Newport County aim to fire up their League Two play-off hopes with MK Dons visit Rodney Parade this evening (7.45pm).
Manager Michael Flynn has big selection decisions to make with County’s FA Cup tie against Manchester City at home only five days away.
Goalkeeper Joe Day and winger Robbie Willmott could be rested, while Padraig Amond, Dan Butler and Mark O’Brien could miss out for a second successive match.
The three players were rested for the 1-0 home win against Mansfield Town.
Don have suffered five defeats in their last six games and have slipped out of the play-off positions.
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Newport are unbeaten in their last six league and cup fixtures at home and midfield player Tyreeq Bakinson told ifollowExiles: “You always want to play in the big games – like Manchester City – but we know we have to work hard in training and the games to get in the team.
“We’re really looking forward to the match on Saturday, but at the same time there’s an arguably more important game against MK Dons.
“We just want to kick on in the league. We’ll work as hard as we have been to try and achieve that carry on this good run.
“It’s weird that’s it’s February and we haven’t played them yet, but it’s a big incentive for us to beat teams above us in the table because it then allows us to go higher. That’s where we want to be.
“With our team, we never give up so there’s always a chance of the play-offs.
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“We just need the fans to keep on getting behind us and we’ll keep working hard to get the points and climbing up the table.
“The supporters really are our 12th man. They help us out a lot, especially when the ground packed, and it gives you that bit of extra energy to work harder.”
Manager Paul Tisdale’s MK Dons have earned only seven points from a possible 30 and are without a win on the road since November 3.
“Despite our away form, I go into away games expecting, hoping, planning and plotting for a win,” said Tisdale.
“Newport have had a fantastic FA Cup run. What a wonderful experience for Flynny [Michael Flynn] and his team. Well done to them.”
“It will be a tough game,” said Flynn. “MK Dons are a club with a big budget, but they won’t enjoy coming to Rodney Parade.
“I’ll have to have a look at how the players are, but I’m not too bothered about the Man City game, to be honest. It’s a one-off, a unique thing, and I’ll put out the team that I believe is ready to go and win the game on Tuesday.”
League Two table
| | HOME | | AWAY | |||||||||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Lincoln | 31 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 15 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 28 | 16 | +24 | 61 |
| 2 | Mansfield | 32 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 23 | 17 | +23 | 58 |
| 3 | Bury | 32 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 39 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 23 | 22 | +23 | 57 |
| 4 | Colchester | 32 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 32 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 20 | +17 | 52 |
| 5 | Carlisle | 31 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 27 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 22 | 18 | +13 | 52 |
| 6 | Forest Green | 31 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 29 | 16 | +17 | 51 |
| 7 | Exeter | 31 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 26 | 16 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 15 | +12 | 51 |
| 8 | MK Dons | 31 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 27 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 22 | 22 | +17 | 50 |
| 9 | Stevenage | 32 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 19 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 17 | 24 | -4 | 47 |
| 10 | Tranmere | 31 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 24 | 31 | +5 | 45 |
| 11 | Grimsby | 32 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 22 | -3 | 43 |
| 12 | Swindon | 31 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 22 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 19 | -5 | 43 |
| 13 | Newport Co | 30 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 16 | 28 | -9 | 43 |
| 14 | Oldham | 30 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 24 | 19 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 21 | 18 | +8 | 42 |
| 15 | Crewe | 31 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 26 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 27 | -4 | 42 |
| 16 | Northampton | 32 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 20 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 25 | -4 | 38 |
| 17 | Crawley | 32 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 26 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 24 | -10 | 37 |
| 18 | Cheltenham | 31 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 17 | 25 | -12 | 35 |
| 19 | Cambridge U | 31 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 19 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 31 | -21 | 35 |
| 20 | Port Vale | 31 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 16 | 25 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 13 | -11 | 33 |
| 21 | Yeovil | 31 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 25 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 17 | 14 | -8 | 30 |
| 22 | Morecambe | 31 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 25 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 25 | -18 | 29 |
| 23 | Macclesfield | 32 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 16 | 29 | -21 | 28 |
| 24 | Notts Co | 31 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 16 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 37 | -29 | 25 |
