Looking at the home side
Having lost their last two games in a row Morecambe have slipped away from the playoff places where they would like to be, although they are only seven points away from Accrington Stanley in 7th, despite being in 14th. They have plenty of threats in front of goal, mainly through Shaun Miller and Paul Mullin who have ten and nine goals respectively this season but Thomas Barkhulzen and Kevin Ellison have also had no problem in finding the back of the net. Morecambe will be looking for three points this weekend with difficult fixtures against Portsmouth and Oxford United on the horizon.
Getting there
By car: Leave Newport at Coldra for the Midlands by the A449 and continue on the A40, M50 and M5. As the M5 merges into the M6 head north-west and exit the M6 at Junction 34. Take the A683 towards Lancaster and then the A589 towards Morecambe. Go straight on at two roundabouts and take the first left at the third roundabout into Westgate road. The stadium is a mile down this road and street parking is available by driving past the stadium and going over the railway bridge.
By train: Leaving Newport at 08:03 there are a couple of changes that you need to make. Firstly at Crewe and then Wigan North West and Lancaster, arriving at Morecambe at 12:36. For the return journey leave Morecambe at 17:55 and change at Lancaster and Preston to get to Crewe, before taking the 20:08 train from Crewe arriving back in Newport at 22:37.
Form Guide
Morecambe – L LWLDWDWL L 11 points
Newport County – D DWLDL LWDL 10 points
Upcoming Milestones
Scott Barrow – 4 appearances for 175 professional appearances
Ben Davies – 2 appearances for 75 professional appearances
Matt Taylor – 5 appearances for 275 professional appearances and 2 goals for 25 professional goals
Medy Elito – 1 goal for 25 professional goals
Yan Klukowksi – 1 appearance for 225 professional appearances
Conor Wilkinson – 4 appearances for 50 professional appearances
Scott Boden – 4 appearances for 250 professional appearances
Alex Rodman – 1 appearances for 225 professional appearances
Joe Day – 4 appearances for 125 professional appearances
Morecambe’s record against County
Played 5 Won 5 Drawn 0 Lost 0 Goals For 13 Goals Against 6
Saturday 12th September 2015 Newport County 1 – 2 Morecambe (Barrow 67’)
Saturday 21st February 2015 Newport County 0 – 1 Morecambe
Saturday 16th August 2014 Morecambe 3 – 2 Newport County (Chapman 27’, O’Connor 29’)
Tuesday 11th March 2014 Morecambe 4 – 1 Newport County (Naylor 13’)
Saturday 14th September 2013 Newport County 2 – 3 Morecambe (Jones 3’, Willmott 24’)
Last meeting
It was a Paul Mullin penalty in stoppage time that gave Morecambe the victory the last time these two sides met at Rodney Parade in September. Scott Barrow had tied the game up for the Exiles after Alan Goodall had given the visitors the lead but a stoppage time penalty ensured that Morecambe continued their streak of winning every single game they have played against County.
Last Time Out
A penalty was the only difference between the two sides as Leyton Orient ran out 1-0 winners against Newport at the Matchroom Stadium on Tuesday night, leaving the Exiles four points clear of the relegation zone.
The man in charge
The referee for this weekend’s fixture is Mark Brown, his assistants are David Benton and Iain Siddall and the fourth official is Joseph Johnson. Brown sent off Andy Sandell in County’s 2-2 draw with Hartlepool in November 2014 in his only time in charge of a County game.
Around the league (all times 3pm)
Accrington Stanley v Bristol Rovers
A.F.C Wimbledon v Yeovil Town
Crawley Town v Mansfield Town
Hartlepool United v Exeter City
Leyton Orient v Cambridge United
Luton Town v Notts County
Plymouth Argyle v Wycombe Wanderers
York City v Stevenage