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Newport County and Forest Green Rovers qualified for the League Two Promotion Playoffs with 73 points respectively. The duo edged out eighth-place Salford City by just two points to make the postseason. Now, Newport County and Forest Green Rovers are three steps away from promotion to League One.

The first match of the League One Playoff semifinals will be played at Rodney Parade on Tuesday night. The Exiles finished fifth in the final league standings. Their goal difference allowed them to finish one place ahead of Forest Green Rovers and two in front of seventh-place Tranmere Rovers. Tranmere Rovers will face off with Morecambe in the other promotion playoff tie.

Forest Green Rovers went unbeaten against Newport County this season in League Two. They drew 1-1 at home before going away to Rodney Parade in the reverse fixture claiming a 2-0 victory. Since 2017, these teams have played seven times in League Two. Forest Green Rovers posted a 2W-3D-2L record against Newport County. These teams have been evenly matched in their previous eight meetings.

Both clubs finished the regular season in good form. Newport County went unbeaten in their last five matches while Forest Green Rovers were unbeaten in five of their last six league fixtures. Which side will get the upper hand in the League Two Promotion Playoff semifinal first leg?

Newport County vs Forest Green Rovers Betting Odds

 

Forest Green Rovers won at Rodney Parade earlier this season thanks to goals on either half of the halftime break courtesy of Josh Davison and a penalty from Jamille Matt. The club are under the leadership of interim manager Jimmy Ball going into the game. Ball took over the reins of the club after the April 11th sacking of Mark Cooper.

Cooper had been with the club for five years before parting ways. Cooper was dismissed after the club had failed to win six straight matches. There was fear Forest Green Rovers would fall out of the promotion playoff places with Cooper still at the helm.

Forest Green Rovers are at odds of 47/20 to win at full-time against Newport County for the second straight game between the clubs at Rodney Parade. Rovers finished the regular season with back-to-back wins against Tranmere Rovers and Oldham Athletic. Overall, Forest Green Rovers scored 59 goals but conceded 51 times to opponents.

Newport County went unbeaten in their last five straight games in the league. Three of those fixtures finished in victories. Manager Michael Flynn’s team scored 57 times during the regular season while allow 42 goals to opponents. The Exiles are at odds of 24/17 to win at full-time against Forest Green Rovers. The teams are at odds of 11/5 to finish in a draw. Four of their last eight League Two matches finished in stalemates.

Newport County vs Forest Green Rovers Team News

Newport County needed a strong finish to the League Two season to reach the playoffs. Their five-match unbeaten run to finish the season was the pivotal moment of the campaign that sent the Exiles into the playoffs. Their final day of the season 1-1 draw versus Southend United enabled Newport County to avoid Morecambe in the playoff semifinals. Morecambe are in brilliant form, although many onlookers will argue that Forest Green Rovers are in just as good of form as the Shrimps.

Newport County have scored 57 times this season. The team have struggled for goals at times and no player has scored double digit strikes in 2020-21. Matt Dolan, Padraig Amond, and Scott Twine are joint-leaders in goals with six each.

Cooper was replaced in April by Ball, the club’s under-18 team coach. Ball did not play high level professional football and brings a new insight into the hotseat at Forest Green Rovers. Ball has a huge absence from the team’s starting XI for the playoffs. Matt, who led the team in goals with 16, is ruled out with a hand injury.

The horror injury saw Forest Green Rovers stumble over the line to get into the playoffs as Salford City slipped in the final weeks of the regular season. Matt missed the final nine games of the season with Forest Green Rovers posting a 3W-2D-4L record.

Newport County vs Forest Green Rovers Prediction

Both teams to score: YES @ 5/6 - BET NOW

 

Four of the last seven League Two matches between Newport County and Forest Green Rovers finished with both teams finding the back of the net. The two clubs have been good in the final third although Newport County do not have a double digit goalscorer. Even with Matt out of action for Forest Green Rovers, they should still be good in the final third.

Half time result: Forest Green Rovers to win @ 29/10 - BET NOW

 

Forest Green were unbeaten in both League Two matches against Newport County played earlier this season. The last four matches all finished the first half with the away team winning. It is a phenomenal trend that could continue on this week in the League Two Promotion Playoff semifinal first leg. Both teams are in form going into the match.

Over 2.5 goals scored @ 11/8 - BET NOW

 

Three of the last seven matches between Newport County and Forest Green Rovers in League Two finished with over 2.5 goals scored. Both teams will want to get the upper hand in the game when they meet this week. Both games in the league between the sides finished with under 2.5 goals scored. However, they could find more goals in the final third this time around. Forest Green Rovers’ last two matches in the league finished with over 2.5 goals scored.

Forest Green Rovers are only in their fourth season in League Two since gaining promotion from the National League. Ball will hope to lead the side to the promotion playoff final, but first, Forest Green Rovers have to get through Newport County. Although Rovers went unbeaten in the league against Newport County this season, they may struggle to get passed them over two legs in the playoffs.

Newport vs Forest Green Betting Tips