Newport County

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Head coach Nelson Jardim says Jacob Carney has the full support of the Newport County squad and staff following his costly error at Harrogate Town.

The 23-year-old goalkeeper was handed his Newport league debut for the trip to Yorkshire following regular starter Nick Townsend's call-up to the Antigua and Barbuda squad.

But the former Manchester United academy product fumbled Ellis Taylor's cross which allowed Toby Sims to head home what proved to be the winning goal for the Sulphurites in the 40th minute.

"He's got my support and the whole squad's support," Jardim said of the goalkeeper.

"It's a strong dressing room and we're all supportive. We look to everything we do as a chance to improve.

"This is part of the process as a young team; he's a young goalkeeper and he's had a taste for this level.

"The way he works every day, you can only expect the best from him.

"We take this as a learning process and he's got the support from everyone."

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Newport County lacked commitment and quality in attack during their 1-0 defeat by Harrogate Town, according to former Wales defender Kevin Ratcliffe.

Toby Sims capitalised on a mistake from goalkeeper Jacob Carney - who was making his League Two debut for the Exiles in place of Nick Townsend who is away on international duty - to earn the Sulphurites victory with a first-half header.

It was the fifth time Nelson Jardim's men have suffered defeat on the road in the league this season - with Newport's only away triumph coming at Morecambe.

Former Everton centre-back Ratcliffe did not feel the Exiles deserved to return to Rodney Parade with three points given their performance against Simon Weaver's outfit.

“I didn’t think it was a great performance from either side, but Harrogate have taken their opportunity," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"Newport never really created many opportunities, they’re going to be disappointed, but they didn’t deserve to win the game. At most they could have got a draw.

“There wasn’t enough there from Newport, they lacked commitment going forward, they lacked quality going forward. The two full-backs being injured are a big miss, it was clear to see."

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Nelson Jardim believes improving Newport County's defensive record will be easier than solving a struggling attack following his side's impressive start to the campaign.

The Exiles sit 10th in League Two and are only four points adrift of leaders Walsall, having won five and lost five of their opening 10 league outings.

Newport have had no problem when it comes to creating chances and bulging the net, with only Walsall, Notts County and Chesterfield scoring more than the Exiles' tally of 16 league goals so far this season.

However, Newport have conceded 20 goals - more than any other side in the division - at an average of two per game.

But Jardim is more than pleased with his side's progress so far, after being tasked with bringing a more attack-minded approach to the club when he arrived in south Wales in the summer.

"The first quarter of the season, we've won five and lost five, we're four points off the top. I think we can only be proud of what we have done so far, taking into account all of the changes with the players, myself and everything," said Jardim.

"If that is the one detail [defensive record] that is not quite right, then I am happy about that, especially when you want to bring an attacking style of play.

"Now we know what we have to improve. We have to be more compact and more detailed about little things.

"I've always felt that it's easier to improve defensively than attacking."

The Newport boss added: "If we can improve 1% every day, which is a growing mindset that I want to have in this club from everyone.

"We know with this process, there's ups and downs, we have to be ready for that.

"But as long as we keep growing, that's the main thing."

This afternoon (15:00 BST), Newport face a Harrogate Town side that shipped five goals in their most recent home league fixture against MK Dons.

The Sulphurites have also failed to score in their past two matches - against Crewe Alexandra and Swindon Town.

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Newport County boss Nelson Jardim says Kyle Hudlin is even better than he first thought following the striker's impact with the Exiles so far.

Hudlin, 24, joined Newport on a season-long loan deal from League One side Huddersfield Town.

The towering forward has started three of Newport's past four matches - scoring against Salford City and Bradford City.

And Jardim admits he has been taken aback by Hudlin's quality since the frontman's arrival at Rodney Parade in the latter stages of the summer transfer window.

"I knew he was a good player, I didn't know he was that good," said Jardim.

"So I'm impressed. I see his play as a whole, and he's such a nice person to have around.

"He's a fighter, good with his team-mates and on the pitch is what we've all been seeing.

"I'm impressed with him, but we've got a good group of players that can only get better."

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Newport County head to a happy hunting ground on Saturday as Nelson Jardim’s side look to bounce back from defeat at Bradford City.

This is a taxing week for the Exiles, who go back to Yorkshire to face Harrogate Town on Saturday having gone down 3-1 at Valley Parade on Monday night.

But Newport should be buoyed their recent record at Harrogate’s Exercise Stadium.

On their most recent visit, in February, Newport won 4-1, with Offrande Zanzala scoring twice, while in the 2022-23 campaign, the Welsh side were 4-0 victors on Harrogate’s patch, thanks in part to a double from Omar Bogle.

In fact, Newport have only lost once at Harrogate in four visits since the Sulphurites were promoted to the English Football League (EFL) for the first time in 2020.

