Argyle v Newport - Pilgrim Punting

NEWPORT County will be the 13/5 underdogs with League sponsors Sky Bet this weekend when they visit Home Park, with the hosts the favourites to win the tie at 11/10.

With both clubs desperate to secure a playoff place, Saturday’s fixture is perfectly poised to be an entertaining encounter. Argyle, currently ninth in the Sky Bet League 2 table, will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing mid-week defeat against Dagenham & Redbridge while the Exiles, currently eighth, are unbeaten in their last two.

Having welcomed Newport to the Theatre of Greens on thirty previous occasions, John Sheridan’s side boast an impressive record of 22 wins, three draws and just five defeats. Argyle’s home form this season has been as equally prolific, with 61% of all home matches resulting in three points –a statistic the manager hopes to extend this weekend.

Statistically speaking, the Greens have scored more goals (11) and conceded the fewest (3) between the 16th and the 30th minute. £5 on Argyle to score a goal between 21st and the 30th minute will return a profitable £32.50.

Remarkably, three-nil remains the most common result at Home Park this season, with four fixtures finishing in such fashion (against the Grecians, Cheltenham Town, Portsmouth and Dagenham respectively). The same score line this weekend is priced at 20/1.

Of course, if you’re feeling brave – or have some loose change burning a hole in your pocket – you can get 150/1 odds of Argyle to win 5-0, their record score in a game against County at Home Park. That win may well date back over 63 years, but the Greens plundered five goals in a league game as recently as last March against Morecambe.

That’s got to be worth a punt, surely...