https://i2-prod.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/article3798318.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_Tranmere-Rovers-v-Newport-County-Sky-Bet-League-Two-Play-off-Final.jpg
Newport midfielder Joss Labadie (right) battles for the ball with Jake Caprice of Tranmere Rovers in the League Two Play-Off Final at Wembley on May 25, 2019 (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)(Image: Getty Images)

Newport County midfielder Joss Labadie aiming for double over Plymouth Argyle

The Exiles are 11th in League Two ahead of their visit to Home Park on Saturday

by

Newport County will be looking to ‘put a dent’ in Plymouth Argyle’s promotion ambitions when they visit Home Park on Saturday.

Midfielder Joss Labadie says the Exiles are aiming to complete the double over Ryan Lowe’s Pilgrims this season.

Labadie was part of the Newport team which beat Argyle 1-0 at Rodney Parade on the third Saturday of the season in August.

The Pilgrims dominated possession in that game but County secured the win with an 81st minute goal from substitute Kyle Howkins.

The rematch comes with Argyle fourth in League Two while Newport are 11th.

Labadie, whose former clubs also include Torquay United, told the South Wales Argus: “Plymouth are one of the favourites for the league.

“They are a massive club with a big budget, a good manager and good players so they will be looking to go up automatically.

“We have proved that we can go up against them before – we beat them here – so we will be looking to take maximum points again and put a dent in their ambitions.”

Newport, beaten League Two play-off finalists last season, did not win a match in December but January has been much better for them.

They have won three of their last four games, including a 1-0 home defeat of Macclesfield Town on Tuesday.

Labadie said: “It has been an improvement this month, from recent results, and I feel like we are harder to beat now.

“At the start of the season we were solid. We weren’t playing the most attractive football but we were getting results.

“Then we had a little blip but it seems like we are back on track and hopefully we can progress. We have got to take this form into Saturday now.”