Newport County vs Mansfield Town Predictions

• Newport are without a win, including two games in which they failed to score.
• Mansfield are unbeaten in the league since November.
• Mansfield scored at least twice in four of their last seven away games.

Similar ambitions, differing trajectories

While just one place separates Newport and Mansfield in the League Two play-off race, the hosts are winless in three games and could even be dumped out of the play-off positions by the end of the day if they fail to win this ‘six-pointer’ of sorts.

Newport are just one point behind Mansfield, but having played two more games than their visitors, they are under no illusions how important it is to close the gap on their rivals in this game.

On the other hand, Mansfield are hitting form at just the right time as their current unbeaten run of league games which stretches back all the way to November has seen them into the play-off positions for the first time since matchday four, a place they will now do everything in their power to remain in.

Stick with the value

It appears that the bookmakers are siding with Newport as favourites simply because of their home advantage, though with Mansfield picking up a league-high 26 points across the last ten games and their superior position despite having played fewer games, I have to go for the value with an away win.

However I will back Mansfield on the draw no bet market as their tempting price allows us to retain value while insuring the pick against a stalemate. For smaller stakes in the correct score market, I am going for a 2-1 Mansfield win.