Two teams struggling towards the bottom of the League Two table will lock horns on Monday, as Newport County welcome Crawley Town to Rodney Parade.
The home side are currently 18th in the division, picking up 24 points from their 23 league matches this term, while Crawley are 20th, boasting 21 points from their opening 23 fixtures of 2022-23.
Match preview
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Newport County have been present in League Two since earning promotion from the Conference in 2013, and they have been seventh, 14th, fifth and 11th in their last four campaigns at this level of football.
The Exiles have found it difficult during the 2022-23 season, though, picking up only 24 points from their 23 matches, which has left them in 18th position in the table.
That said, Graham Coughlan's side are some nine points clear of 23rd-placed Rochdale, while they are only three points behind 16th-placed Grimsby Town, which is an indication of how quickly things could change.
Newport County recorded back-to-back wins over Gillingham and Crewe Alexandra on November 19 and December 2 respectively, but they are without a victory in their last three league fixtures, losing at home to Doncaster Rovers before drawing with AFC Wimbledon and Leyton Orient.
The Port will have taken plenty of encouragement from their draw with leaders Orient on Friday, but they have lost their last two matches against Crawley, including a 2-1 defeat in the reverse game back in October.
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Crawley, meanwhile, will enter this game off the back of a 3-1 defeat to Stevenage on Friday, which proved to be their third loss in succession, with the recent run seeing them drop into 20th spot in the table.
The Red Devils announced on Thursday that Matthew Etherington had been sacked as head coach after just 32 days in charge, with the former winger at the helm for just three games before his dismissal.
Darren Byfield was in charge for the 3-1 loss against Stevenage, with Crawley co-chairman Preston Johnson also in the dugout for the contest.
The West Sussex outfit will now be looking to bounce back against Newport County, but the strugglers have only won one of their last six League Two games, suffering four defeats in the process.
Crawley have not played below League Two since 2011, finishing 12th in their last two campaigns at this level, but it has been a difficult campaign to date, with the strugglers picking up just 21 points from 23 matches courtesy of a record of five wins, six draws and 12 defeats.
Team News
Newport County boss Coughlan could decide to select the same XI that took to the field for the goalless draw with the league leaders Orient on Friday.
The manager will need to assess the fitness of his players following the energy-zapping contest, but the team have not reported any injury concerns, so it could be a case of same again.
A 3-5-2 formation should include Omar Bogle and Offrande Zanzala in the final third of the field, with the pair scoring nine League Two goals between them during the 2022-23 campaign.
As for Crawley, there were five changes to their side against Stevenage following the 2-1 home loss to Sutton United on Boxing Day.
It seems likely that there will be more alterations for this match, with Jack Powell, Aramide Oteh and Jayden Davis potentially coming in for starts on Monday.
Oter could join Dominic Telford in the final third of the field, with teenager Tom Fellows expected to keep his spot in an attacking area for the visitors.
Newport County possible starting lineup:
Day; Drysdale, Farquharson, Demetriou; Norman, Moriah-Welsh, Bennett, Aa Lewis, Ad Lewis; Bogle, Zanzala
Crawley Town possible starting lineup:
Balcombe; Johnson, Ranson, Francillette; Davis, Balagizi, Powell, Tsaroulla; Fellows; Oteh, Telford
We say: Newport County 1-0 Crawley Town
It is difficult to ignore Crawley's recent struggles when picking a result in this contest. Newport are without a victory in their last three, but they were impressive against Orient last time out, and we believe that home advantage will allow Coughlan's side to secure an important three points in this match.
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