ALMOST a year ago to the day Stanley's promotion bid crumbled in the dirt and the dust of Rodney Parade.

A 15-game unbeaten run had catapulted John Coleman's side from mid-table obscurity to play-off contention, but a defeat in South Wales on April 22, 2017 ended their chances of gatecrashing the top seven. It would be another year in the fourth tier.

Fast forward 367 days and tonight Coleman and Stanley make the same trip with one set of celebrations already memorably completed. Improve on that defeat a year ago and Rodney Parade will go from hell to heaven and the Reds will be crowned League Two champions.

To claim the title at the scene of their lowest point last season will be a fitting finale for Coleman.

"We haven’t got the greatest of records against Newport," he said. "We lost their last season and it was very disappointing because that probably ended our play-off hopes. It will be nice to go their and win the title after what happened last year."

As usual Stanley have finished the season with a sprint to the line, winning 17 of their last 20 games to cruise to promotion and put the champagne on ice as far as the silverware is concerned.

After a bright start the Exiles have won just two of their last 14 games and were on the end of a dressing down from boss Mike Flynn after a 2-0 defeat at relegation threatened Barnet on Saturday.

"They will feel like they've got a point to prove, the manager was critical of them on Saturday and disappointed in the performance," Coleman said.

"They’ll look to put that to the back of their minds and we’re expecting a backlash."

The sides drew 1-1 at the Wham Stadium back in November, although plenty has changed for both clubs since then.

While Newport's season is petering out, Coleman doesn't expect an easier team of things because the hosts have nothing left to play for in terms of promotion and relegation.

"I don’t really subscribe to that, teams have always got things to play for, footballers by nature want to win games, they’re competitive," he said.

"We’re expecting a hard fought game. I wouldn’t want to be going into that game with anything but the players in my squad."