Harrogate Town will be looking to officially consolidate their League Two status when they travel to Rodney Parade to take on Newport County this Tuesday night.
The Sulphurites need just one more point to make their safety a mathematical certainty, while the hosts are sitting in mid-table, having picked up 53 points in 43 games.
Match preview
© Reuters
Having regularly pushed for the playoffs in recent years, Newport are likely to be a little disappointed with how their 2022-23 campaign has gone, currently sitting in 14th place with nothing to play for.
The Exiles' terrible home form has been a major reason why they have been unable to make a charge for the top seven, having acquired just 24 points in 21 games at Rodney Parade, the third-worst record in the division.
Graham Coughlan's side have started to improve recently, winning four and drawing one of their last seven matches while also picking up an impressive 3-0 victory against promotion-chasing Northampton Town, and the manager will be hoping it is a sign of things to come next season.
Newport ran out 4-0 winners in the reverse fixture against Tuesday's opponents back in August, and they have only ever lost one of the five competitive meetings between the two sides, which bodes well heading into the game.
Last time out, the Exiles recorded another impressive victory on their travels, defeating Doncaster Rovers 3-1 courtesy of goals from Priestley Farquharson, Aaron Wildig and Cameron Norman.
Harrogate have also struggled for large parts of the 2022-23 campaign, but they have managed to dig themselves out of relegation trouble with their form since the end of February, losing just two of their last 11 games.
During that time, the Sulphurites have only managed to win two matches, but they have become much more difficult to beat, and they are now sitting six points clear of the bottom three, with three games left to spare.
In truth, Simon Weaver's side have almost certainly avoided relegation anyway, courtesy of having a vastly superior goal-difference to Hartlepool United, but the manager will want to make sure the job is completely done on Tuesday night.
In their last outing, Harrogate impressed at times against second-placed Northampton, but they ultimately came unstuck, losing 3-1 away at Sixfields Stadium.
Team News
© Reuters
Farquharson has forced his way back into the manager's plans in recent weeks, scoring his fourth goal of the season in the last match, and the centre-back should keep his place in the back three, playing alongside Matthew Baker and Mickey Demetriou.
Aaron Wildig has scored two goals in his last two games, so the central midfielder is likely to start again, playing provider for Omar Bogle in attack, who has 12 goals to his name in the League Two season.
Luke Armstrong has been a shining light in a poor Harrogate side this season, with 15 League Two goals to his name, the joint-fourth highest amount in the division, and the striker should be the first name on the team sheet for the Sulphurites.
Alex Pattison has also been impressive, weighing in with nine goals and five assists in League Two, but the midfielder may be ruled out after picking up a knock against Northampton, meaning Warren Burrell could come into the side.
Newport County possible starting lineup:
Day; Baker, Farquharson, Demetriou; Norman, Moriah-Welsh, Wildig, Lewis, Evans; Bogle, McNeill
Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:
Oxley; Sims, O'Connor, Eastman, Foulds; Falkingham, Burrell, Thomson, Olaigbe, Folarin; Armstrong
We say: Newport County 1-1 Harrogate Town
Harrogate need just one more point to confirm their status as a League Two side for next season, and we expect them to get it, considering Newport have nothing to play for at this point.
The Exiles have looked more solid in recent weeks, but they have struggled at home for the vast majority of the season, and that record is likely to continue on Tuesday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
