Newport County 1-0 Wrexham: Seb Palmer-Houlden sinks 10-man Dragons

Seb Palmer-Houlden missed more than two months of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in August

Ten-man Wrexham missed the chance to go top of League Two as they were beaten by Newport County in a feisty encounter between the Welsh rivals.

Wrexham had Will Boyle sent off after 18 minutes for a lunging challenge on Shane McLoughlin, before Seb Palmer-Houlden headed County in front to raise the roof at an already rocking, sold-out Rodney Parade.

The home side had plenty of chances to extend their lead but a combination of wayward finishing and fine goalkeeping by Arthur Okonkwo kept Wrexham in the game.

Newport were not to be denied, though, and their deserved victory lifts them up to 13th in the table before the mouthwatering visit of Manchester United in the FA Cup next weekend.

Wrexham stay second and two points behind leaders Stockport County, whose game at fellow promotion contenders Notts County was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

There might be 125 miles and a three-hour drive separating Newport and Wrexham - but there is a distinct rivalry between the two Welsh clubs in League Two.

Wrexham won the reverse fixture 2-0 a month ago, the first meeting between the sides since County - then a division higher than their opponents - dished out a 4-0 thrashing in an FA Cup second-round replay in 2018.

The source of the recent tension, however, was Newport's 2-0 win in the 2013 Conference (now known as the National League) play-off final at Wembley, condemning Wrexham to another decade in the non-league wilderness.

By now, the power dynamic has changed with Hollywood-owned Wrexham riding high in League Two and chasing a second successive promotion, while Newport came into this game 17th in the table.

It was a sell-out at Rodney Parade, where the capacity had been increased by the addition of a temporary stand behind one of the goals; handy timing with Newport hosting Manchester United in the FA Cup a week Sunday.

Even with such a glamorous fixture on the horizon, there was a palpable sense of anticipation for this encounter, and Newport were on top in a highly-charged start to the game.

They harassed their opponents, pressed forward and, although they did not create much in the way of clear-cut chances, County had clearly unsettled Wrexham.

That much was clear when Boyle was sent off for sliding in on McLoughlin with his studs showing; his dismissal adding fuel to the fire of a raucous atmosphere.

Newport continued to apply pressure and took a deserved lead when Ryan Delaney's cross found Palmer-Houlden, who sent a looping header over Okonkwo into the net and rushed behind the goal to celebrate in front of Wrexham's fans.

The visitors had Okonkwo to thank for not falling further behind, as the Arsenal loanee superbly tipped aside a long-range strike by Bryn Morris at the end of the first half, before denying Will Evans with an even better save low to his right after the break.

Palmer-Houlden was guilty of wasting a golden opportunity before then, while Adam Lewis mishit a shot from a promising position inside the Wrexham penalty area.

The Exiles might have rued those misses on another day but they were rarely troubled by one of League Two's most potent attacks.

And while Wrexham struggled to impose themselves on the game all afternoon, the narrow margin of victory did not reflect how comfortable a win this was for Newport.

Newport manager Graham Coughlan:

"Today was all about a derby game, today was all about winning. When you play games like these, they're about winning, no matter how you get over the line, and that's what we stressed to the lads.

"I thought we were really good as well. We didn't get the ball moving as well as we have been doing but that's against a top quality team and we both probably cancelled each other out with our systems.

"I thought we were more than a match for them. We were, in fairness, probably better than them. It was really pleasing, considering, even when it was 11 against 11, Nick [Townsend, Newport goalkeeper] didn't have to make many saves."

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson:

"When you go down to 10 men on 18 minutes, and second half the conditions were against us as well, it's difficult.

"We couldn't get any quality or rhythm in our play. We've given ourselves an absolute mountain to climb getting a player sent off so early in the game.

"The goal we conceded is frustrating. If we get to half time 0-0 then we're right in it. It's a tough afternoon for us."