Post by moonie on Jan 7, 2023 19:16:32 GMT
Back to business next week as the Blues entertain Newport. The visitors are currently 18th in the league 2 table, having not won in their last 5 league games. The exiles have won just 6 of their 25 league games this season, drawing 8 (including a 1-1 draw when we visited in September) and losing 11. They average less than a goal a game having scored 24, and have a goal difference of -4 after conceding 28 times. Their recent away form isn't terrible - they're unbeaten in their last 5 league games away from Rodney Parade, winning one and drawing 4. Their top scorer is Omar Bogle, who has 9 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions. Former Blue Offrande Zanzala has 3 goals in his 9 games for Newport (including the equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Rochdale today), and 3 other players are also on 3 goals. Midfielder Adam Lewis is credited with 5 assists, and has 2 goals of his own to his name.
Our record against Newport is a poor one. The two sides have met 27 times, with the blues winning just 7 of these. The visitors have won 11, with 9 games finishing as draws. We've not beaten them in our last 4 attempts, though three have finished level (including September's 1-1 draw in Wales). At Brunton Park, our record is slightly better - we've played them 13 times, winning 5, drawing 4, and losing 4.
The visitors are yet to make any signings in the current transfer window, and there is a sense of concern developing among some Newport fans, with rumours of financial problems (the manager is alleged to have had to pay for the players hotel for the Rochdale games) on the club's unofficial forum. See www.weareexiles.net/viewtopic.php?t=53460&start=120 for more on this. With most teams beneath them having games in hand, Newport will be desperate to get back to winning ways ASAP, and this isn't a game we should be taking lightly.
We'll be missing a few players (as usual) - Ryan Edmondson, Taylor Charters, Fin Back, and Jack Ellis are all out for the foreseeable future, whilst Josh Dixon and Brennan Dickenson remain on the long term injury list. Ben Barclay is unlikely to be back in contention, though Omari Patrick should be fit. New signing Jack Robinson will be looking to force his way into contention, and there should (hopefully) be one or two new faces at Brunton Park this week. With the amount of teams level or within 3 points of us, this is a very important game for us. With Northampton travelling to Stockport, a win could put us right back in contention for automatic promotion - whereas defeat could be a hammer blow to our prospects.
COYB
Our record against Newport is a poor one. The two sides have met 27 times, with the blues winning just 7 of these. The visitors have won 11, with 9 games finishing as draws. We've not beaten them in our last 4 attempts, though three have finished level (including September's 1-1 draw in Wales). At Brunton Park, our record is slightly better - we've played them 13 times, winning 5, drawing 4, and losing 4.
The visitors are yet to make any signings in the current transfer window, and there is a sense of concern developing among some Newport fans, with rumours of financial problems (the manager is alleged to have had to pay for the players hotel for the Rochdale games) on the club's unofficial forum. See www.weareexiles.net/viewtopic.php?t=53460&start=120 for more on this. With most teams beneath them having games in hand, Newport will be desperate to get back to winning ways ASAP, and this isn't a game we should be taking lightly.
We'll be missing a few players (as usual) - Ryan Edmondson, Taylor Charters, Fin Back, and Jack Ellis are all out for the foreseeable future, whilst Josh Dixon and Brennan Dickenson remain on the long term injury list. Ben Barclay is unlikely to be back in contention, though Omari Patrick should be fit. New signing Jack Robinson will be looking to force his way into contention, and there should (hopefully) be one or two new faces at Brunton Park this week. With the amount of teams level or within 3 points of us, this is a very important game for us. With Northampton travelling to Stockport, a win could put us right back in contention for automatic promotion - whereas defeat could be a hammer blow to our prospects.
COYB