Promotion hopefuls AFC Wimbledon will look to claim a second straight victory when they travel to Rodney Parade for Thursday's meeting with Newport County.
The Dons are sitting in second place in the League Two table, while the Exiles will head into their 2025 opener in 18th position.
Match preview
Newport are operating in the bottom half of the League Two standings after winning seven, drawing five and losing 10 of their 22 matches.
The Exiles head into the new year in poor form, having won just one of their previous nine matches in the fourth tier (D5, L3).
Their solitary win in that period took place on December 21 when they produced a free-scoring display to thrash MK Dons 6-3 at Rodney Parade.
Unfortunately for the Exiles, they followed that result with back-to-back away defeats, suffering a heavy 5-2 defeat against Bromley before losing 2-0 in Sunday's meeting with Walsall.
Those results extended Newport's winless away run to seven competitive matches, while they have now lost eight of their 13 away league games this season - more than any other side in the division.
They will be eager to return to the familiar surroundings of Rodney Parade, where they have avoided defeat in seven of their previous nine home league outings (W5, D2).
Wimbledon are guaranteed to finish 2024 in second place after winning 11, drawing four and losing seven of their 22 league matches.
The Dons ended the calendar year with a successful outing against Gillingham, recording a narrow victory to return to winning ways after losing to Chesterfield and drawing with Swindon Town.
Matty Stevens scored the decisive goal in Monday's 1-0 victory, helping to extend Wimbledon's unbeaten home run to four league matches.
Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson will certainly be pleased with the fact that his team will start 2025 with the league's best defensive record, having conceded just 18 goals in their 22 league matches.
The Dons have conceded more than one goal in just four of their league games this season, although one of those matches took place against Newport on December 3 when the two sides played out a 2-2 draw at Plough Lane.
That result extended Wimbledon's winless run against Newport to six competitive matches (D4, L2), leaving them without a head-to-head victory since clinching a 1-0 home win in May 2016.
Team News
The Exiles are without midfielder Aaron Wildig and forward Courtney Baker-Richardson due to knee and calf injuries respectively.
Newport boss Nelson Jardim can no longer call upon the services of Bryn Morris, who is set to complete a move to Harrogate Town for an undisclosed fee.
Forward Kyle Hudlin could come back into the starting lineup after dropping down to the bench for the recent defeat to Walsall.
Wimbledon will definitely be without defender Joe Lewis, while forward Omar Bugiel could miss a second straight game through injury.
Myles Hippolyte is closing in on a return to action, but it remains to be seen whether he will be ready for Thursday's away trip.
Stevens, who is joint second in the League Two scoring charts, will be looking to score against Newport for the second time this season after finding the net in the reverse fixture.
Newport County possible starting lineup:
Townsend; McLoughlin, Brennan, Baker, Driscoll-Glennon; Whitmore, Evans, Antwi; Kamwa, Spellman, Hudlin
AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:
Goodman; Harbottle, O'Toole, Johnson; Neufville, Smith, Reeves, Sawyers, Tilley; Kelly, Stevens
We say: Newport County 1-1 AFC Wimbledon
Wimbledon will be targeting all three points to aid in their promotion push, but we think that they may have to settle for a share of the spoils, especially as four of their previous five meetings between the two sides have finished all square.
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