Newport vs Mansfield preview: League Two play-off clash live on Sky Sports Football
Watch Newport vs Mansfield live on Sky Sports Football from 7.30pm on Thursday; Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Thursday 9 May 2019 18:32, UK
Newport face Mansfield in the first leg of their Sky Bet League Two play-off semi-final on Thursday night, having faced very different journeys to Rodney Parade.
County, managed by Michael Flynn, had barely spent any time in the top seven all season, only forcing their way in during their penultimate game of the campaign and holding onto their position with a late equaliser against Morecambe on Saturday.
Mansfield, however, had designs on automatic promotion for most of the season and looked set for a spot in the top three, at least until the final day when a defeat at MK Dons allowed MK into third and forced them into fourth, when a draw would have been enough for David Flitcroft's side.
Mansfield are arguably the more completely side, but Newport's impressive cup record and ability to win important games at the end of the season under Flynn makes them huge contenders.
Team news
Mansfield will be without centre-back Matt Preston, after he suffered concussion against MK Dons last Saturday. Hayden White (broken leg) and Bobby Olejnik (knee ligaments), both long-term absentees, will also miss the game, as will forwards Craig Davies (ankle) and Jordan Graham (cartilage).
Fitcroft could, however, be boosted by the returns of midfielder Otis Khan and defender Ben Turner.
Joss Labadie could be back for Newport after missing their final six games of the season through injury, but Ben Kennedy will miss out.
Aside from that boss Flynn has an unchanged squad to select from.
The managers
Newport boss Michael Flynn: "You can see the bond we've got; it's how I want to be. I want players who give their all for this football club and give their all for me as a manager.
"To get that goal right at the end is all down to the boys' attitude and belief because they've got that never say die attitude. They kept going and because of that, they've got their just rewards and we've made it to the play-offs."
"It's going to be a very tough tie. Mansfield are a very good team full of good players, so we'll have to be at our best on Thursday then Sunday. They're a fantastic group of players and whatever happens now, it's been a fantastic season. But we're going into those play-offs trying to win them.
"None of the teams were going to be easy. But we're not going to be easy for any of them either. We're in there now and it's an absolute no-lose situation for us. It's a fantastic achievement and I am so proud that we've reached 71 points and finished 7th in the league."
Mansfield boss David Flitcroft: "This experience, I certainly never want to feel like this again, and that's what I've told to the players. We need to soak it in, understand why we got beat (against MK Dons), and understand how you're feeling straight after the game.
"But we can't let it haunt us. Let it be the thing that frees you into striving for a performance. We'll do it as a group. We won't be haunted by what's happened.
"[The players are] hurt. It's a tough one. We've had a cause all season that we're doing it for our families, and we feel like we've let them down. That's how raw it is. We failed at this hurdle. And now we have to make sure that what comes out of this is a galvanised spirit."
Opta stats
Newport County have won only two of their last 14 Football League games against Mansfield Town (D2 L10), although one of these wins came last time out at Rodney Parade.
Mansfield striker Danny Rose has scored in all four of his league starts against Newport, finding the net twice at Rodney Parade.
Newport are unbeaten in their last 10 League Two games (W6 D4), coming into the play-offs with the longest current unbeaten run in the division.
Mansfield conceded fewer goals than any other League Two side in 2018-19 (41), keeping 18 clean sheets in total.
The team finishing seventh has won the play-offs in five of the last nine League Two campaigns, including two of the last three.
Mansfield are participating in their third Football League play-off campaign, and their first since 2004. The Stags have never won promotion via the play-offs, although they did reach the final in 2004.
The team finishing fourth has only won promotion to League One in one of the last 10 seasons, with Fleetwood Town doing so in 2013-14.
Mansfield's Tyler Walker has been directly involved in six goals in his last seven league appearances (5 goals, 1 assist), netting in four of those seven games.
Form guide
Newport (most recent first): DWWDWW
Last time out: Morecambe 1-1 Newport
Mansfield: LLLWDW
Last time out: MK Dons 1-0 Mansfield
Live EFL
Prutton's prediction
Two sides who have arrived in the play-offs in very different ways. Mansfield finished three places higher than Newport but it will be interesting to see if they can recover from their final-day disappointment at MK Dons. A draw would have been enough for them to seal automatic promotion, but they couldn't get the job done.
Newport, meanwhile, have snuck right into seventh and only sealed it with a few minutes to go of the campaign. They will be riding high and their recent FA Cup record under Michael Flynn suggests they know how to deal with the pressure of big games. I think they will edge the first leg.
David Prutton predicts: 1-0 (13/2 with Sky Bet)
