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League leaders Newport have excelled on all fronts this season.
Michael Flynn’s men have the joint-best defensive record in the league this term and hope to shut out visitors Colchester United in South Wales on Tuesday night.
Newport’s best ever start in an EFL season is coupled with the excellent form of their back three, with the trio of Matty Dolan, Brandon Cooper and Micky Demetriou starting each of their last three matches together. They’ve won all of them.
Their next challengers, Colchester, have only scored one less goal than Newport this season – but have conceded four more.
The U’s, managed by former assistant manager Steve Ball, have also had an encouraging start to the season, losing one, drawing four and winning three of their opening eight matches.
It’s Ball’s first permanent job in the EFL, having managed local Essex sides Stanway Rovers and Clacton Town earlier in his career, before returning to management last decade with Leiston and Maldon and Tiptree. The latter feature in the FA Cup first round this season.
Colchester themselves have won two of their last three too – beating Forest Green Rovers and Harrogate Town at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Players to Watch
Newport – Nick Townsend
The goalkeeper endured tough spells in the Exiles line-up in previous seasons, but this campaign has seen him sustain a period of good form between the sticks.
“The lads have been unbelievable – Matty [Dolan], Mickey [Demetriou], Coops [Brandon Cooper] and whoever steps in.
“I’ve hardly had any shots to make in the last few games and haven’t had a lot to do.
“It’s alright me getting a clean sheet, but at the same time it’s a team effort.”
Townsend, speaking to Newport’s official website
He’s kept four clean sheets in eight, a record that will eclipse any Newport defensive campaign if maintained.
Colchester: Callum Harriott
Having bagged recently against Walsall and Harrogate, the former Charlton and Reading man is the man in-form in East Essex.
He had a spell with the U’s back in 2015/16, in which he bagged five goals in twenty – and his eye for goal hasn’t left him in Blue and Yellow, racking up three in seven so far this term.
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