All the stats you need to know, ahead of Saturday's visit of Hartlepool United...
Looking at the visitors
Hartlepool United have had a lot of problems with the weather up in the north of England over the past few weeks meaning that although they currently sit below the Exiles in the league, they do have three games in hand on County going into this clash. They haven’t played since the weekend before Christmas after their Boxing Day clash with Notts County was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, but they will be looking to have a good outing a week before their FA Cup 3rd round clash with Championship high fliers Derby County next weekend. The similarities with Newport don’t end there as both sides lost their last home game 2-1 against Plymouth Argyle, Hartlepool’s on the 19th and County’s on the 28th. Billy Paynter is their top scorer this season with six goals in the league, Scott Fenwick has three and Rakish Bingham and Jake Gray both have two each.
Form Guide
Newport County – WD D D DWLDL L 11 points
Hartlepool United – LWDL LWL L L L 7 points
Hartlepool’s record against County
Played 5 Won 2 Drawn 2 Lost 1 Goals For 8 Goals Against 6
18th August 2015 – Hartlepool United 1 Newport County 0
3rd April 2015 – Newport County 2 Hartlepool United 2 (Jones 44’, O’Connor 48’)
1st November 2014 – Hartlepool United 2 Newport County 2 (Zebroski 38’, O’Connor 57’)
15th February 2014 – Hartlepool United 3 Newport County 0
15th November 2013 – Newport County 2 Hartlepool United 0 (Worley 7’, Washington 64’)
Last meeting
It was Hartlepool who continued their perfect start to the season after they ran out winners by a single goal after Scott Fenwick put them ahead six minutes into the second half. Newport on the other hand were still without a win in the league but their draw in their second game did mean that they sat above the bottom two by that single point.
Last time out
Despite taking the lead through a Scott Boden goal 24 minutes into the game it was the top of the table visitors that went away from Rodney Parade with all three points thanks to two second half goals. Other results went slightly against Newport as well on Monday afternoon, as things stand the Exiles find themselves in 20th in League 2, four points above the bottom two.
The Man in charge
Brendan Malone is the man in the middle this weekend, assisted by Andrew Bennett and Mark Derrien and the fourth official is Adrian Tranter. Malone has been in charge of County before, he had the whistle at the end of August when the Exiles were defeated 3-2 at home to Leyton Orient and sent off Aaron O’Connor in the 2-0 win over Stevenage in December of last season as well as the 1-0 win at Rodney Parade against Luton. Finally Newport had a memorable win against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Capital One Cup at the start of the 2013/14 season that Malone also took charge of. So far this year he has handed out 40 yellows and three red cards in eighteen games averaging just over two cards a game.
Around the league (all times 3pm)
Bristol Rovers v Luton Town
Cambridge United v AFC Wimbledon
Carlisle United v Plymouth Argyle
Exeter City v Dagenham and Redbridge
Mansfield Town v Accrington Stanley
Northampton Town v Barnet
Notts County v Oxford United
Portsmouth v Crawley Town
Stevenage v Leyton Orient
Wycombe Wanderers v Morecambe
Yeovil Town v York CIty