OK, let’s try this one again then – shall we? Just over two months since we last rocked up to Dave Parade, the weather is looking as if it might play ball this time. At least, we’d hope so. We’d rather not have to fork out another £6.60 to cross the Bridge for no reason. Much has changed since a waterlogged pitch put paid to our first efforts to tick this game off the list. Well, we say “much” – our hosts still sit bottom and we’re only four places higher than we were. But there is one notable difference. And it’s the man in the opposition dugout.
The last time that Boro’ took on a team managed by Graham Westley was during his time at Preston. It didn’t go well for us. After Robbo rescued a point for us in the first meeting on 9 April 2012, we were tucked up a treat in the second as Preston ran out 4-1 winners at the Lamex. Now, don’t get too down at that. After all, the Exiles are a completely different prospect to that Preston side. Not least because the Conference is coming a-calling if Graham can’t work his magic at Dave Parade. And you won’t bet against it, will you?
Newport County v Stevenage: Hello Again!
It’s a twist of fate that our rearranged trip to Newport comes 13 years to the day after we popped down to South Wales on another adventure. On 6 December 2003, the venue was the Vetch Field and the hosts were a Swansea City side fresh from a final day escape from relegation to the Conference the year before. A bit of Lee Trundle tomfoolery and a wrongly-chalked off Eldinho goal did little to help our chances as the Swans won 2-1. We’re hoping that our luck will be different this time around. Not too much to ask, wouldn’t you say?
Into this game come a Boro’ side still on fine form away from home, which is just as well given the madness of the first half at the weekend. With four straight wins to fall back on, there are few better places to go than a team bottom of the division. Not that we want to be complacent, you understand. We also have the benefit of a favourable record against Newport too. Apart from our first trip to Gwent, we’re unbeaten in three against ’em and scored at least twice in each of those games. They, meanwhile, have one home clean sheet this term.
Now, we may have forgone the chance to carry on up the charts at the weekend. But the prize for this one remains the same as it was at 9am on Satdi morning. Barnet are in sight up there in 8th, and we’d be doing our duty to football to push ’em back down the table. The carrot for Westley’s men is just as attractive, if not more so, to be fair. If they take the points, they’re out of the bottom two and reaching the dizzying highs of 20th position. It’s an intriguing one we’d say, and we couldn’t say which way it’s going to go. Can you?
Newport County v Stevenage: FIFA 17 Verdict
The scoreline tells a picture of a game that wasn’t half as close as it seems. Boro’ were in control for much of this one, but it didn’t stop the nagging doubts. By which, we mean that we’d do something stupid and stop concentrating. Thankfully, we stayed with it for the duration. It needed some divine intervention from the subs bench, however. Rowan Liburd danced through the defence in the dying stages and finished with aplomb. He punched the air, hands were shook at the full time whistle and a sigh was breathed in BoroGuide HQ.
BoroGuide’s Newport County club profile – so good they named it twice…
