Stockport County vs Dagenham & Redbridge preview: How to watch, kick-off time, predicted lineups, team news, form guide and ones to watch

Stockport County will face perhaps their biggest challenge yet in the rundown of the National League season, as the Hatters face a Dagenham & Redbridge side who have picked up six consecutive victories.

It has been quite the story under Daryl McMahon, as his Daggers continue to pry their way up the table and have made their ambitious plot of the play-offs into a very real challenge, sitting just five points adrift of Notts County.

McMahon’s side are in a jubilant mood too, having picked up 18 points from their last 18 and defeating local rivals Wealdstone 5-0 on Saturday.

Their opponents however are also on quite the run, with just one defeat in 16 games. Stockport’s main quality is their defence, with seven clean sheets in their last eight, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to break down Simon Rusk’s team.

Rusk’s County will also be keen to build however, after a 4-0 drumming over Wealdstone last Monday.

Team news

Stockport will continue to be without midfielder Will Collar, who picked up a knock against Halifax Town.

Striker Richie Bennett will be pushing for his return to the starting lineup, after his loan spell with Hartlepool United came to an end, bolstering the Hatters options.

Connor Jennings will also be absent, after being diagnosed with low-grade chondroid sarcoma, which is a rare type of cancer.

Meanwhile with the travelling Daggers, defender Liam Gordon has been ruled out for the rest of the season after fracturing his hand.

Myles Weston and Kenny Clark (headaches) will both be pushing for returns, but will face a late fitness test ahead of tonight's game.

Mo Sagaf (foot), Dean Rance (cruciate ligament) and Harry Phipps will all continue to be unavailable, with it looking unlikely they'll feature again this season.

Predicted lineups

Stockport County: Hinchcliffe; Minihan, Palmer, Hogan, J Jennings; Cardwell, Rooney, Croasdale, Walker; Reid, Madden

Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham; Eleftheriou, Reynolds, Wright, Jones, Johnson; Khan, Robinson, Balanta; McCallum, McQueen

Ones to watch

Alex Reid

One man who has settled down at the club and is playing the best football of his career is former Daggers striker Reid.

Reid spent a brief spell with Dagenahm & Redbridge at the end of last season, but has been an everpresent in this Stockport side, scoring 21 goals in 43 games. With 16 goals in the league and four assists, Reid is the one of the division's most feared frontmen.

Angelo Balanta

Former Queens Park Rangers and MK Dons prospect Balanta has had a brilliant few years with Dagenham.

Despite entering his thirties, Balanta has flourished under McMahon, spearheading the midfield and even playing a role up top alongside Paul McCallum. The Colombian attacker pulls all the strings in linking midfield to attack, and uses his broad pace and excellent agility to be the creative playmaker that every team desires. With 10 goals in 31 matches, he's done a fine job in a mid-table side.

Previous meeting

Surprisingly, these two former Football League sides have only ever played one another three times. Dagenham & Redbridge have failed to ever defeat their counterparts, and last time out lost by two goals to nil, thanks to goals from Reid and Bennett.