Newport County welcome Bromley to Rodney Parade on Tuesday night in Sky Bet League Two (7.45pm).
The Exiles will be looking to return to winning ways after back-to-back defeats against Grimsby Town and Notts County.
Andy Woodman’s Bromley side arrive in South Wales 13th in the League Two table, ten points from the play-off places.
Opposition Form
Bromley have taken the first Football League season in the club’s 133-year history in their stride.
The Ravens achieved promotion to League Two via the National League playoffs last season, defeating Solihull Moors 4-3 on penalties at Wembley.
Since beating Harrogate Town 2-0 on their EFL debut last August, Andy Woodman’s side have established a firm mid-table position in the division - winning, drawing and losing 13 times each so far.
The South Londoners’ impressive first campaign at this level took a while to take off, due to a winless run from the end of August to the second half of October. Their fortunes have improved since then, although they travel to Newport winless in four games and with a point to prove.
Experienced striker Michael Cheek has been the focal point of Bromley’s attack throughout this season, netting 18 times and contributing seven assists. The 33-year-old, who has enjoyed a prolific career at the top end of non-league, now leads the League Two scoring charts in his first season at this level.
Head-to-Head
The last meeting between the two sides was on Boxing Day earlier this season, as Bromley ran out 5-2 winners at Hayes Lane.
The hosts assumed a four-goal lead before goals from Kieron Evans and Kai Whitmore threatened a County comeback. Ben Thompson added Bromley’s fifth in stoppage time to seal their biggest win of the season to date.
Shared Shirts
Cory Whitely has been a major cog in Bromley’s midfield this season, starting 32 times in 37 appearances for the club in League Two.
Whitely spent one season with County in 2019/20, playing 19 times and scoring once. He spent the second half of that season on loan with Bromley and, after a loan stint with Boreham Wood the following campaign, returned to Hayes Lane on a permanent basis. Since then, he has played nearly 200 times for the club and started in their play-off final victory last season.
Memorable Encounter
Prior to this season’s defeat in BR2, County’s last meeting with the Ravens was a Conference South fixture in 2010. Goals from Paul Cochlin and Charlie Henry gave Newport the lead in front of 817 spectators at Hayes Lane.
Two quickfire Bromley goals drew the hosts level but Sam Foley’s 69th minute goal secured a 2-3 win for the Exiles.
The victory was just one of 32 wins in County’s title-winning 2009/10 campaign.
Key Facts
- Newport have won seven of their last ten midweek home games, losing the other three. This record includes wins in their last three consecutive home midweek matches (Gillingham, Carlisle and Morecambe).
- Bromley have lost their last two away games in a row, part of a run of four games without a win leading up to this fixture.
- Newport have the seventh-best home record in League Two this season, winning ten of their 19 games so far (D3, L6).
- Bromley have the seventh-best away record in the league, with 27 of their 52 League Two points coming on the road.
