PREVIEW: Stockport County v Luton Town

After finishing just 10 points above the drop zone last year, things haven’t got any better this time round, as the Hatters are currently looking over their shoulders, with four points to play with.

The poor form cost boss Jim Gannon his job on January 14, as he left Edgeley Park after 14 months in charge, with Bosnian Darije Kalezic taking over.

He started well, taking six points from his first three games, with a 3-2 home win over Nuneaton, followed by defeat at Wrexham and then victory over Lincoln.

Just when it looked they might start pulling clear of trouble though, the Hatters drew at Ebbsfleet and disappointingly lost their next two, both at home, to Tamworth and Hereford.

Kalezic has been trying to change things around in the squad, signing midfielders Greg McDermott and Paul Marshall on non-contract terms.

McDermott is the son of former England and Newcastle player Terry, while Marshall was recently allowed to leave Halifax Town after spells with Walsall and Port Vale.

Simon Hackney has also joined the club on non-contract terms too after being released by Hereford, while Everton defender and Swedish U19 international Johan Hammar has come in on a one-month loan.

Kalezic also swooped to bring in ex-Preston and Manchester City striker Jon Macken, with the 35-year-old ex-Republic of Ireland international once costing £5m earlier in his career.

Joining him, both on one month loan deals were Hull winger Mark Cullen and Middlesbrough midfielder Jake Fowler.

Meanwhile, the club also extended the loan deal of Chesterfield goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell who will stay with Stockport until April 16 and snapped up Swedish forward Adnan Cirak following a successful trial.

Team news: Luton will be without the suspended Wayne Thomas, while Jon Shaw is injured. There are doubts over both Scott Rendell (back) and Andre Gray (ill), although Danny Spiller and Garry Richards remain out for the long-term.

Top BSBP scorer: County: Danny Hattersley (10). Hatters: Andre Gray (11).

Man in the middle: Richard Martin - refereed 14 games this season, showing 31 yellows and two reds. Yet to officiate either Luton or Stockport in his career though.

In charge: Darije Kalezić – Bosnian born 43-year-old who divided his playing career between his home country and Holland, with spells at FK Velež Mostar, FC Den Bosch, RKC Waalwijk, AGOVV Apeldoorn and De Graafschap, before retiring in 2006.

He became De Graafschap reserve/youth team coach from 2006 to 2008, and was later promoted to assistant boss.

Became interim manager in February 2009 and despite relegation, was confirmed as head coach for the new season, leading the side back into the Eredivisie as champions.

Saved the team from relegation in 2010–11, but left the club at the end of the season, taking over as Belgian Pro League club Zulte Waregem, in June 2011.

Was fired at the end of that year due to unsatisfactory results and was appointed Stockport County in January.

View from the opposition: Assistant boss Stuart Watkiss - “I haven’t studied it (the table) that closely but I’d say teams feel they’d need between 50 and 55 points.

“At this stage of the season, we can’t be looking at anyone’s results other than our own.

“You’d hope we would have more than enough in the coming games to accumulate enough points where relegation isn’t a problem – but by no means do we take it for granted.

“Every game is vital and the Tamworth game is a reality check to say that we’re not safe – and we are not safe by any means.

“We have to pick up some important points and we have to do it as quickly as we can.”

One to watch: Danny Hattersley – County’s top scorer this season with 10 league goals to his name.

Burst on to the County scene last season, scoring six times in eight matches after making his debut in March, and has enjoyed a decent first full campaign too, reaching double figures.

We’ve got form: Hatters have got a fine recent record at Edgeley Park, winning three and drawing three of their last six and haven’t lost since a 2-0 reverse in the old Division Three way back in 1969.

Prior to that their record wasn’t too clever as despite winning the first encounter, an FA Cup clash in 1932, they lost five straight matches.

Overall, Hatters have won four, draw three and lost five at Stockport, scoring 16 times and conceding 21.

Their biggest win was 3-1 back in League One in 2004 when Steve Robinson, Rowan Vine and Ahmet Brkovic scored, now Premier League start Rickie Lambert netting for the hosts.

Town’s heaviest defeats have been 4-1 and 3-0 in the 1965 and 1958 seasons

Last time out: Town were denied a victory at Edgeley Park last season by a last-minute equaliser.

An Alex Lawless blast on five minutes had seen Luton lead 1-0, only for Sean McConville to snatch a point for Stockport after an error in the Town defence.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Will Antwi, Curtis Osano, Keith Keane, Alex Lawless, Robbie Willmott, John Paul Kissock (James Dance 69), Amari Morgan-Smith, Danny Crow (Stuart Fleetwood 83), Adam Watkins.

Subs not used: Kevin Pilkington, Paul Carden, Aaron O’Connor.

Attendance: 3,389.

For all the latest Luton Town FC news, reports, stats, player profiles, live match updates, MOM poll, prediction table and a complete fixture list, visit our Hatters Microsite.