Newport County and Portsmouth go head to head at Rodney Parade for a place in the third round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
While the Exiles head into the game off the back of ending their seven-game losing streak on home turf, the visitors will be seeking to pick up a fifth consecutive victory for the first time since November 2021.
Match preview
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Newport County got their 2022-23 League Two campaign up and running when they came back from behind to claim a hard-earned 2-1 victory against Tranmere Rovers last Saturday.
Despite being on the back foot for most of the game and seeing below 40% of the ball possession, the Exiles upped the ante after falling behind as Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Omar Bogle scored in a nine-minute spell to turn the game on its head.
Prior to that, James Rowberry's men staggered into the new campaign, picking up one draw and losing three of their opening four league games, while scoring three goals and shipping seven in that time.
Newport County will hope their victory at the weekend can serve as a needed morale-booster as they turn their attention to the EFL Cup, where they claimed a thrilling 3-2 victory away to Luton Town in the opening round a fortnight ago.
They will also be looking to surpass their 2021-22 cup run, where they were sent packing in the second round courtesy of an embarrassing 8-0 defeat at the hands of Premier League side Southampton.
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Portsmouth, on the other hand, continued their sensational start to life in the new League One campaign as they posted a 3-1 victory against Bristol Rovers at Fratton Park last time out.
Aaron Collins cancelled out Connor Ogilvie's first half opener to level matters on the hour mark, but Joe Pigott converted from the spot to restore Pompey's lead in the 82nd minute before Owen Dale put the icing on the cake with a 92nd-minute strike.
Portsmouth, who secured a 10th-placed finish in the third tier last season, are now unbeaten in their opening six games of the new domestic campaign — their longest unbeaten run since March.
Danny Cowley's men head into the midweek clash on a four-game winning streak, a run which started with a resounding 3-0 victory over Championship outfit Cardiff City when the sides squared off in the first round of the EFL Cup on August 9.
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Team News
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Newport County will be without the services of 24-year-old striker Offrande Zanzala, who is set to miss at least two months of action after suffering a hamstring tendon injury.
The Exiles have snapped up West Ham United man Thierry Nevers on a season-long loan as they look to deal with the loss of Zanzala and the 20-year-old forward should retain his role in the XI on Tuesday.
Other names on the Newport County injury table are Aaron Wildig and Robbie Willmott, who were both absent from the matchday squad for the second consecutive game last weekend.
Meanwhile, Portsmouth will be without several key players down the spine of the team as defender Denver Hume, midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe and forward Jayden Reid all continue their spells on the sidelines.
Joe Morrell has been out of action since picking up an injury against Gosport on July 3, while Welshman Louis Thompson is a major doubt for the visitors after coming off with a 24th-minute injury at the weekend.
Clark Robertson, who recently recovered from a foot problem, was fit enough to make the bench at the weekend and the Blues' skipper could return to action for the first time in seven games.
Newport County possible starting lineup:
Townsend; Clarke, Drysdale, Demetriou, Norman; Lewis, Moriah-Welsh, Waite, Bennett; Bogle, Nevers
Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Griffiths; Rafferty, Morrison, Raggett, Ogilvie; Dale, Pack, Lowery, Jacobs; Bishop, Curtis
We say: Newport County 1-3 Portsmouth
While Newport County will be looking to build on last weekend's victory, they go up against a spirited Portsmouth side who have won their last four games in all competitions. Pompey are also unbeaten in the new campaign and we are backing them to maintain their fine run of results and come away with a comfortable victory on Tuesday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
