By Andy Leggott
March 19 2002

City will be looking to take another step towards promotion and the Division 1 title when they visit relegated Stockport. With Wolves not playing until the weekend City have a chance to go 8 points clear with victory tonight. Kevin Keegan will have to juggle with his team selection due to the loss of Danny Tiatto with ligament damage and the continued absence of Eyal Berkovic through injury. One option would be to start how they finished at the weekend, with Sun Jihai filling in at right wing back and Wright-Phillips moving to the centre. Keegan, however, did comment that he had some square pegs in round holes in the Palace game, so may look to another alternative altogether. The defensive three will depend on kk's midfield selection but generally perm any three from Pearce, Wiekens, Dunne, Howey, Mettom or Sun Jihai. Up front may see the full debut of Jon Macken, as the Goat continues to go through one of those frustrating spells. Wanchope remains doubtful with his knee injury.
The game itself will probably be the last for a long time against the team that likes to call itself our rivals. Stockport have gone from bad to worse under Carlton Palmer, culminating in an early relegation at the weekend. Whilst taking no great pleasure in the demise of a small, local club done well, you can't do much other than laugh at the loud mouthed County fans who revelled in our decline back in the dark days. Quite how Stockport achieved a point at MR earlier in the season is anyones guess, but expect City to beat the Edgley Park hoodoo in some style tonight. 4-0 to City and only six more points for promotion.