Jardim ready to expose Newport to Bradford test

Nelson Jardim became Newport County head coach during the summer of 2024

Newport County’s young squad will face another test of their development when they travel to face Bradford City in League Two on Monday night.

So far the biggest attendance for a Newport game this season came at Swindon, where 6,857 watched the Exiles being thrashed 4-0.

But Bradford have attracted crowds of more than 16,000 to their imposing Valley Parade home this season.

Newport head coach Nelson Jardim welcomed the chance for his players to perform on such a stage.

“That is why they are here, to expose them to these types of grounds and crowds," he said.

"That can only improve them. They will be facing it as a test and as a step forward.

“They just have to play their football and be focused on what they are doing and with the energy of the crowd, they can utilise that to play even better.”

Cardiff City loanee Kieron Evans has some experience of big-crowd atmospheres. He made his Bluebirds debut, for instance, in Cardiff’s 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest in front of 24,153 three years ago.

He said: “It is just something to look forward to really, go there and impose ourselves on the game.”

Asked if such atmosphere could be intimidating, he said: “Definitely, but you cannot think like that. I think you just have to go there and not think about the crowd or worry about the crowd, just worry about ourselves and try to do the best we can on the pitch.”

Newport remain ninth in the table, on 15 points, following the weekend games and would move into the play-off places with a win over the Bantams, who are three points behind them in 14th.

But Newport have had problems at Bradford in the past, having won just one of their last nine league encounters at Valley Parade and failed to score on six occasions during that time.

Bradford, meanwhile, are unbeaten in seven home league games.

Newport have one win on the road this season, a 1-0 victory at Morecambe. But they go into the trip north on the back of home wins over Crewe and Salford City.

Wales Under-21 defender Matt Baker is missing because of international duty, but club captain James Clarke could return from injury as Newport look to improve their away form.

Evans said: “I know it’s going to be tough away from home in this league. But if we can start picking up wins away as well as at home, we will look a right force.

“We have boys coming back so the team is only going to get stronger. Everyone is going to fight for a position very week so it is going to be really good and competitive.”