League Two’s Newport County look to cause a giant-killing as they welcome Newcastle United of Premier League to Rodney Parade in a mouth-watering Fourth Round clash of this season’s Carabao Cup.
Newport will be hoping to extend their longest League Cup run by claiming a major scalp in Newcastle United who sit 60 places above The Exiles in the football pyramid.
Team News
Newport have no fresh injury concerns as manager, Michael Flynn prepares to once again rotate his squad with Padraig Amond amongst those hoping for a recall.
David Longe-King continues to receive treatment on an unspecified injury.
Newcastle could welcome Ryan Fraser back after the winger sat out Sunday’s draw at Tottenham with a tight groin, whilst Matt Ritchie is ruled out with a shoulder injury suffered during the match.
Allan Saint-Maximin could also feature if he can recover from an ankle knock but Martin Dubravka (heel), Ciaran Clark (thigh), Paul Dummett (hamstring), Fabian Schar (shoulder), Matthew Longstaff (thigh) and Dwight Gayle (knee) are still sidelined.
Stat Attack
- This is the first-ever League Cup meeting between Newport County and Newcastle United.
- Newport won their only previous home clash against Newcastle which came in a 4-2 win in June 1947 when both teams were in the old Second Division.
- Newcastle have scored 23 goals in three meetings against Newport in all competitions yet conceded twice in their last meeting in June 1947 in defeat.
- Tristan Abrahams has scored three goals across two of his three Newport appearances in this competition this season.
- Seven different players has scored Newcastle’s eight League Cup goals this season, with Joelinton the only player to score twice after netting a brace at Morecambe in the last round.
Prediction
Newport produced a strong display to beat a below par Watford team last week but Newcastle will definitely be a tougher test because although the Magpies were lucky to snatch a point at Spurs on Sunday, they do possess plenty of attacking threat as Morecambe found out to their cost last week in a brutal seven goal mauling.
I therefore can see a good game here between two attacking teams but Newport need to get off on the dominant foot if are to cause issues similar to how Tottenham kept the Magpies under the cosh, otherwise I can see one result if Newcastle can quickly impose their game.
Newport however have been a bogey team for North East clubs in general this past decade as Middlesbrough and Carlisle can unhappily testify but I genuinely can’t see Newcastle leaving here without a win given the gulf in quality between these teams
Prediction: Newport County 1-2 Newcastle United
Result: Newport County 1-1 Newcastle United (Newcastle United win 5-4 on penalties)