Newport County Go For Goals Against Cheltenham Town

Newport County will be gunning for goals against Cheltenham Town at Rodney Parade tonight (7.45pm).

Manager Michael Flynn and his Exiles team are 12th in League Two, five points ahead of their visitors and looking to build on a solid start to 2017-18.

More than 3,000 spectators are expected to get behind County and Flynn says: “We want to take the chances and score a lot of goals, any manager would tell you the same.

“Sometimes it’s not possible, you don’t play to your best or decisions go against you, but we’ll keep trying and keep trying to play the right way and cause teams problems.

“There’s no such thing as an easy game in League Two and Cheltenham will be hard to beat.

“They have some good players and a good manager (Gary Johnson) who is highly experienced. It’s almost like a derby so they will be up for it.

“We saw that last season when at one point they could have been dragged into the relegation zone and gone down but they didn’t.

“They climbed out of it with a string of results and showed their resilience, and I they are a better team this season.”

There will be changes to Newport’s team. Joss Labadie looks certain to be ruled out, while Joe Quigley is a candidate to be called into the starting line-up.

Ben Tozer was man of the match in Newport’s goalless draw against Wycombe Wanderers and could start.

Cheltenham have failed to score in their last two matches and lost five league and cup games in a row before their goalless draw against Yeovil Town.

Manager Johnson says he doesn’t care if his side score the ‘worst goal ever’ as long as they ended their drought.

“If you are anything short of 100 per cent committed they can beat you,” says Johnson. “We have to be organised and make sure we are in the game for as long as we can and try and get our noses in front.

“Frank Nouble is in good form and is a strong lad up front for them and Padraig Amond is also a decent player, but we defended magnificently at Yeovil and we have to do the same at Newport.”

“Newport are stronger than they were last season. It will be a tough game against a tough team.”

County captain Joss Labadie suffered a groin strain against Wycombe and is rated doubtful, while Mark O’Brien missed the match because of a bruised foot and could be missing again.

Shawn McCoulsky (hip), Lamar Reynolds (thigh) and Marlon Jackson (hamstring) are all recovering from injuries and may not be involved.

Cheltenham are hoping to have Nigel Atangana back after a groin injury and Will Boyle, who suffered a broken nose, could return.

Newport County, possible: Day, Pipe, Demetriou, White, Butler, Owen-Evans, Cole, Dolan, Tozer, Nouble, Amond. Bench: Bennett, Quigley, Bittner, Willmott, Jahraldo-Martin, Rigg.

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