All the stats and facts you need, ahead of our trip to Stevenage F.C.
Looking at the home side
Newport go into this game knowing that a win would guarantee safety in League 2 provided that York City fail to beat Hartlepool United. County’s opponents this week are the only side between the Exiles and the drop zone and Stevenage will be desperate to pick up points to avoid a very anxious last four games. They recently broke a run of five straight defeats but have only won once in the last nine games and both sides will be targeting this fixtures as one they could win. Stevenage still have to face Accrington, Bristol Rovers and Wimbledon after Newport this weekend, all of whom are in an automatic or playoff place. They will be looking to Chris Whelpdale to give them victory over Newport, he has three times as many goals as anyone else in the side this season with nine in all competitions.
Getting There
By car: Leave the M4 at Junction 4B, bearing left for the M25 Northbound and leave the M25 at Junction 23 for the A1(M). At Junction 7 leave the A1(M) and take the A602 towards Stevenage. Go straight across at the first roundabout and you will see the floodlights of the ground on the right as you approach the next roundabout. Go straight across at this roundabout as well and there is a large car park on the left which is free to park in.
By train: The easiest way by train is to go into London and by taking the 08:37 train from Newport you will arrive at London Paddington at 10:40, take the tube to Kings Cross and leave there at 11:35 to get to Stevenage at 12:13. The return journey is exactly the reverse leaving Stevenage at 18:06, getting to Kings Cross at 18:32. Again take the tube to London Paddington where you will leave at 19:37 and arrive back in Newport at 21:34.
Form Guide
Newport County – LWLWDL L L L L 7 points
Stevenage – WL L L L LDWDL 8 points
Upcoming Milestones
Medy Elito – 1 goal for 25 professional goals
Andrew Hughes – 3 appearances for 150 professional appearances
Dean Morgan – 3 goals for 75 professional goals
Tom Meechan – 1 goal for 75 professional goals
Stevenage’s record against County
Played 3 Won 1 Drawn 1 Lost 1 Goals For 4 Goals Against 5
Saturday 15th August 2015: Newport County 2 – 2 Stevenage (Collins 58’, Boden 79’)
Saturday 7th March 2015: Stevenage 2 – 1 Newport County (Chapman 88’)
Saturday 13th December 2014: Newport County 2 – 0 Stevenage (O’Connor 26’, Jones 45’)
Last meeting
Four goals were evenly shared at Rodney Parade in the second game of the season when Stevenage defender Mark Hughes equalised in stoppage time to give both sides their first point of the season. They had taken the lead in the first half through Dipo Akinyemi before second half goals from Aaron Collins and Scott Boden put the Exiles ahead, only for the equalising goal to be headed in with moments to spare.
Last time out
Newport slipped to defeat when Cambridge United came to Rodney Parade last Saturday and kept their hopes of a playoff place alive when James Dunne scored the winner midway through the second half. County failed to have a single shot on target during the match and are eleven points clear of the relegation zone with five games left to play.
The Man in charge
Iain Williamson is in charge for this fixture with his assistants Paul Johnson and Andrew Newbold, the fourth official is Alan Young. Williamson hasn’t been in charge of County for two years but was in the middle for two games of the 2013/14 season when Newport beat Torquay by two goals to one at Rodney Parade at the end of September and the Boxing Day win away at Wycombe. So far this season he has refereed 32 games, handing out 118 yellow cards at an average of 3.6 a game, and six red cards.
Around the league (all times 3:00pm unless stated)
Accrington Stanley v Morecambe
A.F.C Wimbledon v Crawley Town
Bristol Rovers v Yeovil Town
Cambridge United v Carlisle United
Exeter City v Northampton Town
Hartlepool United v York City
Leyton Orient v Dagenham and Redbridge
Mansfield Town v Notts County (1:00pm)
Oxford United v Luton Town
Portsmouth v Plymouth Argyle
Wycombe Wanderers v Barnet