Newport County face a decisive EFL Trophy Group South qualifier against Crystal Palace U21s at Rodney Parade on Tuesday night. A win or a draw would be enough to send the Exiles into the knockout stages of the competition.

Their recent form reads WLDDW, with a 4-1 victory over Chesterfield last time out providing a timely boost. Cameron Norman, Thomas Davies, Harrison Biggins and Yahya Bamba were all on the scoresheet in that convincing home win. That result was part of a recent run of two wins, two draws and one loss from their last five league matches, which also included a 1-0 defeat at Cheltenham and a 2-2 draw at Rotherham. The team has scored 20 goals and conceded 17 in the league this season, giving them a positive goal difference of three, but they remain 13 points behind the leaders, Salford City.

Qualification scenarios

A point against the young Eagles would be sufficient for Newport County to progress. A draw would see Palace level on points with the Exiles, but Newport’s superior goal difference would see them through. The only way Crystal Palace U21s can qualify is by winning the match, and even then they would need Plymouth Argyle to lose heavily to Swindon Town in the group’s other final fixture.

Newport County will aim to extend their unbeaten record at Rodney Parade this season. The manager, Hayden Mullins, brings specific insight into the opposition, having played 257 times for Crystal Palace as a defender and captained the club. He made his debut for the Eagles as a teenager in 1998 under Terry Venables.

Team context

Mullins’s former teammate Darren Powell will be involved with the Palace Under-21 side for the fixture. Newport’s last starting line-up, a 4-2-3-1 formation used against Chesterfield, featured Wright, Cameron Norman, Jenkins, Cameron and Thomas Davies across the back. The midfield was anchored by Smith and Brennan, with Michael Adu-Poku, Harrison Biggins and Yahya Bamba supporting striker Etete.

Crystal Palace U21s last played in the competition in September, lining up in a 3-4-2-1 shape against Plymouth. Their team included Lee, Whyte, Okoli and Somade in defence.

After this cup tie, Newport County’s attention returns to League Two and a tough away trip to face fourth-placed Crewe Alexandra on Saturday 14 November. The Exiles’ immediate focus, however, is on securing their place in the next round of the EFL Trophy with a positive result on home soil this Tuesday.