Stockport County play host to Torquay United on Wednesday evening needing at least a point to leave their National League title ambitions in their own hands on the final day.

While they face opponents who are now out of the mix for the playoffs, the visitors are unbeaten in their last three fixtures.

Match preview

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Ahead of making the short trip to Wrexham on Sunday, Stockport were aware that they would still be in control in the title race regardless of the result at the Racecourse Ground.

However, the manner of their 3-0 defeat felt like a momentum shift, Wrexham moving to the top of the table on goal difference and now having scored seven more strikes than County.

Four points from home fixtures against Torquay and Halfiax Town will still be enough for Dave Challinor's squad, but they are aware that they can ill-afford a fourth defeat in five on Tuesday.

The biggest worry for Challinor will be that Stockport have failed to score more than once in any of their last six games, that run coming off the back of putting five past Southend United in a single game.

Stockport have also gone five matches without netting a first-half goal from open play, and it feels like that may need to change over the next week to ease some of the mounting pressure on this team.

From Torquay's perspective, this is an opportunity to end the campaign on a high note and further extend their solid form since the start of February.

A total of 31 points have been recorded from 17 matches, the only defeats during that period coming at Halifax and Grimsby Town.

Collecting just one win from five games has ultimately led to Gary Johnson's team missing out on the playoffs, but there is plenty of optimism ahead of next season.

The Gulls head into this contest having already taken four points from two other promotion candidates in Dagenham & Redbridge and Chesterfield in their last two matches, keeping clean sheets in both outings.

Team News

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Given the manner of the defeat at Wrexham, it would come as a surprise if Challinor did not make changes to his Stockport starting lineup.

Andy Cannon could be restored in midfield, potentially in place of Ryan Rydel, while Connor Jennings is an alternative to Scott Quigley.

With just a three-day turnaround, Courtney Duffus and Ryan Johnson appear likely to miss out on this fixture due to injury.

Having needed to be withdrawn with a head injury versus Chesterfield, Asa Hall seems unlikely to remain in the Torquay midfield.

Chiori Johnson should replace the captain in what may prove to be the only change to the team.

Stockport County possible starting lineup:
Hinchliffe; Hogan, Palmer, Keane; Newby, Croasdale, Sarcevic, Rydel, Hippolyte; Duffus, Madden

Torquay United possible starting lineup:
MacDonald; Wynter, Lewis, Omar, Martin; Johnson, Lapslie; Lemonhiegh-Evans, Little, Duke-McKenna; Wright

We say: Stockport County 2-0 Torquay United

With no pressure on their shoulders, Torquay will relish the chance to upset the applecart at Edgeley Park on Wednesday night. However, we have to favour Stockport for this game, potentially with a couple of second-half goals to leave them on the brink of promotion.

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