Preview: Newport County vs. Crewe Alexandra - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors are currently 13th in the table, two positions and one point above Newport County, with both sides battling to secure top-half finishes in their last game of the season.

Match preview

Newport have been a League Two club since earning promotion from the Conference in 2013, and they will again operate in the fourth tier of English football during the 2023-24 campaign.

The Exiles have had a fairly underwhelming campaign, picking up 56 points from their 45 matches to sit 15th, but they could rise a few places in the table with a victory over Crewe.

Newport could actually finish as high as 10th, which would be an improvement on last season's position of 11th, although they would need to win on Monday and hope that a number of other results go their way.

Graham Coughlan's side will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 victory over Gillingham, which proved to be their third victory in their last five games in the fourth tier of English football.

The Port actually have the second-worst home record in League Two this season, picking up only 24 points from 22 matches, but Crewe have only won three times on their travels.

Crewe were relegated from League One last season, with the team dropping out of the third tier after two campaigns at that level of football.

The Alex have had a solid campaign back in League Two, picking up 57 points from 45 matches, which has left them in 13th position in the table.

Like Newport, Crewe can finish as high as 10th if results go their way, and they will enter this match off the back of successive victories at home to Swindon Town and Bradford City.

Lee Bell's side have been strong at home this season, picking up 39 points from 23 matches, but as mentioned, their away form has been disappointing, claiming only 18 points from 22 games.

Crewe have lost their last two games against Newport, meanwhile, including a 2-1 defeat in the reverse match between the two sides earlier this season.

Newport County League Two form:

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Crewe Alexandra League Two form:

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Team News

Newport have no fresh injury concerns from their narrow success over Gillingham last weekend.

Head coach Coughlan is unlikely to change his formation, with the hosts set to line up in a 3-5-2, which should see Charlie McNeill and Omar Bogle continue as the front two.

Calum Kavanagh is pushing for a spot in the side after being involved off the bench last time out, but the 19-year-old is again set to be among the substitutes for the first whistle.

As for Crewe, Michael Williams was replaced at the interval of the win over Bradford last weekend due to a knock, and he is unlikely to be available for this match.

Rio Adebisi should therefore come into the side, but it might otherwise be the same team that took to the field for the first whistle in Cheshire last time out.

Dan Agyei has scored 16 league goals during an impressive campaign, and the 25-year-old will continue in the final third of the field for the visitors.

Newport County possible starting lineup:

Townsend; Baker, Farquharson, Demetriou; Norman, Moriah-Welsh, Lewis, Waite, Evans; Bogle, McNeill

Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:

Booth; Mellor, O'Riordan, McDonald, Adebisi; Tabiner, Thomas, Finnigan; Brook, Agyei, Long

We say: Newport County 1-2 Crewe Alexandra

Crewe will be full of confidence following back-to-back wins, and we are expecting the visitors to collect another three points here. Newport's disappointing home record this season is difficult to ignore, and it could be more frustration for the majority of the fans at Rodney Parade on Monday.

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