Newport County face their biggest game in three decades on Thursday evening as the Exiles take on Mansfield Town in the first leg of their Sky Bet League Two play-off. The Welsh outfit have enjoyed an incredible journey during the 2018/19 campaign which has included their run to the fifth round of the FA Cup and now a place in the end-of-season play-offs.
In this season’s FA Cup, giant-killings against Leicester City and Middlesbrough led to Newport County playing host to Premier League giants, Manchester City, at Rodney Parade. Those thrilling games will be lasting memories of all the County fans in attendance and undoubtedly provided a much-needed boost financially to the club. However, the ultimate ambition for the club has always been continued league progression. It is now more than 30 years since Newport last played in the third tier of English football and a return to that level is now within reach.
County manager, Michael Flynn, admits that his side have overachieved in reaching the play-offs. He explained, “At the start of the season we would have bitten your hands off for seventh. We have a bottom-three budget, but we have a formula that means we have a group of lads who play above themselves more often than not.”
There were concerns that this season’s FA Cup heroics has taken its toll on the County players. On the day of their fifth-round defeat at home to Manchester City, Newport County were languishing in fifteenth position in League Two, nine points off the play-off places. However, The Exiles finished the season on a ten-game unbeaten run in the league, earning a much-coveted play-off spot. That fine run of form towards the end of the season saw Michael Flynn and Joe Day claim April’s League Two Manager of the Month and Player of the Month awards respectively.
A Miraculous Rise
After decades in the doldrums of non-league football, the 2018/19 campaign was Newport County’s sixth back in the Football League. The Exiles finished one place above the relegation zone in 2015/16 and looked set to drop back out of the Football League a year later. Eleven points adrift with just twelve to play, former player, Flynn, was brought in as manager and guided Newport County to safety, a feat described as the ‘great escape’.
Flynn was this week asked if he felt that reaching the play-offs this season eclipses that great escape. He answered, “Of course it is. There are different reasons, but last-gasp things at the top of the table are better than at the bottom!”
The Opposition
Mansfield Town, Newport’s opponents in the play-offs, fell agonisingly short in their efforts to earn automatic promotion and are the bookies’ favourites to be promoted via the play-offs. After spending most of the campaign in the top three, Mansfield slipped into fourth position after finishing the season with three consecutive defeats. At odds of just 6/4, Mansfield will hope to return to the third tier for the first time since 2002/03.
Mansfield’s fine season was built on a formidable defence. The Stags had the best defensive record in the league, conceding just 41 goals in their 46 league games. Likewise, Newport County’s late charge towards a top seven finish was built on some heroic defensive performances. The Exiles conceded just three times in their final ten league games.
At odds of 9/2 Newport County are the underdogs going into the play-offs; however, they are the side in form and will be full of confidence ahead of Thursday’s clash at Rodney Parade. When the sides met in South Wales in February, Newport County ran out deserved 1-0 winners. The passionate Amber Army are expected to turn a sell-out Rodney Parade into a cauldron of noise and as proud sponsors we at InterBet would be delighted to pay out any winnings to those who get behind Newport County on Sunday!
Match Odds
Newport County – 6/4
Draw – 2/1
Mansfield Town – 7/4
After Thursday, Mansfield Town will host Newport County in the second leg of their play-off on Sunday 12th May. The winner over two legs will then take on either Forest Green Rovers or Tranmere Rovers at Wembley Stadium on 25th May with a place in next season’s Sky Bet League One up for grabs.
Sky Bet League Two Play-Off Winners
Mansfield Town – 6/4
Forest Green Rovers – 11/4
Tranmere Rovers – 11/4
Newport County – 9/2