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Match Previews

Preview: Newport (A)

16 February 2018

Match Previews

Preview: Newport (A)

16 February 2018

Notts County travel to Newport County AFC looking to move back into the Sky Bet League Two automatic promotion places.

A 2-1 win over Carlisle United on Tuesday night saw the Magpies keep up the pressure on Wycombe Wanderers, who stayed third courtesy of a late winner against Swindon Town.

Newport, meanwhile, are seven points adrift of the play-off places and need a win to stay in touch with the chasing pack.

The Exiles are without a victory in their last four league outings and will be looking to make amends after being on the wrong end of a 5-0 thrashing by Mansfield Town in midweek.

Notts boss Kevin Nolan says...

"It's always a tough game down there. Michael Flynn has done a fantastic job to get them where they are.

"They're relentless in what they do and we have to stand up to that.

"We're going to be in for a real tough day and we have to go there and try to win the battle."

Newport manager Michael Flynn says...

“They are a good team who have been up there or thereabouts all season and it’s going to be a tough game.

“If we win tomorrow we will already have more points than we did in the whole of last season, and we’ve already got more points than the season before.

“We're overachieving at the moment."

Team news

Nolan will be without Mason Bennett, who is expected to be sidelined for some time by the hamstring injury sustained at Barnet last weekend.

Shaun Brisley has recovered from the bug which kept him out of Tuesday's win over his former club Carlisle, but a decision is yet to be made on whether the defender will travel to south Wales.

That could allow Brighton loanee Ben Hall a second consecutive start at the heart of the Notts defence.

Former Notts defender Scot Bennett will be missing for the hosts after picking up a hamstring injury in the 5-0 defeat at Mansfield on Tuesday night.

Dangerman

Padraig Amond was a key addition for the Exiles over the summer, making the move to south Wales for an undisclosed fee after a protracted transfer saga.

His 14 goals for Hartlepool last season were not enough to keep Pools in the EFL as they suffered relegation on the final day, with Newport staying up at their expense.

The striker's last season in the National League was a prolific one as he scored 33 times in 49 appearances for Grimsby, helping fire the Mariners back to the EFL.

He leads their goalscoring charts in Sky Bet League Two so far this season as the only player to reach double figures in terms of goals scored and his form could be crucial if the Exiles are to make a serious push for a play-off place in the closing months of the campaign.

We've met before...

Notts have taken on the reformed Newport County five times and lead the head-to-head stakes with three wins to two.

Kevin Nolan's team ran out comfortable 3-0 winners earlier in the season at Meadow Lane, taking advantage of Dan Butler's red card through Shola Ameobi's goal and a brace from Jorge Grant.

Previously, the Magpies did the double over the Exiles in 2015-16 before the Welsh side repaid the favour last season.

What are the odds?

Sky Bet have priced Notts up as 7/4 outsiders while the hosts are 6/4 favourites to keep the three points in south Wales. The draw is available at 12/5.

Another 3-0 win against Newport for the Magpies is 28/1, while the repeat of the 1-0 win at Rodney Parade in 2016 prices 8/1.

Fancy a repeat of the 4-3 win from 2015-16? Sky Bet offer huge odds of 150/1 for Notts to come out on the right side of a seven-goal thriller!

Jorge Grant has three goals in two appearances against the Exiles and can be backed at 9/2 to open the scoring this time around. The midfielder is 17/2 to score a brace or 50/1 to bag a hat-trick.

Sky Bet offer odds of 4/1 on Notts winning the game with both teams scoring or keeping a clean sheet to win the game to-nil.

You can bet on the game here.

Supporters who sign up to Sky Bet using this link can help the club financially.


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