Newport County play host to Walsall on Friday evening looking for the win that will take them clear of the League Two relegation zone.

Meanwhile, Walsall will sit one point adrift of the playoff spots if they can leave South Wales with maximum points.

Match preview

After a fast start to the season, Newport have dropped off considerably to go from promotion contenders to relegation candidates in the space of a few weeks.

Just one win has been recorded in their last eight league outings, with that coming at home to lowly Colchester United by a 2-1 scoreline on October 3.

Graham Coughlan's side have since suffered successive defeats to Harrogate Town and Swindon Town to leave County sitting in 20th position in the table.

Clean sheets have also proven to be an issue for this team with no shutout being posted since their victory at Forest Green Rovers on August 19.

While Newport can claim to have one of the best attacking records in the bottom half of the standings, they also now have the second-worst defensive return.

Walsall are another side that have been blighted by inconsistency this season having opted to appoint Matt Sadler as their new head coach in the summer.

However, despite some disappointing results, such as the 4-0 defeat at Sutton United earlier this month, the Saddlers have generally found ways to respond.

Two losses in succession were followed by a 3-1 victory at Bradford City last month, while the debacle at Sutton preceded a 4-1 triumph over Gillingham.

Although sitting in 13th position does not look impressive in the short term, Walsall have an opportunity to move within five points of top spot with a win on Friday.

Team News

Matthew Bondswell and Declan Drysdale are most likely to come into the Newport XI if Coughlan opts to make any changes.

Goalkeeper Nick Townsend lost his number-one spot for the last game and Jon Maxted appears likely to remain between the sticks for this contest.

Defender James Clarke will stay on the sidelines until at least the middle of November with a groin injury.

Sadler will name the same Walsall starting lineup from the win over Gillingham if he has no new fitness issues in his squad.

Isaac Hutchinson scored a hat-trick in that contest to take him up to five league goals for 2023-24, but he is one of three players - the others being Oisin McEntee and Ryan Stirk - who are just one yellow card away from suspension.

Newport County possible starting lineup:
Maxted; Payne, Seberry, Delaney, McLoughlin; Baker, Bennett; Evans, Morris, Wood; Bogle

Walsall possible starting lineup:
Evans; Riley, Williams, Daniels, Allen; Knowles, McEntee, Stirk, Hutchinson; Tierney; Draper

We say: Newport County 1-1 Walsall

With both teams having been inconsistent throughout this campaign, this is a difficult match to predict. Although Walsall head into this contest in better form, Newport have been solid on home territory, and that could lead to a share of the spoils.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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