Newport County travel to face Rotherham United in a League Two fixture on Tuesday evening. The match at the AESSEAL New York Stadium kicks off at 7:45 pm as part of the Sky Bet League Two regular season.
Hayden Mullins's side go into the contest in solid form, sitting 11th in the table with 14 points from 11 games. They are unbeaten in their last five league outings, a run that includes a 1-0 win over Colchester United and a 1-1 draw with York City last time out. That result against York saw Kion Etete score a second-half equaliser, assisted by Tanatswa Nyakuhwa. The Exiles have also recorded draws against Forest Green Rovers and Accrington Stanley during this positive spell.
Rotherham, by contrast, are 23rd and have lost their last two league matches, including a 2-0 defeat at Fleetwood Town. They have managed just two wins all season and have conceded 22 goals, the second-highest total in the division. Their recent struggles present an opportunity for Newport County to continue their positive momentum on the road.
Mullins is expected to set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, as he did for the York draw. The starting lineup that day featured J. Wright in goal, with a back four of C. Norman, L. Jenkins, K. Cameron and M. Jacob. M. Dibley-Dias and C. Brennan anchored the midfield, supporting attackers T. Nyakuhwa, H. Biggins, Y. Bamba and striker S. Gwengwe. The manager reported no new injury concerns following the weekend's match, suggesting he has a full squad to select from.
Rotherham's most recent starting eleven was a 3-4-1-2 setup, featuring J. Eyestone in goal and attackers T. Bradshaw and P. Mullin. Newport County's recent defensive solidity, having conceded just 13 goals this season, will be tested by that pairing.
The Exiles are eight points behind league leaders Salford City but will view this fixture as a chance to close the gap. A victory could see Newport County rise as high as eighth, depending on other results. Newport County's next assignment after this trip is another away game, with the full fixtures list showing a busy period ahead. They face a trip to promotion-chasing Wrexham on Saturday, making a positive result against Rotherham even more important for maintaining confidence.
Tuesday's match offers a clear opportunity for Newport County to climb the table against a struggling opponent. The club's supporters have sold out their initial allocation of tickets for the long journey, providing a significant away backing at the New York Stadium.
