middle of September.

It is difficult to find a fault with the Millers, who have mixed up clinical victories with draws in testing games, and all this has been produced on the back of a slow start to the campaign.

Back-to-back clean sheets have been kept in League One, while further progress was made in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night with a penalty-shootout win over Port Vale.

Paul Warne's team coasted through to the second round of the FA Cup last month, posting a 3-0 victory over fellow National League outfit Bromley.

Stockport found themselves in the headlines in November as Dave Challinor made the decision to leave League Two football with Hartlepool United to return to a club that he had represented as a player.

There is no doubt that the ex-defender has taken a risk in dropping down a division, but it highlights the ambition that County are showing in order to get back into the EFL.

Challinor has enjoyed an excellent start at Edgeley Park, recording four wins and two draws from his six matches and keeping his club in the mix for promotion.

Eleven goals have been scored in wins over Woking, King's Lynn Town and Wealdstone, but the astonishing 5-3 triumph against Bolton Wanderers in the previous round of this competition stands out.

Trailing 3-1 just before the half-time whistle, County battled back to take the replay into extra time before sealing one of their most famous wins in recent memory.

Team News

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Having made widespread changes for the EFL Trophy in midweek, Warne could revert back to the team which started the goalless draw with Oxford United.

That would see the likes of Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Chiedozie Ogbene, Ben Wiles, Michael Smith and Freddie Ladapo all return to the Rotherham XI.

Challinor may see no reason to make any alterations to the Stockport team which breezed past Wealdstone last time out.

County already match up against Rotherham's 3-5-2 formation, and Oliver Crankshaw will hope to build on the hat-trick that he netted in the most recent National League fixture.

John Rooney, Connor Jennings and Paddy Madden are all expected to remain among the replacements.

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Johansson; Edmonds-Green, Ihiekwe, Harding; Ogbene, Rathbone, Barlaser, Wiles; Miller; Smith; Ladapo

Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchliffe; Kitching, Keane, Palmer; Southam-Hales, Croasdale, Sarcevic, Collar, Rydel; Crankshaw, Quigley

We say: Rotherham United 3-0 Stockport County

With the freedom of playing with no pressure, Stockport will fancy their chances of causing a surprise in Yorkshire. However, we cannot back against the home side, who know that a ruthless showing in the first half would end the tie as a contest.

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