Your guide to tonight's Johnstone's Paint Trophy opposition: NEWPORT COUNTY

THE CHALKBOARD:

Swindon Advertiser: 08.08.15 - Cambridge United v Newport County - League 2 
A tough first match for Newport manager Terry Butcher. (34622805)
Exiles boss Terry Butcher

TERRY Butcher has been left to pick up the pieces from the dismantling of Justin Edinburgh’s promotion challenging squad and the departure of money man Les Scadding.
The team the former England captain has assembled lack the steel of the Exiles side last season, but do attempt to play with slightly more style.
They are yet to settle on a formation, which has been part of the reason they are yet to pick up a win this season. It is thought that to be avoid being overrun by Town they will try and pack the midfield, so a 4-3-3-cum-4-5-1 appears likely.
They will look to play from the back and build play through midfield, with former Chippenham player Jan Klukowski and Mark Byrne, two survivors from last season, directing traffic.

LIKELY LINE-UP:

Swindon Advertiser:

A MAN IN FORM: MARK BYRNE

Swindon Advertiser: Newport County versus Wimbledon AFC
PACE County's Mark Byrne (10834634)
Mark Byrne

THE EXPERIENCED former Barnet man Mark Byrne is the fulcrum of Terry Butcher’s new look Newport County.
Playing the crucial central midfield role, Byrne has been hailed by Butcher as the man  the rest of his squad should be looking to for an example of how to conduct themselves. 
The 26-year-old was appointed captain at the start of the season and has reponded by being the Exiles best player so far, albeit in a side struggling to deal with the loss of 10 players from last year’s more feted squad.
Byrne is employed in the key role in central midfield and links play.
Used at the base of midfield or as part of a two, Byrne is a box-to-box kind of player.
The burden of trying to stop Ton’s midfield from dictating too much at Rodney Parade will undoubtedly fall on his shoulders and how he deals with it could decide the tie.

TREATMENT ROOM

Swindon Advertiser:
Alex Rodman

THE ONLY saving grace for Terry Butcher from Saturday’s dispiriting defeat at Plymouth Argyle was his side returned to South Wales with no new injury concerns.
Lenell John-Lewis came back into the starting XI having got over his hamstring issue to play from the start at Home Park and it is expected he will continue his return to full-fitness against Town.
Alex Rodman, who has been out with a calf problem, did not feature against the Pilgrims, but it is thought he will return to the side tonight. He can play on either flank as winger and may feature as one of a front three should they abandon the 4-4-2.
Matt Taylor is still on the long-term injury list with an ankle problem that has meant the new signing from Cheltenham is yet to play a minute of competitive football.
Winger Nathan Ralph is another who is out of action in the long-term with a hamstring strain, as is defender Andrew Hughes, who has been out since December last year.

FORM GUIDE:

Tue, Aug 11
League Cup
2-1 defeat v Wolves (A)

Sat, Aug 15
Skybet League Two
2-2 draw v Stevenage (H)

Sat, Aug 18
Skybet League Two
1-0 defeat v Hartlepool (A)

Sat, Aug 22
Skybet League Two
3-2 defeat v Leyton Orient (H)

Sat, Aug 29
Skybet League Two
1-0 defeat v Plymouth Argyle (A)

GOALSCORERS:

Scott Boden: 3
Mark Byrne: 1
Aaron Collins: 1

DISCIPLINE:

Aaron Hayden: 1Y
Kevin Feely: 1Y

THE STAT:

Town have a ery successful record against the Exiles. In 84 meetings with the south Wales club Swindon have won 38, drawing 12 and losing just 26