Despite defeat to promotion chasing Northampton at the weekend, Simon Weaver and his players head to Newport tomorrow knowing that just a single point from their remaining three games will be enough to mathematically secure another EFL season for the 2023/24 campaign.
A tricky task lies ahead though with the Exiles finding some form of late, including overturning an early deficit to defeat Doncaster 3-1 on Saturday.
TICKET INFORMATION
The Exiles come into the game in mid-table in fourteenth position, having taken 53 points with three games to play.
They have won three of their past five fixtures, a run that saw them end the faint threat of being dragged into a relegation fight.
They do have the third worst home record this season – winning six matches - with only Rochdale and Hartlepool having taken fewer points on home soil.
Previous meetings
Town were blown away in the reverse fixture in late August when goals from Omar Bogle, Thierry Nevers and a Kayne Ramsay own goal did the damage in the opening twenty minutes. Bogle grabbed a second just before the break to cap a 4-0 win.
Town have been defeated in both trips to Rodney Parade since entering the EFL. In 2020/21 a late Brandon Cooper goal earned the points against ten-man Town with Town falling to a heavy 4-0 defeat a season ago with a brace from League Two top scorer Dom Telford.
The man in charge
Graham Coughlan is the man in the dugout, having replaced James Rowberry in late October.
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. To date, he has 11 wins from 33 games in charge at Rodney Parade.
Ones to watch
Omar Bogle is in a rich vein of form at present and he will be looking to add to his 12 goals on the season.
Both Cameron Norman and Priestley Farquharson – who netted at the weekend – sit on four goals and four assists.
The experienced Mickey Demetriou has been a near ever present in defence whilst Aaron Wildig, who has missed much of his first season at the club, has recently returned from injury and will be looking to end the season on a high.
Ex-Town loanee Callum Kavanagh arrived on loan in January and has two goals in seven starts.
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
Town's continue to have long-term absentees Stephen Dooley and Kayne Ramsay on the sidelines with Alex Pattison forced off through injury in Saturday's defeat to Northampton.