Harrogate, it should be said, have won on each of their last two trips to Rodney Parade – but Simon Weaver’s team do not come into their latest meeting with Newport in particularly good form.

Harrogate, who are 18th in League Two, drew 0-0 at fellow strugglers Swindon last weekend, following a 5-1 home loss to MK Dons, one of four defeats in their last seven league games.

They were also beaten in the EFL Trophy in midweek, at Crewe, with their last victory coming at home against Bradford at the end of last month.

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Newport County have precious little in common with Premier League leaders Liverpool – but they share one claim this season.

Neither Newport nor the Anfield giants have been involved in a league draw this season.

In all, five clubs in the top four divisions of the pyramid are yet to draw a league game in 2024-25.

Fans of Championship outfit Derby County, League One side Huddersfield Town and Grimsby Town – the team immediately below 10th-placed Newport in League Two – are the others who are yet to witness a league draw.

Newport were on course for a share of the points when they equalised against Bradford on Monday, before two late goals saw them fall to a 3-1 defeat at Valley Parade.

Asked why his team do not do draws, midfielder Bryn Morris said: “That comes down to game management. We could be better with that, especially when it's late on and we are level.

“It’s probably good for the neutrals but we would have liked to have put a point on the board [at Bradford] rather than none.”

Head coach Jardim pointed to a “little detail” which helped consign his side to defeat in Yorkshire.

Morris agreed, saying: “I feel that a couple of moments were just the difference in the game.

“[But] we have to take confidence into the next game. We had a really good spell for a good 20 minutes at the start of the second half when we were on top and created good chances. There were just moments that cost us.”

Newport return to Yorkshire on Saturday when they face Harrogate Town, meaning they will have clocked up more than 1000 miles on the road in six days.

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Former Grimsby player Morris says it is up to players to cope with the demands of a taxing week.

“It comes down to being a good professional and looking after your body," he said.

"We will go again on Wednesday after resting and recovering. It’s sleeping right, eating right and flushing out the legs.”

Morris is encouraged by the way the Newport squad is gelling after a summer overhaul.

Newport are a point outside the play-offs and only four points behind leaders Walsall.

“It does take time because we had a massive turnaround of players, but we were all disappointed [in Bradford] because of the levels and standards that we set in the previous few games," Morris added.

“We pick ourselves up for another long journey. If we take three points from that then it’s three wins out of four, so we are getting better and there’s more to come.”

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Former captain and current player liaison officer Mark O'Brien believes Newport County are in a "phenomenal" position considering the significant changes made at the club over the summer.

The Exiles parted company with boss Graham Coughlan in June before bringing in Nelson Jardim as head coach.

They also recruited 17 players during the course of what was Huw Jenkins' first full transfer window as chairman.

Jardim's side are 10th after the opening 10 matches of the League Two campaign, sitting just four points adrift of leaders Walsall.

O'Brien says Newport are heading in the right direction following a major overhaul at Rodney Parade.

"In all fairness, it was a little bit of a surprise at the beginning because there was a lot of bedding-in to do with a whole new squad, but I think they've taken to the challenge well. I think the season has been really good," he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"To be in the position that we're in at the moment is phenomenal.

"To know that this group is only going to get better and stronger in time, I think it's very exciting times for Newport.

"I think the whole culture of the club is a lot more positive. It's a younger and fresher squad, there's a big difference [compared to last season]. I think it's heading in a positive direction."

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Marc Lloyd Williams believes Newport County remain "on the right track" under Nelson Jardim despite showing "inexperience" during their loss to Bradford City.

Kyle Hudlin's second half header at Valley Parade cancelled out Andy Cook's 39th minute opener as Newport improved after the restart.

But James Walker restored the Bantams' lead on 75 minutes at a point where Newport's Bobby Kamwa was off the pitch changing his boots - with Bobby Pointon netting a late goal to seal a 3-1 win for the hosts.

And BBC Sport Wales pundit Lloyd Williams believes the Exiles showed naivety as they fell behind for a second time with 15 minutes of the contest remaining.

"If you have to change your boots, it is what it is, you have to reassess," he told Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast.

"Sometimes you work on that on the training ground, if you're down to 10 men, playing against 11, you adapt to the other team who have the extra man.

"Maybe it's a bit of inexperience within the squad, but they should have just got everyone behind the ball until [Kamwa] returned to the field."

Despite defeat to Graham Alexander's side, Newport sit 10th in League Two after 10 games and find themselves just four points adrift of leaders Walsall.

Lloyd Williams believes boss Jardim - who replaced Graham Coughlan as head coach in the summer - will be pleased with the progress his side are making.

"They're only four points off the top of the table," he added.

"There are plenty of games to go. They're on the right track, Nelson Jardim will be fairly satisfied with how the season has gone so far."

