No one knows what Reds can expect at Rodney Parade on Friday better than midfielder Mark Randall.
He was part of the Newport County squad which defied the odds to retain their League status with victory over Notts County on the final day of last season. Mark played 27 games for the Exiles last season and scored two goals.
Michael Flynn’s side have carried that momentum with them into the current campaign. They came from behind to win 2-1 at the Checkatrade Stadium earlier in the season and Flynn has challenged his side to cement a place in the play-off positions with victories against Reds on Friday and Morecambe next Tuesday, prior to their glamour home tie with Tottenham Hotspur in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup next week.
Randall, who left south Wales to join Reds in the summer, said: “They are flying at the moment and it’s going to be a difficult game down there, no doubt about it.
“I enjoyed my time there. Everyone had written us off this time last year but we got a couple of results and then things started to pick up.
“Confidence is a massive thing in football, it can make the difference in a lot of games especially at this level where there isn’t that massive difference between the teams. We got some momentum and it all worked out in the end and they have built on that this season.”
Reds travel to Newport in good heart themselves after three successive wins and Randall sees no reason why we can’t get a result in what will be our first Friday night League game since December 2011.
“It’s going to be tough but we have gone to some difficult places in recent weeks like Accrington and Yeovil and got three points,” said Mark.
“We’re doing okay at the moment. The lads know what the manager wants from us and although it’s taken time we have got used to his way of playing.
“I think there is more to come from us as well. We’ve won three in a row which is great but we can certainly play better. The next two games are good tests for us, but we do feel we can get results on Friday and next Tuesday against Notts County.”
