Preview: Hartlepool United vs. Newport County - prediction, team news, lineups

Newport, meanwhile, are unbeaten in four league games after drawing each of their last two matches.

Match preview

Indeed, Hartlepool head into their encounter with Newport outside of the relegation places after coming from two goals behind to claim a precious point away to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

Strikes from Ali Al-Hamadi and Diallang Jaiyesimi either side of half-time looked to have provided the hosts with a routine victory, but a late brace from Daniel Kemp salvaged a draw for Pools, who moved one point above Crawley Town in the process.

However, Crawley already have three games in hand on Keith Curle's side, and that figure will increase to four after Hartlepool have faced Newport this week.

As such, they can ill afford to drop points against a fellow bottom half side, especially having only won one of their last six matches.

However, given that they have only lost one of their last eight away games in League Two, Newport are likely to take some beating at the Sult Direct Stadium.

After securing crucial back-to-back wins against Swindon Town and Barrow to put significant distance between themselves and the bottom two positions, Graham Coughlan's side have increased their unbeaten run with draws against Stevenage Town and Walsall within the past week.

Coughlan's side came close to falling to defeat away to Walsall on Saturday after Isaac Hutchinson's goal looked to have proved enough to earn his side all three points, but Cameron Norman had other ideas when levelling 12 minutes from time.

A win on their travels to the North East on Tuesday would move them 10 points clear of Hartlepool and therefore all but allay any lingering relegation concerns, especially with them retaining two games in hand on their forthcoming opponents.

Hartlepool United League Two form:

L

L

W

D

L

D

Newport County League Two form:

D

L

W

W

D

D

Team News

Hartlepool will remain without Jamie Sterry after the full-back was sent off for a dangerous challenge against Crewe Alexandra in recent weeks, with Daniel Dodds likely to fill in for him once again.

Rollin Menayese, meanwhile, is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign due to a serious ankle injury.

Newport, meanwhile, could travel without Adam Lewis due to an ongoing injury, but otherwise Coughlan appears to have a full squad at his disposal.

The former Mansfield Town boss may opt to use the same starting XI which claimed a decent point away to Walsall at the weekend, with Omar Bogle hoping to get on the scoresheet having only scored two goals in his last 13 league appearances.

Hartlepool United possible starting lineup:

Stolarczyk; Foran, Hartley, Pruti; Dodds, Featherstone, Sylla, Ferguson; Kemp; Umerah, Jennings

Newport County possible starting lineup:

Townsend; Clarke, Farquharson, Demetriou; Norman, Charsley, Bennett, Moriah-Welsh, Lewis; Bogle, Kavanagh

We say: Hartlepool United 1-1 Newport County

With Newport collecting more points on the road than they have at home this season, they represent dangerous opponents for Hartlepool on Tuesday.

However, the hosts will be determined to claim another positive result after moving outside of the relegation zone at the weekend, with Crawley's ominous games in hand on them ramping up the pressure.

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