Burton Albion at Rodney Parade
Newport County AFC face Burton Albion in their penultimate Sky Bet League 2 game at Rodney Parade this season on Easter Monday (21st April, 3:00pm Kick Off). The Exiles are hoping to build on the fine 2-0 victory against Wycombe Wanderers in their last home fixture.
County maintained their unbeaten run with a hard fought 2-2 draw in Kingston on Good Friday against a competitive AFC Wimbledon side but Justin Edinburgh felt that The Exiles could and should have recorded a victory after going 2-0 up early in the second half:
‘I am disappointed to lose a 2 goal lead as it is drummed into all players from a young age that teams are vulnerable after they score. We let AFC Wimbledon back into it after working hard to gain an advantage and they score 2 minutes after we doubled our lead. It is basics and we need to take our first half performance into Monday.’
Newport County AFC face a Burton Albion side buoyant after a 3-0 victory over free-falling Hartlepool united at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday. It was the first time that the Brewers have scored 3 at home this season and cemented their place in the Play-Offs.
Manager Gary Rowett is looking to push on and is eyeing a top three place for his Derbyshire side as their next home game is against promotion rivals Chesterfield and they are just 4 points off an automatic promotion place.
Edinburgh is glad that the teams County have left to play all have something left to play for as this will ensure his players remained focus:
‘We have 3 games left against teams that are chasing promotion either through the play-offs or automatic and we have acquitted ourselves well against our opponents in the top half of the table and I expect us to show this form until the end of the season.’
It may be too soon for Tom Naylor to return after the Derby loanee twisted his ankle in training last Thursday but Aaron O’Connor is likely to feature at some point, providing there is no reaction to Friday’s cameo appearance, for his first home game in front of the County faithful in the Football League. It has been a frustrating 10 months for last season’s top scorer and he will probably have to settle for a place on the bench Monday as Edinburgh eases the former Mansfield Town striker back into the fold.
Apart from long term injured player Stephens, Yakubu and Anthony, a full complement of County players attended training on Easter Sunday giving the chance for the Manager to choose an unchanged team for the third game in a row for the first time this season.
The previous game between the two teams took place over the holiday period between Christmas and New Year (December 29) when a solitary Billy Kee goal gave the points to Burton and this game is likely to be just as tight.
Tickets are available on the day for County fans and can also be bought online http://www.newport-county.co.uk/tickets/buy_tickets_online/