Newport County pulled off the greatest of great escapes in the 2016/17 season under Mike Flynn. A return to non-league was staring the Exiles in the face as they lay 11 points adrift of safety with 12 games to go. Somehow, they pulled it off, and they haven’t looked back since. A mid-table finish last season consolidated their position in League Two, and they have pushed on again in this campaign. A ten-game unbeaten run in the final stretch of the season saw them pip four other teams to the final play-off spot, and they now face Mansfield Town as they look to head to Wembley.
Mike Flynn Leads Newport County Into Play-Offs Against Mansfield Town
How They Got Here
Newport looked set for another mid-table finish just two games before the end of the season. However, the close proximity of all the teams pushing for the play-offs in League Two this season always gave them a chance. A win over champions Lincoln City closed the gap on the penultimate weekend, and another success over Oldham Athletic in their game in hand before the final day pushed them above all of Exeter City, Colchester United, Carlisle United and Stevenage. The final day draw with Morecambe was enough to keep them there after two of the four opponents dropped points.
Mansfield, meanwhile, were in an automatic promotion spot until the final day after an incredibly consistent season where they lost only ten times – a record bettered by just Lincoln. They went into their final match against MK Dons knowing that a draw would be enough to take them up automatically, while a loss would see the Dons take that prize off them for themselves. A loss was the result, and the Stags dropped to fourth. Perhaps it was unjust considering the unpredictably good season they’ve had, but their difficult-to-beat nature could serve them well in the play-offs.
Head to Head
These two sides have played 31 fixtures against each other, including the Newport side before their 1989 reformation. The Stags have a huge advantage in terms of history, winning 17 of those games, drawing six and losing only eight.
One of those eight losses came this season with a 1-0 defeat at Rodney Parade in February but, even in recent history, they hold a big advantage. A 3-0 win on the opening day of this season set the tone for a successful campaign and a 5-0 win at home last season moved the side up to fifth in the table at that point.
Prediction
Mansfield hold the advantage in more ways than one. They finished three places above Newport in the league and have history firmly on their side.
The momentum, though, is with Mike Flynn’s side. Mansfield are winless in three coming into this while Newport are unbeaten in ten. With their vocal Welsh support behind them, they could do enough to set them on their way in the first leg tonight.
Prediction: Newport County 2-1 Mansfield Town
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