Football – England – League Two
Tuesday 21st October 2014 – Kickoff: 1945hrs
Newport County recorded their third win on four matches at the weekend when they registered a 1-0 win away at Dagenham & Redbridge to hand manager Justin Edinburgh a second win on the road of the season.
While their away form has been inconsistent, the same can’t be said of Newport’s form at their Rodney Parade ground where they’ve lost just once so far this season (a 0-2 loss to current League Two leaders Wycombe Wanderers in their first home match of this season).
But since that rare defeat on home turf, The Exiles have chalked up wins over Northampton Town, AFC Wimbledon and York City along with holding 3rd placed Burton Albion and Cambridge United to draws.
Newport’s overall home record stands at 3-2-1 12/8 and they’ve lost just once in the four matches they’ve played at home against top half opposition.
Southend United could only manage a point at home against bottom half Exeter City in a 1-1 draw on Saturday which means that The Shrimps have now gone three league matches without a win and as a result, they’ve dropped out of the play-off places.
Recent defeats to 4th placed Morecambe and 6th placed Luton Town suggest that there’s work to do for Southend if they’re to seriously challenge for a play-off place while on the road, their form continues to be erratic.
Despite wins over Cheltenham Town and York City recently, Southend have also lost at Plymouth Argyle and Luton Town along with just a point at Carlisle United, and their away record stands at 3-1-2 6/7.
Newport are unbeaten at home in their last five matches and are always hard to beat at Rodney Parade – I’ll therefore back the hosts with the draw no bet option here, with a view that Newport might edge this one perhaps 1-0.
Pick: Newport County AH0 @ 1.87 Bet Victor
