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Match Previews

PREVIEW | Newport County AFC vs Walsall

17 September 2021

Match Previews

PREVIEW | Newport County AFC vs Walsall

17 September 2021

Newport County AFC will be looking to bounce back from their midweek defeat against Northampton when Walsall make the trip to Rodney Parade this weekend.

The Exiles are still searching for their first home league win of the campaign, while Walsall travel to south Wales after a victory against Mansfield Town - their third consecutive league match without defeat.

THE OPPOSITION - WALSALL

Walsall currently sit in 17th place in the Sky Bet League Two table with eight points from seven matches.

The Saddlers endured a tough first month of the season, having to wait until their fifth game for their first victory.

Since then they have not tasted defeat, and now find themselves looking to extend a three-match unbeaten run.

TEAM NEWS

Newport County AFC manager Michael Flynn will be without reliable midfielder Scot Bennett after his injury against Northampton Town Tuesday. He joins Courtney Senior on the injury list for the Exiles.

Walsall rotated their squad for their Papa John’s Trophy match against Brighton Under-21s, so they are expected to have many first-team players return.

ONE TO WATCH - GEORGE MILLER

Forward George Miller will be full of confidence coming into the weekend after his performance last time out. Miller scored twice against Mansfield in the Saddlers' 3-1 win.

The 23-year-old joined on loan from Barnsley in the summer, having spent last season on loan at Scunthorpe United.

Prior to signing for Barnsley, Miller was at Middlesbrough and also had loan spells at Bury, Wrexham and Bradford City.

IN THE HOT SEAT - MATTHEW TAYLOR

Matthew Taylor was appointed as Walsall's head coach in May 2021, joining the club from Tottenham Hotspur’s youth academy.

He had a brief spell as Swindon Town’s interim manager in 2018 after the departure of David Flitcroft.

As a player, Taylor represented Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United and Burnley in the Premier League, making over 300 appearances.

LAST MEETING

The last time County faced the Saddlers was in February at the Banks’s Stadium, where the Exiles recorded an away victory.

The only goal of the game came 20 minutes from time, when Joss Labadie headed home from a Ryan Haynes cross.

Nick Townsend made a couple of late saves to ensure the points came back to south Wales.


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