All you need to know ahead of the Town's trip to South Wales
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE FREE TO OUR OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Newport County v Luton Town
Sky Bet League 2
Tuesday 17th March 2015, kick-off 7.45pm
, DiverseFM, BBC3CR and lutontown.co.ukHatters PlayerLive commentary on
• Town sixth; Newport ninth in L2
• Hatters lost last four away matches
• Hosts County won twice in last 10
• Town aiming for just second win in seven
WHO? Newport County AFC to give them their full title. The club reborn in 1989 after the old club went out of business. They rallied back up through the leagues to win promotion back to the Football League in 2013 after beat Wrexham in the Conference Play-Off final at Wembley.
HOW THEY DOING? Not bad at all. County go into today’s game just two points short of the final Play-Off place. A slow start to the season was followed by a strong run of results that took them up to third place. However, County lost manager Justin Edinburgh to Gillingham and their recent form has been patchy with seven defeats in their last 11 matches.
HOW TO GET THERE? It’s M1, M25, M4 west, leaving the M4 at Junction 26. Take the A4051 towards Newport and after going under a flyover you will reach a large roundabout where you take the second exit keeping in the filter lane towards the City Centre/Railway Station. At the next roundabout take the first exit going across the river onto the B4591 towards Maindee. At the traffic lights bear right onto Chepstow Road and then take the first right into Corporation Road. Take the next right into Grafton Road and the entrance is down on the left.
HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE? The Town’s last trip to Rodney Parade was a 5-2 defeat on a cold Tuesday night in December 2012. That was the Hatters’ first defeat in a game away to a Newport since 1966. The Town last won away to Newport in November 2011 thanks to a late goal from Danny Crow. That game, however, took part at County’s previous ground, Spytty Park. Overall the Hatters and Newport have met in total 56 times down the years, with the Town coming out on the top an impressive 29 times. 13 games have gone Newport’s way whilst 14 have ended all square. The Hatters have already beaten County twice at Kenilworth Road this season, coming out on top 4-2 in the FA Cup meeting in November before recording a 3-0 win just before Christmas in League 2.
TICKETS PLEASE.For more information and prices click here! Hatters supporters can buy from the Luton Town ticket office up until 1pm today. Otherwise tickets will be available on the night at Newport but cost £2 more.
HOME COMFORTS. Newport’s home form has been okay but, like their form recently, it has been inconsistent. Overall on home soil County have won eight, drawn six and lost four, scoring 25 and conceding 17. In December and January the Exiles won four successive home games with wins over Stevenage, Plymouth, Carlisle and Portsmouth but since that 10th January win over Pompey, County haven’t won in five home matches, losing three and drawing two. During that run Newport have scored just twice at home. Each defeat – against Mansfield, Morecambe and Shrewsbury – have all been 1-0.
CLUB CONNECTIONS. County have former Town men Aaron O’Connor and Robbie Willmott in their squad this term while the Hatters’ Fraser Franks previously spent time on-loan at Newport. Other players to represent both clubs include Danny Crow, Ian Hillier, Charlie Henry and Mark Aizlewood.
REF WATCH. Brendan Malone. Tuesday’s man-in-the-middle will take charge of his first game involving the Hatters tonight. So far this season he has overseen 24 matches, in which he has booked 47 players and sent-off five – two of which came in his last match between Wolves and Watford.
TOWN TEAM NEWS. The Hatters may be without skipper Stephen McNulty for the trip to South Wales after the defender sustained two cuts to his right eye in Saturday’s defeat at Portsmouth. Mark Tyler, Jonathan Smith and Nathan Doyle are all unavailable with knee injuries while Scott Griffiths requires a hernia operation and is unlikely to be risked.
LIVE AND ONLINE. .official website is the only place to listen to online commentary of the Hatters this season and once again the DiverseFM team will be bringing subscribers all the action from Rodney Parade. What’s more there will be a full report, reaction and photographs post-match and live text updates during the match itself on the Hatters Player
GET SOCIAL. and INSTRAGRAM accounts, too, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #COYH TWITTER, FACEBOOK, as well as checking out the official official YouTube channel for free Remember to subscribe to our