Newport County v Middlesbrough Tips: Will Britt pop up to win it?
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Newport County kept their FA Cup dream alive at the Riverside 10 days ago, with Matty Dolan popping up for a 93rd-minute equaliser.
That means the Exiles and Middlesbrough do it all again at Rodney Parade tonight. The winner gets to host Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the fifth round. Can Boro see off their tenacious opponents, or will Newport nick the win?
Match Odds
Tony Pulis’ side are pretty strong on their travels. Boro have picked up three wins and a draw in their last four away games, including Saturday’s 3-2 win at West Bromwich Albion.
While Newport have been good in the cup, their form overall is hardly the stuff of dreams. Mike Flynn’s side have managed just five points in their previous 10 league games.
That all means the visitors should be good enough to win this in 90 minutes. Boro are 20/23 to do just that, with Newport 23/10 and 17/5 for this one to reach extra time.
We go 15/2 for the Teessiders to bag a fifth 2-1 win of the season, while it’s 21/20 for Both Teams to Score.
Talking Tactics
Boro have played 4-3-2-1 regularly under former Newport player Pulis. Britt Assombalonga is likely to lead the line. It could be a trio of youngster Marcus Tavernier, George Saville and Jonny Howson in a front three.
The visitors are injury-free, so the only question for their savvy gaffer is the busy fixture list.
Newport are harder to call tactically. They tend to go with two strikers, though loan ace Antoine Semenyo has just returned to Bristol City.
It’s likely to be Jamille Matt and Padraig Amond leading the line. Midfielder Josh Sheehan is also a threat marauding forward, and has a proper piledriver in his locker.
Goalscorer Odds
Assombalonga is joint-top of the Anytime Goalscorer market. He’s banged in five in five, including a pair of braces.
We go 7/4 that he notches anytime, while the ice-cool Congo striker is 7/1 to net Two or More Goals.
The hosts’ best hope probably lies with Amond. He’s broken the deadlock in seven games this season, is 13/2 to be First Goalscorer here.
Fancy a dark horse to notch? Boro defender George Friend has scored twice since mid-December, and is 9/1 to add to his tally here.
Match Info
Where: Rodney Parade, Newport
When: 7:45pm
How to watch: BT Sport 2
Click here for the latest Newport v Boro odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