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Nelson Jardim pinpointed a “little detail” which put the boot into Newport County’s hopes of a League Two reward at Bradford City.

Head coach Jardim felt Bobby Kamwa (above right) changing his boots was a contributory factor in Bradford’s second goal – scored by James Walker – as the home side ran out 3-1 winners, at Valley Parade.

A Kyle Hudlin header had helped Newport pull back to 1-1 midway through the second half when Walker struck on 75 minutes.

Jardim said: “I thought we were the better team, I felt we were close to the second goal, we did create chances.

“Then just one little detail – Bobby changed his boots - and at that moment he had to be out for a period of time.

"When he came on, obviously we were not in the slots we were supposed to be and when you are not there, those chances come.

“That goal came in that period where I felt it was unfair, but we have to learn from those mistakes and build on.

“I just felt there were a lot of positives from this game and we go away proud, but knowing we can still improve.”

As for Kamwa, his fleetfooted winger, Jardim said: “He knows. He is not going to do it again because I am going to keep his boots locked!”

Jardim was frustrated by the defeat, but understands his young side are still developing.

“You come up with this when you work with young boys it’s little things we have to learn from," he said.

“But sometimes we have not got time, they have to grow quick otherwise they get punished and we didn’t deserve to lose the game the way we did.

“But it is a learning curve and we have to focus in our learning process on the positives.”

The defeat came after two home wins over Crewe and Salford City and consigned Newport to their fourth league reverse on the road. Their only away win came in a 1-0 triumph at Morecambe on 31 August 31.

Newport slipped one place to tenth in the table as Bradford leapt above them into ninth. But both sides are only a point outside the play-off positions after ten games.

The Exiles return to Yorkshire on Saturday as they travel to play Harrogate Town.

Newport will be without left back Anthony Glennon, who collected his fifth yellow card of the campaign in the Bradford defeat.

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Newport County will tonight face a Bradford City team hoping they have come through the other side of an injury crisis.

And that could include going up against Northern Ireland international Corry Evans who has been snapped-up on a short-term deal to plug a midfield shortage.

Bradford have not won in their last four League Two outings having been hit hard by fitness problems.

Bantams boss Graham Alexander says he has been without seven of the side who started the campaign in August, including three centre-backs and three central midfielders being left unavailable.

Bradford had already recently signed former Leeds and Preston defender Paul Huntington for cover at the back following his release from Carlisle United at the end of last season.

And now they have added 69-cap midfielder Evans - who has arrived on a short-term deal after leaving Sunderland in May.

The 34-year-old Evans, a former Black Cats captain who also appeared for Blackburn and Hull, started Northern Ireland’s Euro 2016 1-0 exit at the hands of Wales in Paris.

The younger brother of Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, he could go straight into the squad for County’s trip to Yorkshire if paperwork is completed following yesterday’s switch.

On the issues he's faced, Alexander said: “We have no other option at the moment apart from being pragmatic about our situation.

“Another option would be to give up and that is not on anyone’s mind here, so we must find a solution to our issues. I know how much work and effort this group of players put in every day and if they let themselves down, I tell them.

“But they continue to show great character and great grit. The players consistently show the desire to win, and I praised them for that.

"I said at half time that this is just a sport and that we have to love playing this game and in the second half they showed the right determination and attitude that they need to show again on Monday night.”

Despite their problems, Bradford remain unbeaten in seven at home while Newport have managed to avoid defeat just once on the road in four league games so far this year, the 1-0 win at Morecambe.

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Newport head coach Nelson Jardim has challenged captain Aaron Wildig to have his best goal season yet.

The 32-year-old is Newport's top scorer this season having netted four times in the league playing in a role behind the main striker.

He notched ten goals in helping previous club Morecambe to promotion from the fourth tier in 2021, when the Shrimpers beat Mike Flynn’s Newport in the League Two play-off final at Wembley.

And Jardim said he has set Wildig the target of going beyond that tally.

“He is such an important player for us and I was spot on when I named him and James Clarke as captains," said Jardim.

“I don’t hide it, I like players like Aaron. He is very technical, he has that craft in front of goal and final third movement.”

Wildig added to his tally in Tuesday's 3-1 win over Salford City at Rodney Parade, just three days after beating Crewe.

Newport will be without Matt Baker who is with Wales under-21s preparing for their crunch qualifier against Czech Republic at Rodney Parade next Friday.

Ciaran Brennan is an option but Newport hope Clarke could make a timely return to the defence having been sidelined since August with a leg injury.

Jardim admitted the joint captain has been missed.

“Unfortunately, we saw that in a bad way but, looking for positives, that gave an opportunity for others to be exposed and that only makes them improve," he said.

