Mansfield Town vs Newport County AFC. Sky Bet League Two Play-Offs Semi-Final.
One Call StadiumAttendance7,361.
1-1
Newport County AFC win 5-3 on penalties.
Watch Mansfield vs Newport live on Sky Sports Football from 5.30pm on Sunday; Kick-off is at 6pm
Sunday 12 May 2019 17:42, UK
Mansfield host Newport on Sunday evening in the second leg of their Sky Bet League Two play-off semi-final and there is still all to play for after a 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade.
CJ Hamilton's unstoppable drive put the Stags in the driving seat inside 15 minutes in south Wales on Thursday evening, but, in the true spirit of the play-offs, late drama ensued.
Visiting goalkeeper Conrad Logan had kept his side in the tie on numerous occasions, but his rash challenge on Ade Azeez saw the Exiles awarded a penalty late on; Padraig Amond's initial spot-kick was saved, but the Irish striker scored his 23 goal in 57 games this season on the rebound, leaving the tie finely-poised.
Matt Preston remains on the sidelines for Mansfield. The centre-back sustained a second concussion of the season in the promotion-decider at MK Dons on the final day, which also ruled him out of the 1-1 first leg draw at Rodney Parade.
Ben Turner will continue to deputise in defence, while Willem Tomlinson, Malvind Benning and Jorge Grant are ready to come into the starting line-up if boss David Flitcroft looks to rotate his squad - who have not won in any of their last four matches.
Goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik (knee ligaments), striker Craig Davies (ankle), defender Hayden White (broken leg) and midfielder Jordan Graham (knee) are all unavailable.
Newport captain Joss Labadie will hope to return to the starting line-up for the trip to the One Call Stadium. The midfielder missed the last six matches of the regular season with a gashed ankle but came on to play the final 18 minutes of the first leg in Wales.
County boss Mike Flynn has named the same starting XI for the last three games but could recall Labadie as they push for a play-off final place at Wembley on May 25. Former Wales international midfielder Andrew Crofts is also staking a claim for his first start since December 29, but Ben Kennedy has played his last game for the club after injury cut short his loan spell.
Mansfield boss David Flitcroft: "When I look at Tyler's (Walker) opportunity [in the second half], that kills the game then at 2-0 in a really difficult place [Rodney Parade]. We made some really good chances and we unbalanced them really well. In both halves we got into some really good goalscoring positions.
"I wanted to be at 2-0, which we've probably deserved to be at. But we go there at half-time, with the tie a draw. We've got one hell of a fight back at the One Call on Sunday. We wanted to come and win this game here.
"We came down and showed real fight, battle and a commitment. That was there for everyone to see, and comes from a group of lads who were on the floor on Saturday."
Newport boss Michael Flynn: "In an ideal world we want to be taking a lead to Mansfield. But there is still 90 minutes of football and we are going to give it our best shot. All the pressure is on them. We finished the strongest side.
"We will sit down now and pick a team we think can go up there and cause an upset. When Newport last got promoted through the play-offs, they won at Mansfield on the first day of the season. Now we're going to have to win there on the last game.
"It's 11 games unbeaten for us now - I'm not sure how far that is from a club record, but it must be up there in terms of the Football League."
In six of the last seven League Two play-off semi-finals where the first leg has ended level, the side playing at home in the second leg has progressed through to the final, with the only exception being Coventry City, who eliminated Notts County last season.
Mansfield have won 12 of their last 13 home games against Newport in the Football League (D1), last suffering defeat on home soil against the Exiles back in January 1939 (0-2).
Mansfield lost their final three league games of this season - the 1-1 draw in the first leg means they are now winless in four matches, last going longer without a victory in all competitions between February and April 2018 (P9 W0 D5 L4).
Newport have gone 11 matches without defeat (W6 D5); the Exiles last went longer without defeat in the Football League (including play-offs) between September and December 1938 (run of 12).
Tyler Walker has scored 26 goals across all competitions for Mansfield this season, at least 12 more than any other teammate, including six in his last nine appearances at Field Mill.
Padraig Amond has netted 23 goals for Newport in all competitions this campaign, more than any other player for the Exiles, with over half of those coming away from home (12).
