At the fourth time of asking Salford have booked their ticket into the League Two playoffs and the Ammies will be hoping they can make the most of home advantage and take a first-leg lead to Edgeley Park.

Aaron Ashley’s Salford v Stockport Tips

First Leg - Stockport to win @ 31/20
Under 2.5 goals @ 3/4
Fraser Horsfall to score first @ 20/1

Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.

Setting the scene…..

At the fourth time of asking Salford have booked their ticket into the League Two playoffs and the Ammies will be hoping they can make the most of home advantage and take a first-leg lead to Edgeley Park.

Salford suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Gillingham on the final day of the League Two campaign but snuck into the playoffs on goal difference, having scored the same amount of goals as eighth-placed Mansfield but conceded one fewer.

Securing a playoff berth was more straightforward for Stockport as they were still in with a shot of clinching automatic promotion on the final day yet were unable to better Northampton’s result at Tranmere.

County are seeking back-to-back promotions having won the National League title last season, whereas Salford are bidding to reach League One for the first time in their history.

First Leg - Stockport to win @ 31/20

Having risen from the National League in 2019, a well-invested Salford are targeting a long-awaited promotion from League Two this season.

The Ammies are owned by a string of former Manchester United players including Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes so it is understandable that they have lofty expectations.

The problem is that Stockport, who were National League champions last season, do too and, like the hosts, have great financial backing.

Playing at home may be seen as an advantage but Salford have struggled in front of their own supporters this season and have plenty to prove at the Peninsula Stadium.

Interestingly, Neil Wood's side picked up more points on the road this term as they won only 10 of their 23 home league games.

Salford were beaten 2-0 at home by Stockport in October and although that was some time ago, County have gone from strength to strength since. The Ammies were also beaten at home by Bradford and Carlisle, the other two teams represented in the playoffs.

Having won only two of their opening 11 games, Dave Challinor's visitors collected 45 points in 2023, a tally more than any other team in the fourth tier.

Stockport lost only one of their final 20 matches and at 31/20 make plenty of appeal to claim a crucial first-leg lead against their Great Manchester rivals.

Aaron Ashley’s Tip:

Despite finishing in the top seven, Salford have struggled at home for much of this season and will be coming up against the division’s form team in Stockport. 

County have all the momentum and could be the value bet to win this first leg at 31/20.

Under 2.5 goals @ 3/4

Stockport had the second-best defensive record in League Two this season, having conceded only 37 goals in 46 games, and that is despite their slow start to the campaign.

Challinor's side kept clean sheets in eight of their final 13 games, while they also recorded four shutouts in their final six matches on the road, carving out gutsy 1-0 wins on four occasions.

Given the stakes and the nervous nature that comes with the playoffs, a low-scoring contest looks highly likely and Stockport should be fancying their chances after closing out the season unbeaten in 13.

An injury to 14-goal striker Kyle Wootton is a blow for the visitors and takes away some of their attacking quality, which will add extra reliance on Will Collar and Paddy Madden.

But one goal may be enough to land the spoils as Salford have lost three of their last four at home, failing to score in each of those defeats.

Not only did under 2.5 goals click in both regular-season meetings, but it also landed in 11 of Stockport’s final 14 games and each of Salford’s last four at home.

Expect a similar scenario and under 2.5 goals is available at 3/4, but correct-score punters may want to consider another narrow 1-0 victory for the visitors which is a 7/1 chance.

Aaron Ashley’s Tip:

Playoff first legs are notoriously cagey and given both meetings between these two sides during the regular season yielded under 2.5 goals, it would be no surprise to see that occur again at 3/4.

Related Football News

League Two Playoffs: Stockport seeking successive promotions

EFL play-offs: Dates, how to watch, latest odds & more

Fraser Horsfall to score first @ 20/1

Fraser Horsfall has been instrumental in Stockport's defence this season but he also carries a great threat from set pieces and in a tight game could make the breakthrough.

Last season Horsfall scored nine goals in 45 appearances from centre-back for Northampton and was snapped-up by big-spending Stockport with League Two promotion on their minds.

The 26-year-old had interest from clubs in higher divisions but opted for County and could make his presence felt against Salford, who have conceded 14 goals from set pieces this season.

Horsfall may have netted only twice in 31 appearances for Stockport this term but he did have one disallowed against Hartlepool on the final day of the campaign and will be a target from set pieces.

Even so, his recent history with Northampton shows the impact he can have from corners and odds of 20/1 to open the scoring stands out.

Aaron Ashley’s Tip:

Centre-back Horsfall is a threat from set pieces and could provide fantastic value to open the scoring at 20/1. Salford's defenders will certainly have to be wary of his aerial qualities.

Aaron Ashley’s Salford v Stockport Tips

First Leg - Stockport to win @ 31/20
Under 2.5 goals @ 3/4
Fraser Horsfall to score first @ 20/1

Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.