In the FA Cup second round on Saturday, Derby County of League One will travel across the Severn Bridge to face Newport County of League Two on the Welsh coast. The Derbyshire club may have their work cut out at Rodney Parade as the Rams take on a Newport team that has a strong reputation for reaching the third round of the Cup and has done so five times in a row.
Fans of the historic competition have been greatly energized by Newport’s recent FA Cup performance. Some of the biggest English football teams have played at Rodney Parade, a stadium with fewer than 8,000 fans, just in the last four years. The Exiles defeated Leeds United, Leicester City, and Middlesbrough in the Cup under Mike Flynn’s direction, while also holding Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton to draws at their home on the coast.
Prediction
Due to the change in management and their precarious position at the bottom of League Two, Newport may not have been performing at their best this season. On paper, Derby has the better players because many of their first-team players have previously played in the Championship.
However, the Exiles’ FA Cup success history may motivate them to victory at Rodney Parade. An upset is definitely possible this Sunday, particularly with the assistance of the experienced Dolan, Willmott, and Day.
Head-To-Head
This is the first time they will face each other.
Lineup
Newport County possible starting lineup:
- Day;
- Drysdale,
- Farquharson,
- Demetriou;
- Wilmott,
- Moriah-Welsh,
- Bennett,
- Dolan,
- Lewis;
- Bogle,
- Evans
Derby County possible starting lineup:
- Wildsmith;
- Rooney,
- Forsyth,
- Cashin;
- Smith,
- Thompson,
- Bird,
- Hourihane,
- Osula;
- McGoldrick,
- Barkhuizen
Betting Tips
In their last eight matches, Derby has not lost in any competition. In all competitions, Newport has lost three of their last four games. In their last four games, Derby has kept three clean sheets.