Southend vs Newport County Predictions

• Southend have won just one of their last five League Two home games.
• Southend have won back-to-back League Two games for the first time this season.
• Newport have won just one of their last five League Two away games.

Visitors’ playoff spot in jeopardy

Newport will secure a play-off place if they avoid defeat at Southend, but that cannot be certain given the Shrimpers’ recent upturn in results.

It may have come too late to save them from the drop, but back-to-back wins will have put some colour in the cheeks of Phil Brown’s men.

The Exiles have relied on their home form to keep them in the playoff hunt, but without the assistance of the deteriorating Rodney Parade pitch, this is no gimme.

Newport will feel they owe Southend one after their smash and grab win in Wales last February but the fact that they don’t need to win makes Michael Flynn’s side look unattractive at the price.

Southend will fail to read the script on Saturday and we think the Essex side can give Newport a reality check.