League Two Gameweek 16: Cagey First Half at Rodney Parade

Since Newport County returned to the league in 2013, this fixture has been something of a bad omen; the Exiles have lost three of their first five league home meetings with Morecambe, drawing the most recent two.

On this occasion though, the visitors are ravaged by injuries. Morecambe could be without as many as seven players, plus wide forwards like four-goal man Rhys Oates and veteran Garry Thompson are only just returning from the sidelines.

At least four absentees are central midfielders: key man Andrew Fleming, box-to-box runner Aaron Wildig and water-carrier Alex Kenyon along with young prospect Lamine Jagne will be out, with technician Andrew Tutte a doubt.

For Tuesday night’s 1-0 home defeat to Mansfield, Jim Bentley gave academy product Ben Hedley a first ever league start in central midfield next to Jordan Cranston, who was deployed away from his natural left-back position through necessity; both players battled well in adversity.

One real @ShrimpsOfficial positive for me last night was @HedleyBen debut. Thought he did really well @BBCLancsSport @shrimpstrust

— Derek Quinn (@derekquinncomm) October 24, 2018

Very often, depleted numbers impacts the game plan and the Shrimps, who had 44