Detailed look at our Boxing Day visit to Barnet F.C...
Looking at the home side
Barnet currently sit one placed above Newport in the league although they are five points clear of the Exiles going into the Christmas period. They only have one win in the last six games though and will vividly remember their FA Cup second round tie against County at the Hive Stadium only a few weeks ago when Newport set up their tie against Blackburn in January. John Akinde and Michael Gash are their two danger men with eight and seven goals in all competitions respectively so far this season.
Getting there
By car: Exit the M4 at Junction 4B bearing left for the M25 Northbound. Exit the M25 at Junction 21A, taking the A405 exit M1 South. Merge onto the M1 and then leave at junction 4 taking the A41 towards Edgware. At the roundabout take the third exit onto the A410 towards Harrow then turn left at the roundabout at the Esso garage. At the second set of traffic lights turn right into Camrose Avenue and the entrance to the stadium is down the road on the right.
By train: Take the 8:09 from Newport that gets to London Paddington at 10:52. The ground can be reached from the Jubilee Line, accessed from Paddington via a change at Baker Street, and Canons Park is a ten minute walk from the ground. For a return train the 19:57 from Paddington returns to Newport at 22:29.
Form Guide (League only)
Newport County – LW WD D D DWLD 14 points
Barnet –WDW WLDL LDW 15 points
Barnet’s record against County
Played 1 Won 0 Drawn 0 Lost 1 Goals For 0 Goals Against 1
Last meeting
It was only three weeks ago that Newport travelled to the Hive Stadium, this time in the FA Cup second round, knowing that a win would give them a place in the third round draw and the potential to face a Premier League giant. Scott Boden’s header just before the hour mark proved to be the only difference between the two sides which set up the third round tie against Blackburn Rovers at Rodney Parade in January.
Last Time Out
Newport let a two goal lead slip for the second time in as many games as this time A.F.C Wimbledon came from two behind to get a draw at Rodney Parade. After early goals from Alex Rodman and an own goal from Paul Robinson gave the Exiles their lead, two goals from Lyle Taylor evened the game up and denied County all three points.
The man in charge
The referee is Tim Robinson from West Sussex, his assistants are Paul Hobday and Christopher Husband and the fourth official is Marc Wilson. This is Robinson’s fifth season on the list and he took charge of Newport’s trip to Dagenham and Redbridge last season and in 2013, as well as the loss to A.F.C Wimbledon at Rodney Parade in 2014. He was also in the middle for four games in the Blue Square Premier for the 2011/12 season, at home to Luton, Mansfield and Darlington and away at Bath City. He has handed out 17 yellows and a red in those seven games.
Around the League (all times 3pm unless stated)
Accrington Stanley v Carlisle United
A.F.C Wimbledon v Bristol Rovers
Crawley Town v Stevenage
Dagenham and Redbridge v Cambridge United (1pm)
Hartlepool United v Notts County
Leyton Orient v Portsmouth
Luton Town v Wycombe Wanderers
Morecambe v Mansfield Town
Oxford United v Exeter City
Plymouth Argyle v Yeovil Town
York City v Northampton Town