Rotherham vs Stockport | Football Previews & Free Betting Tips | 20th September 2025
Rotherham v Stockport lands on 20 September 2025 in League One and feels like an early barometer. The hosts have ground to make up after a stuttering start; the visitors arrive with a stronger points pace and a handy away record. Expect a noisy crowd at New York Stadium with a healthy travelling following adding to the edge.
Tactically, the hosts lean towards a compact 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, ceding spells of the ball (low-40s possession) and looking for direct entries and set-piece pressure. The visitors are a bit more balanced, hovering just under 50% possession, comfortable breaking lines quickly and countering with runners from midfield.
1) The hosts average 43.9% possession but still generate 1.18 xG on typical days by going more direct and attacking restarts; around a quarter of their goals come from dead balls.
2) The visitors create at a stronger clip (~1.56 xG) and concede fewer quality chances (~1.00 xGA). A lot of their best work comes from quick vertical passes after regains, with attacks often finishing inside 10–12 seconds.
3) Goal timing matters: the hosts’ output skews 40% first half / 60% second half, while the visitors’ is 45% / 55% — this points to a game that can open up after the interval.
Rotherham (last 10): 2–2–6. Totals: 7 scored, 13 conceded. That’s been a grind — low scoring output and a few narrow defeats. Clean sheets have been scarce, so game management late on is key.
Stockport (last 10): 4–3–3. Totals: 16 scored, 14 conceded. More punch going forward, though they still give teams a chance. Away numbers are notably solid, with results across different game states.
| Stat | Rotherham | Stockport |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored | 0.86 | 1.63 |
| Goals Conceded | 1.43 | 1.50 |
| Clean Sheet % | 14.3% | 12.5% |
| Possession | 43.9% | 47.8% |
| Corners | 4.7 | 5.2 |
| Yellow Cards | 1.71 | 1.13 |
| Shots (Total / On Target) | 9.14 / 3.00 | 9.13 / 3.00 |
| xG For / Against | 1.18 / 1.44 | 1.56 / 1.00 |
| Set-Piece Goals For / Against | 0.25 / 0.32 | 0.28 / 0.22 |
| Pass Completion | 76.5% | 78.2% |
| Tackles / Interceptions | 8.00 / 5.71 | 10.75 / 7.38 |
| Goal Split (FH / SH) | 40% / 60% | 45% / 55% |
| Over 2.5 Frequency | 43% | 62.5% |
| Points per Game | 1.00 | 1.50 |
📱 Tip: rotate device on mobile to view the full table clearly.
Rotherham at home (last 10 home): Typically tight matches with lower possession; goals for sit under one per game with a reliance on restarts and wide deliveries. Clean sheets have been limited, so control of the penalty area on crosses is the big theme.
Stockport away (last 10 away): Results-friendly profile — pace in transition, tidy passing, and a knack for scoring in clusters. They generally hit around 1.5–1.6 goals on the road and keep games within reach even when conceding first.
Goals Against
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xG Against
On recent numbers, the visitors consistently create the better chances (around the mid-1.5s in xG) while limiting their xGA to roughly 1.0; the hosts sit near 1.2 xG for and 1.4+ against. That points to a small expected-chance gap in favour of the visitors.
The last five meetings read: April 12, 2025 (League One) at New York Stadium — home side 1–2; December 29, 2024 (League One) at Edgeley Park — home side 2–1; December 3, 2021 (FA Cup) at Edgeley Park — 1–1; January 29, 2011 (League Two) at New York Stadium — home side 2–0; January 11, 2011 (League Two) at Edgeley Park — 1–1. Overall, it’s been competitive with tight margins and several one-goal games.
The visitors have the stronger shot and xG profile, plus steadier away form. Stockport are the heavy favourites. Despite that, my football eye tells me Rotherham will win this.
Prediction: 3-2 home win.
Main pick: Home win
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