Blow for County as the big Boxing Day clash with Rovers is called off
NEWPORT County’s big Boxing Day money-spinner against top of the table Forest Green Rovers has become one of the latest games to fall foul of COVID.
Forest Green had to call off their home game against Colchester United last weekend after an outbreak of COVID cases at their club and have now informed County they won’t be able to come to Rodney Parade on Sunday.
“Sadly, we announce that our Boxing Day fixture at home to Forest Green Rovers is postponed due to COVID cases in the opposition squad,” said a club statement.
“Forest Green Rovers informed the EFL that it would be unable to fulfil the fixture at Rodney Parade due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases in their squad. A rearranged date for the fixture will be confirmed in due course.”
After their 3-0 hiding at Rochdale last weekend, County boss James Rowberry was hoping to uses the clash with their biggest promotion rivals to gain some redemption.
In front of an expect 5,000 crowed, he was looking to bounce back and cut the lead at the top.
Forest Green currently lead Northampton Town by four points and have a game in hand.
They are 10 points clear of sixth placed County, who have played two games more.
While County hot-shot Dom Telford is still leading scorer in League Two with 14 goals, only one behind him are former Newport favourite Jamile Matt and his Forest Green front-running partner Matt Stevens.
Between them they have accounted for eight of the 12 goals Forest Green have scored in their last three away games, including two each in the incredible 5-5 draw at Oldham.
With 20 goals in their last seven league outings they are a team to be feared.
Their last league defeat came on 9 October, when Swindon Town beat them 2-0 at The Lawn.