After getting burned when opposing Forest Green once beforethis season, I am going back to the well and taking on Dave Hockaday’s men as they face Newport County at home this evening.
Amazingly, Newport travel to Gloucestershire with just one win under their belts all season – a 4-0 thrashing of Hayes and Yeading at home in their second game of the campaign. Since then, County have not won in nine league games – a run that includes five defeats. However, of those defeats, two were away at teams with playoff aspirations (5-0 at Mansfield and 1-0 at Braintree) while defeats at home to Kidderminster and Cambridge are frustrating more than humiliating.
Since the 5-0 thrashing received at Field Mill, Newport have certainly made changes to improve defensively. Braintree and Stockport were held to single goals as County lost 1-0 away and drew 1-1 at home to those sides, while a last ditch Barrow equaliser in south Wales on Saturday cost Newport all three points in what could have been a 2-1 win. It would be a genuine shock to see County stay at the wrong end of the table for much longer, and the signs of a recovery of sorts are beginning to show through.
Forest Green meanwhile have been most successful when conducting their business away from home. They are unbeaten in six away contests – including some impressive results at Luton (1-1), Cambridge (1-1), Alfreton (6-1) and Tamworth (1-0). However, their home record is not something that should put fear into the hearts of Newport followers. Since Stockport were held 1-1 on the opening night of the season, Braintree (2-0), Grimsby (1-0) and Southport (3-2) have all collected three points. Only bottom club Bath suffered defeat on Rovers’ turf, as they went down 3-0.
That makes the 8/5 available on Newport ‘draw no bet’ a very tasty proposition indeed. Forest Green’s home record is probably a better reflection of their abilities than their away record so far, while the green shoots may just begin to shoot through for Newport after a miserable start to their season.
Suggestion:
Forest Green Rovers v NEWPORT COUNTY – Draw No Bet 1pt @ 8/5 (Coral)
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