All the facts you need, ahead of our Good Friday trip to Northampton Town.
Looking at the home side
Northampton Town are eleven points clear at the top of League 2 and are seventeen points clear of the playoff places with nine games to go, and could secure their promotion to League 1 as early as Easter Monday if results go their way. They’ve not lost a league game since Christmas and have only lost one since October 17th. Despite problems off the pitch that were particularly apparent in the early part of the season, on the field they have been setting the league alight. Their top scorer Marc Richards as 17 in all competitions with John-Joe O’Toole finding the net on 11 occasions. 18 different players have found the net for the Cobblers compared to just 11 for Newport County and their strength continues through the defence where they have conceded just a goal a game on average.
Getting there
By car: Go on the M4 to Swindon and take Junction 15 onto the A419. At the first roundabout turn right onto the A420 and continue along the road until it reaches the A34. Head North on the A34 until you reach the M40 and stay on the motorway for one junction before coming off and joining the A43. Continue along the A43 until you reach the M1 at which point cross over the M1 onto the A5123, go over two roundabouts, turn right at the third and there are two big car parks at the stadium.
By train: Leaving Newport at 10:27 and arriving in Cheltenham Spa at 11:32 there is a ten minute connection before using a service to Birmingham New Street that arrives at 12:26. There is then a half hour wait before the service to Northampton that leaves at 12:54 and arrives in Northampton at 13:53. The station is around two miles away from the ground so it is advisable to get a taxi to the stadium. For the return journey, a service leaving Northampton at 17:55 has a half hour connection in Birmingham before a direct train then goes to Newport and arrives at 21:10.
Form Guide
Newport County – W WDWLWLWDL 17 points
Northampton Town – W W W W WD DWDW 24 points
Upcoming Milestones
Medy Elito – 1 goal for 25 professional goals
Andrew Hughes – 5 appearances for 150 professional appearances
Dean Morgan – 3 goals for 75 professional goals
Tom Meechan – 1 goal for 75 professional goals
Tommy O’Sullivan – 1 appearance for 25 professional appearances
Mark Byrne – 1 appearance for 300 professional appearances
He Played for both
Seth Nana Twumasi – He made 17 appearances for Northampton Town before coming to Newport County via Yeovil. In 12 appearances for the Exiles he had 7 shots and committed 9 fouls.
Northampton’s record against County
Saturday 31st October 2015: Newport County 2 – 2 Northampton Town (Barrow 31’, John-Lewis 38’)
Saturday 24th January 2015: Northampton Town 3 – 0 Newport County
Saturday 13th September 2014: Newport County 3 – 2 Northampton Town (Zebroski 18’, Jones 33’, Minshull 53’)
Saturday 4th January 2014: Newport County 1 – 2 Northampton Town (Worley 45’)
Saturday 10th August 2013: Northampton Town 3 – 1 Newport County (Washington 89’)
Last meeting
Newport are one of only four teams that Northampton Town are yet to beat this season alongside Cambridge United (1 draw, 1 loss), A.F.C Wimbledon (2 draws) and Portsmouth (1 loss). A 2-2 draw at Rodney Parade at the end of October puts Newport among this small group when they fought back from 2-0 down inside the first half an hour to draw level with the now league leaders after only 38 minutes. Goals from Scott Barrow and Lenell John-Lewis seven minutes apart meant the game finished 2-2.
Last time out
Despite a goal from Alex Rodman two minutes in, Newport lost to Bristol Rovers 4-1 at Rodney Parade as the visitors avenged the result earlier in the season when County went away and won by the same score line. Despite the loss though Newport remain 11 clear of the bottom two with 27 points left to play for.
The Man in charge
Christopher Sarginson is in charge for this fixture with his assistants Anthony Seerano and Dave Bushell. The fourth official is Guy Stretton. Sarginson was in the middle for Newport’s 2-2 draw with Accrington Stanley in November this season as well as two games last season, the 3-2 victory over Northampton at Rodney Parade and the 4-2 defeat away at Luton. He also oversaw two games the season before that when Newport lost 3-2 to Morecambe and drew 0-0 with Bury, both at Rodney Parade. So far this season he has been in charge of 26 games handing out 76 yellow cards and 2 reds.
Around the league (all times 3:00pm)
Accrington Stanley v Leyton Orient
Bristol Rovers v Cambridge United
Exeter City v Barnet
Hartlepool United v A.F.C Wimbledon
Morecambe v Plymouth Argyle
Oxford United v Stevenage
Portsmouth v Notts County
Wycombe Wanderers v Mansfield Town
Yeovil Town v Carlisle United
York City v Crawley Town