In-form Mansfield Town relishing revenge mission to Newport

The Welsh club won 4-3 at Mansfield on the opening day of the season and have often led the table.

But a spell of one win in five games has seen them slide into the fifth and final play-off spot which Stags can leapfrog them into with a win tomorrow.

Mansfield have won their last four away games and also their last four matches, demolishing Barrow 8-1 last weekend and Dartford 5-0 the week before.

In contrast, Newport let a 2-0 lead slip in the last 16 minutes as Tamworth earned a point at the Exiles’ new Rodney Parade home on Saturday.

Stags manager Paul Cox said: “We thought Saturday’s game with Barrow was a tough one, and tomorrow’s will be a tough one too.

“But the boys are playing with confidence at the moment. I know I sound like a scratched record, but the boys do look hungry at the minute and we have a lot of positives to take into tomorrow.

“Not many teams go down there and come away with a lot. We know we are going to have to be on our mettle to get a positive result.”

The biggest worry at the moment is the Rodney Parade surface which saw the weekend Rugby League game called off due to standing water.

However, Newport escaped the snow that hit Mansfield last night and today their pitch is drying out nicely with no rain forecast. So the Welsh club remain hopeful of the game going ahead.

“I believe pitch conditions are heavy and it seems to have cut up a bit so this could be one of those nights when you have to go down and grind out a result,” said Cox. “We are preparing as if it will be on and, hopefully, it will be.”