Each rejoicing in ending respective winless runs, League Two relegation candidates Newport County and Morecambe both seek back-to-back victories in Tuesday's contest at Rodney Parade.
Nelson Jardim's men conquered Barrow 1-0 over the weekend, while their visitors emerged triumphant in a six-goal spectacular at home to Fleetwood Town.
Match preview
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Finding wins increasingly hard to come by since the summer nights ended, Newport County had tried and failed four times to achieve their first maximum of 2025, ending the month of January with just one point accrued from a potential 12.
However, Jardim's men belatedly stopped the rot on Saturday, as a Kyle Cameron own goal with 20 minutes of normal time remaining proved to be Barrow's undoing, enabling Newport to end a six-game winless sequence and march to their first victory since before Christmas.
Jardim lauded his players' ability to 'win ugly' as Tuesday's hosts recorded just their third win from a staggering 20 matches across all competitions, one that leaves them seven points clear of the demotion line in 19th place in the League Two standings.
A first clean sheet since December 14 ought to have been the highlight of the day for Jardim, whose side had no problems making the net bulge during their woeful winter sequence, but they repeatedly let themselves down with a lack of rearguard nous at the other end.
While Newport may have relied on an unfortunate own goal to get over the line at the weekend, they have now registered at the correct end in seven of their last eight matches and now welcome Morecambe to a ground where they have collected 20 of their 30 points this term.
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Unlike Newport, Morecambe had one 2025 success to revel in before kicking off the month of February, although their 2-0 New Year's Day success over Tranmere Rovers was initially not a sign of things to come for Derek Adams's team.
Four straight defeats with a grand total of zero goals scored followed for the Shrimps, who were slaughtered 5-0 in the FA Cup at the hands of Chelsea before three successive 1-0 losses to Crewe Alexandra, Colchester United and Bradford City plunged them deeper into danger.
However, Adams's men relit the blue touch paper when Fleetwood came to town, as Andy Dallas's brace, Callum Cooke's penalty and Marcus Dackers's first goal of the League Two season propelled Morecambe to an enthralling 4-2 success on home soil.
As the 23rd-placed visitors prepare to hit the road again, they do so having narrowed the gap to safety to just three points, and Morecambe have intriguingly collected more points on the road than at home in 2024-25, accruing 14 of their 23 on rival turf.
One of Morecambe's unsuccessful home outings this season coincidentally came against Newport on August 31, where Aaron Wildig struck the game's only goal in a 1-0 success for the Exiles, who are now bidding to win four straight games against the Shrimps for the very first time.
Team News
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Newport's morale-boosting success at the weekend did not come without sacrifice, as midfielder Kai Whitmore and his replacement Kieron Evans both departed with injuries, although the former's change was more precautionary following a previous knock.
Nevertheless, Jardim has admitted that both lynchpins will need assessing ahead of the midweek contest, while Tom Davies - who only signed for the hosts a couple of weeks ago - will not play again this season owing to a hamstring concern.
Either Cameron Antwi or Noah Mawene should benefit from Evans and Whitmore's fresh woes, and a first appearance could also come the way of young defender Jaden Warner, recently signed from Norwich City.
In contrast, Morecambe came out of their triumph over Fleetwood with no new fitness concerns, but on-loan Liverpool defender Rhys Williams has now missed the Shrimps' last two League Two matches and is seemingly a doubt for this battle as well.
Max Taylor and Jamie Stott should operate in front of goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne is Williams is not given the thumbs-up to make his return, while the 6ft 7in Dackers has certainly played his way into another start up front after finally scoring his first League Two goal on his 38th appearance.
Newport County possible starting lineup:
Townsend; Clarke, Evans, Baker; McLoughlin; Thomas, Martin, Antwi, Driscoll-Glennon; Baker-Richardson, Kamwa
Morecambe possible starting lineup:
Burgoyne; Hendrie, Taylor, Stott, Tutonda; Songo'o, Cooke; Dallas, Macadam, Edwards; Dackers
We say: Newport County 2-2 Morecambe
Whether both sides' recent wins were simply one-offs or precursors for an upturn in fortunes remains to be seen, but we are finding it impossible to separate them on this occasion.
Playing on the road can often bring out the best in Morecambe, but Newport have had few problems finding the back of the net of late, and an entertaining stalemate could be on the menu.
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Ben Knapton
