South East Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Matt Baker admitted it felt “weird” to score against the club which nurtured his early steps in professional football.

But the defender, 21, seems to relish returning back to his home in the garden of England.

Baker’s clinical strike put Newport on their way to Tuesday’s fine 2-0 League Two win at Gillingham, where the Wales Under-21 cap spent 10 years as a youngster.

The former Stoke player said: “It was a good feeling, it's my old club so a weird feeling to score.

“But to go one up and take the second with Kyle Hudlin’s goal and stick in the game until the final whistle, I thought we did really well.”

Baker, who had two loan spells at Newport before joining permanently in June, was on the Gillingham books from 2011 to 2021. He paid tribute to the upbringing he had with Kent’s only Football League club.

“I think the 10 years I was here I really enjoyed it. The staff who coached me and the players I met here made me the player who I am today. I am only grateful for what the Gills have done for me," he added.

He certainly enjoys returning. Baker has now played for Newport three times at the Priestfield Stadium – and has returned to Wales with a victory every time.

Baker’s fierce, rising shot from a Bobby Kamwa free-kick was the versatile defender’s third goal of the campaign, but his roots meant a dilemma when the ball had gone in the net.

Asked if he celebrated, Baker said: “I was in between celebrating and not celebrating. I have a lot of respect for the club, but I am a Newport player at the end of the day, so to score it’s hard not to celebrate.”

The goal and victory improved a mixed couple of weeks for Baker, who qualifies for Wales through his mother who was born in Narberth.

He was part of the Wales Under-21 squad whose hopes of making their first tournament finals were undone by defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic.

The 2-1 defeat was also hampered by an administrative error by the Football Association of Wales which ensured Matty Jones' side did not have a clutch of players available to them for the key qualifier.

Because of international duty head coach Nelson Jardim opted to side line Baker, who watched as Newport crashed 3-0 at home to Chesterfield last Friday.

“It's been a busy few weeks, disappointing with the under-21s, but to come back in straight away after Friday, you have to be straight at it and I think myself and the whole team, fought really hard for that win (at Gillingham).”

Baker, who can also play in midfield, has now moved up to second in the Newport goal scoring charts having netted three league goals.

He is now on a par with Huddersfield loanee Kyle Hudlin - who also netted against Gillingham - and is one behind skipper Aaron Wildig.

“The first two seasons I did not have one goal," Baker said.

"I said to myself I need to get on the score sheet more. Now three goals in eight league games this season is good going. I want to keep it up and keep scoring for the team.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County head coach Nelson Jardim has called for patience to be shown to his young team believing they have further improvements in them.

The Exiles ended a three game League Two losing run with a 2-0 win at Gillingham on Tuesday night.

And Jardim declared: “This was about the team, these boys have been brilliant every day at the training ground.

“It's not easy to go through a spell of three defeats, but that is where you show the type of person you are and the character you have.

“I can assure everyone at the club – and the fans – stick with us, be a little bit more patient, because we can only get better.”

The Newport triumph was only their second on the road in the league this season, following a 1-0 win at Morecambe on August 31.

A doughty defensive display – after first half goals from Wales under-21 defender Matt Baker and giant striker Kyle Hudlin - also earned Newport just their second league clean sheet of the campaign.

Going into the match Newport had the joint-worst defensive record in League Two, having conceded 24 goals. But that dubious honour is now held by Carlisle, who have leaked 27 goals.

Jardim cited errors which cost Newport in their run of three defeats, at Bradford, Harrogate and in last Friday's 3-0 reverse against visitors Chesterfield.

The Newport boss said: “You expect them (mistakes) to happen during the season. Sometimes they all happening at the same period and I think that is what was happening (to us).

“The clean sheet is massive for us and can actually give us confidence that we are good when it comes to defending.”

Newport signed 17 players during the summer transfer window, every one of them bar Courtney Baker-Richardson the age of 24 or under.

Newcastle loanee Jamie Miley made his league bow at Gillingham and Jardim thinks some of the players are still adapting the physical rigours of League Two.

Jardim said: “We have to build that type of match fitness in the squad. All the boys who are used to playing at this level do not need that, but these young boys need a bit of extra care.”

Newport continued their remarkable run at the Priestfield Stadium where they have won on their last three league visits, consigning Gillingham to a fifth consecutive defeat.

But with Newport having ended their poor run, with injured players still to return, the Exiles are currently 13th in the table, just three points outside the play-offs and 10 points clear of the bottom two.