Here's what Rotherham United face against Stockport County in the FA Cup tonight

ROTHERHAM United come up against one of the most prolific marksmen in lower-league history when they take on Stockport County in the FA Cup tonight.
Paddy Madden joins Stockport. Picture:stockportcounty.comPaddy Madden joins Stockport. Picture:stockportcounty.com
Paddy Madden joins Stockport. Picture:stockportcounty.com

Paddy Madden dropped out of the EFL to join the National League Hatters late last season and should be in their squad for the AESSEAL New York Stadium second-round showdown.

The 31-year-old Dubliner has bagged 113 League One goals in his career, making him the second-most prolific striker ever in the third tier, behind Salford City’s Ian Henderson.

The striker hit the target regularly for Yeovil Town, Scunthorpe United and Fleetwood Town until Stockport, spending big in their bid to return to the Football League, made him an offer he couldn’t refuse last March.

They were willing to pay Fleetwood around £250,000 for his services and gave him the security of a three-year deal.

This season, he has scored eight times in 19 appearances, with all of those goals coming in his last 12 outings.

His penalty helped Stockport see off the Millers’ League One rivals, Bolton Wanderers, 5-3 in a first-round extra-time replay at Edgeley Park last month following a 2-2 draw at the UniBol Stadium.

County, who have former Rotherham left-back loanee Zeki Fryers in their ranks, are eighth in the National League as they look to end their 11-year absence from the EFL.

Earlier this season, they made a further large investment to take attacking midfielder Antoni Sarcevic from Bolton on a two-and-half-year deal.

They will bring a big following to New York for a tie moved from Saturday afternoon to Friday night on police advice, having sold their entire ticket allocation.

Millers boss Paul Warne, who has no injury worries other than striker Will Grigg's back/buttocks swelling, said: "Stockport are bringing a lot of fans so I expect the atmosphere to be quite lively.

"We won't under-estimate the opposition in any way. The standard in the National League this year is excellent."

Meanwhile, Grigg could move above Madden in the League One charts this season.

The 30-year-old, on loan from Sunderland, is only two goals away from the Stockport man’s mark and is in touching distance of passing Henderson’s record of 122.

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Other Stockport main men

Scott Quigley:

The forward, aged 29, has hit seven goals in 12 matches this season including two in the 5-3 FA Cup victory over Bolton Wanderers. He played in the EFL with Blackpool and Barrow before his switch to Edgeley Park in July.

Antoni Sarcevic:

The scoring midfielder made his name at Fleetwood Town before going on to spend more than three years with Plymouth Argyle. He averaged a league goal every four matches for Bolton before his surprise move into the National League.

Ryan Croasdale:

The midfielder had a spell at Sheffield Wednesday between 2014 and 2016 but never made a senior appearance for the Owls. Now 27, he did well at Kidderminster Harriers and AFC Fylde and then became a key figure at County after a move there in September 2020.

John Rooney:

The midfielder with an eye for a goal was another signing from Barrow, in September 2020. The 30-year-old’s previous clubs include Chester, Wrexham and Guiseley. He played in League Two for Macclesfield Town and Bury early in his career.

Ash Palmer:

The 29-year-old centre-half, who didn’t quite make the grade at Scunthorpe United before catching the eye in non-league with Guiseley, has been with Stockport since 2018 and has been a regular starter this season.

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One to watch

Right winger Ollie Crankshaw has scored seven times in 12 matches since joining Stockport in September, including a hat-trick against Wealdstone last Saturday. He was also on target in Stockport’s 5-3 extra-time win over Bolton Wanderers in a first-round FA Cup replay. The 23-year-old had been with Wigan Athletic and Bradford City in the EFL before making the switch to County.

Form guide

Millers: DWWWDD

Stockport: DDDWWW

County have won their last three National League outings, triumphing 2-1 at Woking, hammering King’s Lynn 5-0 at home and then cruising to a 4-1 success at Wealdstone last weekend.

Last time out

Rotherham were 4-0 victors in a League Two clash at Don Valley Stadium on January 29, 2011. Goals came from Aaron Brown, Ryan Taylor, 2, and Adam Le Fondre. The season would finish with Stockport being relegated and dropping into non-league football.

Other meetings

Jan 11 2011, League Two:

Stockport 3 Millers 3 (Kevin Ellison, Matthew Grieve og, Ryan Taylor)

Feb 12 2008, League Two:

Millers 1 (Mark Hudson) Stockport 4

Aug 25 2007, League Two:

Stockport 2 Millers 2 (Ian Sharps, Matty McNeil og)

Feb 9 2002 (Old Division One - now Championship):

Millers 3 (Chris Sedgwick, Mark Robins 2) Stockport 2

Oct 20 2001 (Old Division One):

Stockport 0 Millers 1 (Stewart Talbot)

In 69 meetings between the clubs since 1919 both have 27 wins and there have been 15 draws

Rival boss

Former Stockport centre-half Dave Challinor took charge of County just before their cup victory over League One Bolton, following the departure of Simon Rusk. Now 46, he had previously been in the non-league hot-seats at Colwyn Bay, AFC Fylde and Hartlepool United, winning a total of five promotions in 11 years.

Man in the middle

Staffordshire-based Ollie Yates is in his sixth season on the EFL List and took charge of Rotherham’s 3-1 FA Cup win at National League Maidenhead United in November 2019. In nine matches this season he has shown 30 yellows cards and one red.

The odds

The bookmakers have Rotherham as heavy favourites to be in the third-round draw, offering them at 4/9 and Stockport at 5/1. The draw is 3/1.

Millers

1-0: 9/2

2-0: 5/1

2-1: 5/1

3-0: 15/2

3-1: 17/2

3-2: 20/1

4-0: 16/1

4-1: 18/1

4-2: 40/1

Draw

0-0: 17/2

1-1: 11/2

2-2: 12/1

3-3: 70/1

4-4: 200/1

Stockport

1-0: 13/1

2-0: 25/1

2-1: 14/1

3-0: 90/1

3-1: 45/1

3-2: 50/1

4-0: 200/1

4-1: 200/1

4-2: 175/1