Preview: Newport County vs. Barrow - prediction, team news, lineups

Newport County will be looking to make it four wins in a row when they welcome Barrow to Rodney Parade on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts find themselves back in the automatic promotion spots following a return to form in recent weeks, whilst the visitors will be hoping to pick up some vital points in their quest to avoid the drop.

Match preview

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Tuesday evening's 1-0 victory at Leyton Orient made it three consecutive victories in League Two for Newport, as well as a third clean sheet in a row in the process.

Although all of the wins will have been expected considering the calibre of their opposition, with the midweek success at Orient following victories over Harrogate Town and Scunthorpe United, the results have been vital in getting James Rowberry's side back on the right track.

Cameron Norman's 85th-minute goal was the difference on Tuesday, in what was a tight encounter with very little goalmouth action.

The result was what mattered most for the Exiles though, and with Sutton United playing in the EFL Trophy in the week, the three points saw Newport leapfrog them into third in the table, although their promotion rivals do have a game in hand on them.

With just four points separating Saturday's hosts from Exeter City in eighth place outside of the playoff spots, Rowberry will be expecting another victory at the weekend to ensure that his side are not dragged out of the automatic promotion places as we approach the business end of the season.

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Meanwhile, Barrow's targets for the season lie at the other end of the League Two table, with Saturday's visitors heading to Rodney Parade in 21st place.

Although Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at home to Salford City extended their poor league form to just two wins in 16 matches, Mark Cooper's side remain seven points above Scunthorpe in the relegation places, and with a game in hand on their fellow strugglers.

Unless the Bluebirds can address this slide sooner rather than later though, that seven-point gap could soon be cut smaller over the coming weeks.

However, Cooper's men will head to Newport with a couple of reasons to be positive and confident of achieving a result though.

With 12 points being picked up from as many away games in League Two so far, Barrow do at least have a respectable record on their travels considering their league position, especially when it is taken into account that the 14 goals conceded in those fixtures is the joint-third best of any side on the road this campaign.

In addition to their relatively decent record away from home, Cooper will be hopeful his side can replicate the performances of their last two meetings with Newport, where they have recorded back-to-back 2-1 victories over them at Holker Street, including the encounter back in September when Josh Kay and Josh Gordon netted in the comeback win.

Team News

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Newport could hand a debut to new loan signing Rob Street on Saturday, with the 20-year-old striker arriving on a temporary deal from Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

He could be in contention to start up front for the hosts, as they will be without top goalscorer Dom Telford again at the weekend, who missed the midweek win due to a calf strain.

Influential midfielder Finn Azaz also missed the trip to Orient, but manager Rowberry is confident that he will be fit enough to return, whilst Timmy Abraham will have to be assessed after missing the last two matches.

As for the visitors, with two games in the space of a few days, Kgosi Ntlhe could drop to the bench after featuring for the first time since August when he started in the defeat to Salford in midweek.

Robbie Gotts sat out in midweek after previously missing action due to a groin problem, so he will have to be assessed ahead of the trip to Newport.

Jordan Stevens had to come off midway through the second half due to injury, so his availability also remains in doubt, with Luke James set to deputise in the starting 11.

Newport County possible starting lineup:
Townsend; Norman, Pask, Demetriou, Haynes; Willmott, Bennett, Azaz; Cooper; Street, Baker-Richardson

Barrow possible starting lineup:
Farman; Jones, Platt, Brough; Hutton, Banks, White, Driscoll-Glennon; Kay; James, Harris

We say: Newport County 2-0 Barrow

Newport will be expected to win this clash comfortably at Rodney Parade on Saturday, particularly with them possessing home advantage.

The hosts are on the up after their successive victories in recent weeks, whilst the visitors are lacking form and confidence as they make the trip to the promotion contenders.

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