In the first leg of the 1/2 final of the play-offs of the Second League of England, Newport and Forest Green will meet. Who will be one step closer to the First League?
"Newport"
Newport finished the regular season in fifth place, scoring 73 points over 46 rounds. It was not necessary to talk about a direct increase in the class, since the gap from the third position was six points. In five extreme matches, Newport managed to establish a game in defense, thanks to which only one goal was conceded, and they managed to score eight. These indicators allowed us to win three wins with two draws.
"Forest Green"
Forest Green also scored 73 points, but ended up in sixth position, as it lost on the difference between goals scored and conceded. If "Newport" at the end of the season became reliable in defense and effective in attack, then "Forest" with both one and the other was all modest. Yes, in the last two rounds, we managed to achieve a goal-to-goal ratio of 5-1, but before that, the situation was deplorable: in three games in a row, two goals were conceded and no goals were scored, as a result, two points were scored.
Statistics and figures:
- Newport haven't lost five games in a row;
- Forest Green had won the previous two games;
- Forest Green have not lost to Newport in the championship this season: a 1-1 draw and a 2-0 win.
Forecast
"Newport" did not win against "Forest" in the regular season, scoring only one goal in two matches. However, confident performances in the final segment allow us to count on a positive result in the first part of the semi-final confrontation, in addition, Newport will start at home, so it is obliged to seek an advantage before leaving.
