On Thursday night, Newport and Mansfield go head-to-head at Rodney Parade in the League Two semi-final first leg of the play-offs.
Newport are unbeaten in ten games in League Two, having finished seventh-place in the table, five points behind the visitors in the race for promotion. The Welsh side also finished eight points off the automatic promotion spots.
Last time out, Newport drew 1-1 at Morecambe. The point was vital in an unbelievably tight race for the play-offs.
Their recent league outings have been low-scoring, with six of their last eight League Two matches producing under 2.5 goals. The fact that the home side has produced six clean sheets in those two eight games has been a big contributing factor to the low-scoring encounters.
Newport County are unbeaten in seven League Two games at Rodney Parade, having recorded five wins and two draws, winning their last three home games. County have also kept clean sheets in six of their last seven League Two games on home soil.
Mansfield finished the League Two season in fourth place, three points outside the automatic promotion places after suffering defeat in their final three league games of the campaign.
In fact, the visitors won just one of their last five league matches, a run which cost them a place in League One. However, the play-offs offer Mansfield a second chance to secure a place in the third tier of English football. Town’s recent games have been high-scoring, with over 2.5 goals scored in three of their last four league outings.
Mansfield have won just once in their last nine away games in League Two, losing their last two league matches on their travels. The fact that Town have kept just one clean sheet in their last 11 league matches hindered their push for automatic promotion.
Forebet predicts that this game will end in a tight, low-scoring draw, which would leave the tie in the balance ahead of Sunday’s second leg.