Mansfield v Newport preview
Friday 3 August 2018 16:24, UK
Mansfield hope captain Krystian Pearce will feel ready to lead the team against Newport.
An incident during the pre-season friendly with Sheffield Wednesday last week led to a mass brawl and the Stags reporting the Owls for an alleged racist remark, which has been denied by the Championship club.
A furious Pearce had to be led from the field by Mansfield manager David Flitcroft, who has since said his player was in no fit state mentally to focus.
All of the Stags’ summer signings should be available but striker Danny Rose handed in a transfer request this week and it remains to be seen if he will be in Flitcroft’s squad.
Newport captain Joss Labadie will miss the start of the new campaign as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury sustained last season.
Exiles boss Michael Flynn has eight new players to call on, with defenders Fraser Franks and Tyler Forbes, midfielders Andrew Crofts, Charlie Cooper, Tyreeq Bakinson and Keanu Marsh-Brown and forwards Jamille Matt and Antoine Semenyo vying for starting places.
Flynn is also hopeful of adding a back-up goalkeeper and another striker to his ranks ahead of the trip to the One Call Stadium.
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Mansfield and Newport have faced each other once before on the opening day of the Football League season, with the Stags coming out on top 3-2 in 2016-17.
Mansfield have won each of their last eight home Football League matches in a row against Newport, winning 5-0 last season.
Newport have failed to score in seven of their last 14 matches against Mansfield in the Football League; the Stags have only drawn a blank once in that time (0-1 defeat in February 2016).
Mansfield Town have only won one of their last 10 opening day fixtures (D5 L4), which was their match against Newport in August 2016.
Newport have not won their first game of the Football League season when played away from home since 1965-66 when they beat Chesterfield 2-1.
