Jimmy McNulty has made his intentions clear ahead of Stockport County's League One visit to Sheffield Wednesday: no sitting back, no ceding the initiative, regardless of the opposition.

"We want to attack every team," the Stockport manager said in his pre-match briefing, setting the tone for what promises to be one of the most eye-catching third-tier fixtures of the September programme.

The size of the task

Sheffield Wednesday are the division's pace-setters. Wednesday's seven-point lead at the top of League One makes them the standard against which every other side is measured at this stage of the season. Travelling to Hillsborough and playing on the front foot against a side in that kind of form is a bold statement of intent from McNulty.

Stockport arrive in decent shape themselves. A big win at Wigan earlier this month demonstrated that County can compete with the division's better sides, and McNulty spoke afterwards about his squad being ready to push on. The trip to Wednesday is the sternest examination yet of whether that confidence is justified.

McNulty's attacking philosophy

The Stockport boss has been consistent in his messaging since taking charge. He wants his team to press, to move the ball quickly, and to make life uncomfortable for whoever they face. That approach brought results at Wigan and has given County a platform to build from in the early weeks of the campaign.

Applying it against Wednesday is a different proposition. Wednesday have been dominant at home, and their margin at the top of the table reflects a side that can hurt opponents in multiple ways. McNulty, however, appears unconcerned by reputation. His line that Stockport want to attack "every team" was pointed: there are no exceptions on his list, and the league leaders are not about to get one.

What is at stake

For Stockport, a result at Hillsborough would do more than collect three points. It would signal that County are genuine contenders rather than credible mid-table sides with occasional ambitions. McNulty's side have already shown they can be competitive, but winning or pushing Wednesday close on their own ground would carry a different weight entirely.

For the promotion picture, the match matters broadly. Wednesday's lead is substantial, but the chasing pack will be watching closely. Any slip by the leaders, or any statement from a rival, shifts the dynamics of a race that is still far from settled.

Stockport's keeper Jordan Whatmuff has been publicly targeting clean sheets in this fixture, adding a defensive dimension to the team's preparations. McNulty's attacking declaration and Whatmuff's defensive ambition together sketch out what County's ideal result looks like: go forward, stay solid, come away with something.

The bigger picture for County

Stockport have navigated a busy fixture run and, on the whole, come through it encouragingly. McNulty has spoken about the importance of taking games one at a time, keeping preparations sharp and simple. The squad knows what is required.

Wednesday away is the kind of fixture that can define a season's early chapter. McNulty's message to his players and to the supporters who will make the journey is unambiguous: Stockport are not going there to manage a defeat. They are going there to win.

Frequently asked

When do Stockport County play Sheffield Wednesday?
Stockport County travel to Sheffield Wednesday in League One on 17 September 2026, according to the pre-match interview given by manager Jimmy McNulty.
What has Jimmy McNulty said ahead of the Sheffield Wednesday match?
McNulty said Stockport want to attack every team, making clear his side will not be cautious despite Wednesday's seven-point lead at the top of League One.
How are Stockport County doing in League One this season?
County have been competitive in the early weeks, with a notable win at Wigan boosting confidence, though Sheffield Wednesday remain the clear pace-setters in the division.