There is another full fixture list in Skybet League 2 this weekend but we don’t have to wait until Saturday for it to begin as the action kicks off on Friday night this week when the leaders Doncaster Rovers head to Newport for a bottom vs top clash.
Newport County
Newport’s season so far has been every bit as wretched as we expected it to be but they have shown some shoots of life in recent times which they will be looking to sprout into full on signs of survival but this is a big match for them because should they lose this they could find themselves six points adrift of safety by the end of the weekend with matches just beginning to run out.
Newport go into this match unbeaten in four matches now which has seen them close the gap between themselves and the rest of the sides at the bottom of the table. They have started to concede fewer goals and have been finding the net a bit more regularly and that is never a bad combination.
Doncaster Rovers
Over the last couple of months Doncaster have found a real groove, one which has seen them soar clear of the majority of the division and now they only have to stay reasonably strong to secure promotion back to League One at the first opportunity. A win here would push Doncaster eight points clear at the top until Saturday afternoon and a huge 17pts clear of fourth place.
Doncaster head down to Wales unbeaten in nine in the league and in those matches they have only dropped four points although two of those were last weekend when Morecambe surprisingly held them at the Keepmoat. That might add to the concentration and inspiration ahead of this opportunity.
Team News
Newport are going to be without Ben Tozer, Mark Randall and Jack Compton who are not being considered for selection while they are meant to be without more players who are injured although they’ve not been named.
Doncaster will be missing Liam Mandeville for this match as he has an ankle injury. James Coppinger is nursing a knock but he will be available to play if called upon.
Betting
Whenever top plays bottom the automatic inkling is to side with the team at the top and when you see the drift currently going on around Doncaster that inkling would only get stronger but there is a trappy feel to this match which I don’t like.
I guess the first thing we need to acknowledge is that this won’t be like most matches for Doncaster. The pitch at Rodney Parade is absolutely horrendous and you wouldn’t let cows graze on it let alone ask footballers to play on it and to say it will be a leveller is an understatement.
In truth that is enough to put me off backing Doncaster but I’m not one to get behind Newport in any way either so this is a clear no bet match for me.
Tips
No Bet
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