Newport County stand between Stockport and League Two wins record

The Exiles may have home advantage but they will be huge underdogs for the Rodney Parade clash courtesy of the Hatters’ impressive run.

Last weekend they won their 12th league game on the spin, 2-0 against Colchester, to retain their six point lead at the top of the table, with an eight-point buffer in the automatic promotion spots.

Stockport have now equalled Luton’s record for the successive wins in the fourth tier that they set in 2002.

They have already passed County’s impressive 10-game winning streak from 1979/80 when Len Ashurst’s side were promoted from the Fourth Division with a third-placed finish.

Newport County won the Welsh Cup after winning promotion in 1980 (Image: Newsquest)

That was the Ironsides’ first promotion since 1939 with the form between February and April helping them to a double success, with a Welsh Cup triumph in May with victory over Shrewsbury.

If Stockport win at Rodney Parade then they would level Newcastle’s 1992 13-game streak set at the end of 1991/2 and the start of the next campaign in the second tier while Preston went 14 on the spin in the 1950/51 Division Two.

Both Manchester City and Liverpool won 18 straight Premier League fixtures in recent seasons.

Stockport started the season as one of the fancied teams to head up to League One and, although the halfway stage is yet to be passed, look very strong for promotion.

They missed out last season after losing on penalties to Carlisle in the play-off final at Wembley after being edged out for third by Northampton, with that tussle going to the last day.

Stockport have had a sensational calendar year, taking 86 points from 42 games (W25, D11, L6). They would have gone up last season were it not for a slow start and they repeated that in the current campaign, winning just one of their first six.

They have certainly found their form ahead of their trip to Newport – they have more points in the top four divisions (41) and have more goals (39) – and will be keen to take another maximum haul in their promotion push.

Their winning run started at AFC Wimbledon on September 9 and their recent EFL Trophy defeat to Bolton is their only disappointment.

Stockport boss Dave Challinor (Image: Press Association)

“The important thing is now that we have the opportunity to break a record in a week,” said Stockport manager Dave Challinor after their win against Colchester.

“I look further in terms of the record for most consecutive wins ever in the football league. We weren’t at our best [against Colchester] but we found a way which is pleasing.

“I spoke in the sponsors lounge before the game and there is an expectancy to win easily but that’s never the case. You’ve got to earn the right.

“I was disappointed with our first-half performance, we could be prepared in a couple of ways around what their shape would be and how to deal with it.

“Many people played backwards, didn’t want to receive the ball or play forwards and that’s the disappointing thing for me. On the one occasion we did play forward we scored.

“Teams are going to make it difficult for us because of the position we are in. That’s always been the case. But you have to control what happens on the grass otherwise edginess sets in, which it did.

“We try and be consistent with our messaging to the players and the performances we ask of them. But they’re very much accountable themselves and take plenty of ownership in the standards they set.”

It is a second contest on the spin against promotion contenders for County after they lost 2-0 at second-placed Mansfield last weekend. The Exiles are 20th, five points above the relegation zone.