Match Preview: Stockport County

Just two weeks after the new season got underway, Notts will make the trip North to newly-relegated Stockport with fresh confidence, after a highly-impressive start under Icelandic boss Gudjon Thordarson.

After just three matches, the Magpies' support are already full of optimism, after Thordarson's suddenly well-organised outfit drew at Torquay and disposed of Wrexham at Lincoln, leaving them in a lofty-looking third position in League Two.

Ofcourse, the table means nothing at this stage, but Thordarson (left) is already going someway to shifting some of the doom and gloom that has haunted Meadow Lane in the past few years.

And the Iceman will hope to continue the unbeaten streak at Edgeley Park come 3pm tomorrow.

Despite playing last season in League One, Stockport pose less of a threat than all three of the Magpies previous opponents - on paper, at least.

County spent the entirety of the last campaign cut-off adrift at the bottom of League One and have struggled to re-discover the winning habit in the opening of this season, drawing twice - against Mansfield and Boston - and losing at Darlington.

The fact that The Hatters have conceded two goals in each of these fixtures will be of great worry to new boss Chris Turner, but will give Thordarson further reason to feel upbeat.

Despite their defensive woes, Turner believes he has one of the best striking partnerships in the division in Jermaine Easter and Tes Bramble, who were signed in the summer from Boston and Southend respectively.

Zadkovich: Back in action

The pairing have already netted three times between them this season and will be keen to add to their respective tally's when the Magpies fly into town tomorrow.

Both possess bags of pace, while they are also well backed-up by young forward Adam Le Fondre, who is also likely to play some part in procedings.

Elsewhere, the Hatters are largely made up of new signings, after Turner lost a host of players, including club captain Jim Goodwin and veteran striker Stuart Barlow in the summer months, due to financial difficulties.

Notts right back Brian O'Callaghan, however, may have his hands full with former Leeds trainee Harpal Singh, who is a tricky player to have at this level on the left wing. Their battle could be key to deciding the game's eventual outcome.

Stockport's defensive problems won't be helped tomorrow, as they'll be missing teenage star Michael Raynes at the heart of their rearguard. The 17-year-old, who has already been tracked by Liverpool and Bolton, is out injured.

There's no such worries for Thordarson, who has a fully-fit squad - with the notable exceptions of long-term victims Mike Whitlow and Ian Richardson - for the fourth game running.

The Notts boss has made one change to the squad that defeated Lincoln last weekend, with Ruben Zadkovich back from a three-match ban. The young Australian midfielder has replaced Jake Sheridan in Notts' 19-man squad, though has a huge fight on his hands to even make the bench for tomorrow's encounter.

Thordarson is expected to name an unchanged line-up for the third successive fixutre, though Gavin Gordon is contesting Andy White for a place upfront after an impressive cameo last weekend.

David Pipe has managed to shake-off a minor niggle and will start, while Stacy Long will again be included amongst the substitutes.

Notts (probable): Pilkington; O'Callaghan, Baudet, Wilson, Ullathorne; Pipe, McMahon, Edwards, Palmer; Scoffham, White.

Subs (from): Deeney, Martin, McFaul, Long, Zadkovich, Gill, Hurst, Gordon.