Wigan Athletic manager Shaun Maloney stresses importance of learning from previous meeting with Stockport County

The Latics recorded a respectable goalless draw at Edgeley Park against the fourth-placed hosts during a run of seven consecutive clean sheets - more than 600 minutes’ worth of competitive football.

Maloney said: “I think that game is actually really relevant because in the first half, we were dominant but without creating enough. I think we had one or two chances.

“And then it was the opposite. I think in the second half, Stockport were better than us and more aggressive.

“They changed and they went a little bit longer from their goalkeeper and centre-backs and we found it very tough.

“I think the game will be pretty similar. If Stockport are given space, they’ve got good enough players that they can find that free man.

“If they don’t like it, they’ll go longer and they’re still a big threat. It maybe won’t be as consistent as the long balls we faced against Lincoln,” he said.

On the first of this month, Wigan were seven minutes away from beating Lincoln City 1-0 at home thanks to a 36th-minute goal from Jonny Smith before James Collins equalised.

Maloney said: “But we’ll have to show both, especially out of possession with the ball. Again, even with Fulham, it took us a half to really trust what we’re doing.”

The Latics equalised five minutes after the restart thanks to another Smith goal - and what a goal - in their eventual narrow 2-1 defeat to Fulham.

Maloney added: “The guys need to start believing when they get it right with the ball they can hurt teams.”

“But I need that from the off and we’ll need it because if we don’t Stockport County will hurt us.”

The re-rise of Stockport County has been remarkable - three promotions in seven years, from the seventh-tier National League North all the way to League One.

And they are looking good for a play-off spot, just a point behind Wrexham - who are owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.