Salford make it three wins in a row at Newport

Centre-back Adebola Oluwo (second right) also scored in Salford's win at Notts County earlier this month

Salford City secured a third successive win in League Two with a hard-fought victory at Newport County.

Newport had most of the limited chances in a full-blooded first half, but it was Salford captain Luke Garbutt who came closest to a goal with a whipped free-kick which crashed into the crossbar.

The visitors took the lead shortly after the interval as centre-back Adebola Oluwo volleyed in neatly from Ben Woodburn's cross.

County pressed gamely for an equaliser but lacked quality in the final third as Salford climbed into the automatic promotion places at this early stage of the season.

Newport's second defeat in four days extends their winless run at Rodney Parade to eight games in all competitions.

David Hughes' side might have fancied their chances of stopping the rot against Salford, particularly after a frantic start that saw possession constantly change hands as neither team was able to keep the ball for a meaningful period of time.

Chances eventually started to come with Newport midfielder Matt Smith seeing a shot deflected over and Bobby Kamwa heading narrowly over for the hosts.

Salford were then inches from taking the lead when Garbutt's powerful left-footed free-kick from a tight angle on the right-hand side of Newport's penalty area cannoned off the bar.

Although the hosts continued to cause problems – with Michael Reindorf forcing visiting goalkeeper Matty Young into a fine save – Salford made the breakthrough six minutes into the second half as Oluwo deftly volleyed in at the back post from Woodburn's cross following a short corner.

Kallum Cesay was close to doubling Salford's advantage, while County substitute Michael Spellman flashed a low shot just wide as Hughes' men chased an equaliser.

But Karl Robinson's visitors – tipped for promotion again this season – did enough to repel those efforts and keep up with the early pace-setters in League Two.