STOCKPORT COUNTY have got the mouth-watering FA Cup tie Jim Gannon wanted but the Hatters boss will want an upturn in league form before the big day.

One of the National League favourites for promotion after splashing the cash over the summer, Stockport have had a mixed bag of results since the 2020-21 campaign kicked off.

The Hatters bounced back from a 4-0 thrashing at Hartlepool last Tuesday - the second league defeat in a row - by drawing 1-1 at Altrincham on Boxing Day.

Although ninth in the table, Stockport do have games in hand on all the teams above them, and they have made winning a habit in the FA Cup.

After starting their cup campaign with a 4-0 victory against Chesterfield, Stockport caused a shock in the first round by beating League One outfit Rochdale 2-1.

National League rivals Yeovil were next up and County triumphed 3-2, former Wrexham captain Connor Jennings scoring the winner as the Hatters claimed their first third-round spot since 2007.

Another ex-Reds player, John Rooney, and Ashley Palmer equalised for Stockport after Yeovil had twice taken the lead in normal time.

Yeovil then missed a penalty and the Glovers were punished in the 100th minute when Jennings headed home Jamie Stott’s cross.

A delighted Gannon said: “It’s a great feeling to get through to the third round.

“The players deserve it, so I’d love them to get the chance to play in a magnificent Premier League stadium now.

“I’d love us to get a really mouth-watering tie next, similar to some of the opportunities I enjoyed at that level when I was a player.

“Great credit to Yeovil, they belied their current league position, but I always fancied us to create plenty of opportunities.

“We had to dig deep, but we deservedly got through in the end.”

Gannon did not get his wish of a trip to a Premier League ground when the third round draw was made but Stockport will face a top flight side.

The Hatters have home advantage against West Ham United, with the game being televised live on Monday January 11.

Rooney will be back in action before David Moyes’ Hammers visit Edgeley Park.

The heavy 4-0 defeat at Hartlepool proved costly as Stockport finished the game with nine men.

Gannon’s side were trailing 1-0 when defender Palmer was dismissed for a high challenge.

Pools extended their lead to 3-0 when Rooney was also shown a red card for dissent and County’s misery was complete in stoppage time when the home side added a fourth goal.

Rooney was absent against Altrincham at the weekend and also misses today’s clash with former club Wrexham as well as Saturday’s return encounter with the Robins.

The midfielder joined Stockport in the summer after helping Barrow win the National League title last season, and he wants a repeat of that promotion.

“Stockport have put out there what their ambition was from the end of last season. You want to be involved with a club like that,” said Rooney.

“It’s only a short career. You have to weigh things up, but hearing where they want to go excited me.

“Everybody knows what our aim is, that’s promotion. It doesn’t matter how we get it. That’s why I have come here, I did it last season and I want some more of it.

“It was a hard decision because of what we achieved at Barrow, but this is a massive club. We need to try and get them back in the league.”