Town have an immediate chance to rebound from Saturday’s home defeat to Walsall when they face Newport County tomorrow evening at The EnviroVent Stadium.
And with a game in hand on a number of sides around them the opportunity to move back into the playoff positions is one they will be looking to seize upon.
Our opponents
Like Town, County suffered a blow to their playoff ambitions this past weekend when they fell to a 3-0 defeat away to red-hot MK Dons. Heading into the game they sit in 16th position, but sit just two points behind Town and five points back from the playoff spots.
Prior to defeat they had lost just once in nine games, a run that saw them progress up the table into the pack of sides harbouring playoff ambitions.
During the run they also ran Manchester United close in the FA Cup fourth round, levelling at 2-2 before being defeated 4-2.
On the road the Exiles are averaging a point per game, having picked up five wins from 16 fixtures away from home.
Previous meetings
Earlier this season goals from George Thomson and Anthony O’Connor gave Town an advantage before Will Evans pulled a goal back but it wasn’t enough to stop Town running out 2-1 winners.
At The Envirovent Stadium the spoils have been shared in the three meetings to date. Last season it was a horror show for Town as an Omar Bogle brace, Kayne Ramsay own goal and a Thierry Nevers strike in the first-half wrapped up a 4-0 win for the visitors.
In 2021/22 Town twice trailed to strikes from Scot Bennett and Robbie Wilmott but Jack Muldoon and Luke Armstrong earned a 2-2 draw.
In Town’s first season in League Two Josh March and Aaron Martin overturned Jake Scrimshaw’s early lead to see Town take the points with a 2-1 win.
The man in charge
Graham Coughlan is the man in the dugout, in his second season in charge since replacing James Rowberry.
Coughlan had a long career in English football after arriving from the Irish League, most notably playing for Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, Shrewsbury and Southend.
Prior to taking the Newport job Coughlan had brief spells in charge at both Bristol Rovers and Mansfield Town.
Ones to watch
Will Evans has lit up the scoring charts, netting 19 goals and is behind only Matt Smith and Macauley Langstaff as the division’s top scorer. Omar Bogle has added seven goals in support.
Seb Palmer-Houlden has shown promise since arriving from Bristol City, netting five times, with Bryn Morris also adding five goals from midfield in an ever-present campaign.
Long-time Exile Scott Bennett will anchor the midfield with Shane McLoughlin and Ryan Delaney part of the defensive unit.
History
Initially founded in 1912, County were re-formed in 1989 and worked their way back through the non-league set up to reach the Conference Premier for the 2010/11 season before a further promotion to League Two was earned following the 2012/13 season, where they have remained since.
One of their most famous seasons came back in 1980/81 when they reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup Winners Cup before being defeated by Carl Zeiss Jena 3-2 on aggregate.
County subsequently slipped down the divisions though and found themselves relegated from the Football League in 1987/88 and were declared bankrupt the following season.
Team news
Simon Weaver continues to be without long term absentees Lewis Thomas, Rod McDonald and Sam Folarin, though everyone came through Saturday’s clash with Walsall unscathed.