“The fact he was not there was not good. He could not help the youngsters but they actually learned because he was not there. It's that improvement and progress we are looking for."

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Newport County will be without Matt Baker for Monday's League Two trip to Bradford City due to his Wales international call-up.

Baker, 21, will be with the Wales Under-21 squad preparing for their crunch Euro 2025 qualifier with Czech Republic, at Rodney Parade, in Newport on Friday, 11 October.

Newport head coach Nelson Jardim did inquire as to whether under-21s skipper Baker might be able to play in the Bradford game before joining up with the national squad.

But under-21 boss Matty Jones, a good friend of Jardim's, wants all his players in camp from the start of the week for a match which could see Wales qualify for the under-21 finals for the first time in their history.

And despite the absence of the consistent Baker, who joined permanently from Stoke City in the summer, Jardim understands the situation.

He says the absence of any player would "disturb" preparations for a significant international.

"They are on grass from Monday," said Jardim.

"As a coach I know it's important to have all your players available, that is no different for Matt so he will be there on Monday."

Baker has played predominantly as a centre-back for Newport this season.

The Exiles will go to Valley Parade looking to build on back-to-back victories in League Two. Tuesday's 3-1 home win over Salford City followed a 2-1 success against Crewe last Saturday, with Baker heading the winning goal.

Captain James Clarke is close to a return having been out since late August after a leg injury. He will be assessed over the weekend as Jardim contemplates his starting line-up without Baker.

Jardim said: "I think it's a big thing when you play for your country. I know that. I told him make sure you are focused and the best you can be for your country.

"Matt is happy for that. Every player is just proud and we are also proud we have a player like him playing for Wales in such an important and exciting period for the under-21s with Matty Jones, who is someone I like.

"He is a friend of mine, a good coach, a really good guy. I wish them all the best and Matt [Baker] will be there helping the country."

Ciaran Brennan, who returned from suspension on the bench against Salford, is also vying for a starting place at Bradford.

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Nelson Jardim says consistency is key for Newport County as the Exiles look to continue their promising start to the season.

Newport are ninth in the League Two table – and outside the play-off places on goal difference – after victories over Crewe Alexandra and Salford City.

Jardim’s team are yet to draw in nine league games this season, with their form undulating dramatically in the first two months of the campaign.

After being beaten at Cheltenham on the opening day, Newport won three successive league matches then lost three in a row before their two triumphs this week.

“It’s important to keep the consistency,” said head coach Jardim, whose side are back in action at Bradford City next Monday.

“We had a little bit of a dip two or three weeks ago but I think you can see clearly, injuries and red cards didn’t help.

“We are looking to improve, making sure we can keep consistent in training sessions [and] the way we play with the same principles.

“We don’t expect to win every game but we expect to compete for win in every game.”

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Newport County striker Kyle Hudlin described his height as his "super strength" following their 3-1 win over Salford City.

The on-loan Huddersfield striker headed the Exiles ahead early on, and showed nice footwork to set up Aaron Wildig for County's second goal.

Hudlin was making just his second start for Newport, but said he had hoped to be on the scoresheet for the League Two side even sooner.

"It's taken longer than I wanted it to but it's good to get off the mark and get my first Newport goal," said Hudlin.

"It [the corner kick routine] was worked on, I knew with the double movement they didn't know who was going to go where.

"I knew I'd get the opportunity, it was all about the contact and delivering."

At 6ft 9in, Hudlin is among the tallest professional football players in the world, but he does not to become a one-trick pony.

"My size is a super strength, it's about utilising it to the best of my ability," added Hudlin.

"It's about eliminating the defenders at source, and then it's about bringing people into play and getting on the end of crosses.

"But I don't want to be known for just one strength, then you become predictable, so I'm working on every part of my craft and perfecting it."

Victory over Salford moved Newport level on points with the League Two play-off places after nine games played.

The win was County's second in four days at Rodney Parade, after a 2-1 triumph over Crewe the previous Saturday.

"I'm over the moon for the boys to keep the momentum going," said Hudlin.

"Now it's about kicking on and seeing where we can take this."

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Nelson Jardim says Newport County have not been contacted by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) about proposals that could see Wales’ EFL clubs have the chance to secure European football via a Welsh cup competition.

Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County are currently only able to qualify for European competitions via the Premier League, FA Cup or EFL Cup.

The new proposal – titled Prosiect Cymru – has been made to Uefa, the Football Association, Premier League and clubs in the Cymru Premier.

But Exiles boss Jardim says his side have received no contact from the FAW about the potential route to European football.

"I've seen that in the news, but the only thing I can say is that the club hasn't been contacted by the FAW about that," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"I haven't got an opinion about that, I'm just focused on developing the players and the team."

Jardim's side sit ninth in League Two following their 3-1 win over Salford City at Rodney Parade on Tuesday.