Newport County

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Nelson Jardim says Newport County's long-term plan remains unchanged after the Exiles ended 2024 with back-to-back defeats.

Newport impressed for long spells against League Two leaders Walsall but were ultimately beaten 2-0 thanks to a brace from Nathan Lowe.

Defeat means Newport sit 18th going into the new year, but Jardim says his focus remains on ensuring the club grows in his first year in the job.

"When we planned the season, we wanted to see a team growing in terms of the style of play, controlling games, having more of the ball and having a comfortable season," said the Portuguese.

"We haven't changed anything from that.

"We are still chasing that comfort which we know it's a tough league, with the amount of changing of players that we had.

"We've been fighting with a lot of things but we've always been finding a way and the strength is the collective and the way we play."

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Bobby Kamwa says Newport County must back themselves to achieve something in League Two this season as they look to close the gap on the play-off places.

The Exiles moved to within five points of the top seven courtesy of last weekend's thumping victory over MK Dons.

The 6-3 success – against a side in play-off contention – meant Newport ended a six-game winless streak in League Two.

There were five draws during that run, however, and forward Kamwa insists Newport can compete with anyone in the fourth tier as they prepare for a trip to Bromley on Thursday, 26 December (15:00 GMT).

"We seem to be the underdogs in this league - people don't really think we can push for the play-offs," Kamwa said.

"But we are gelling now and we are just looking to climb up the table.

"We all have to believe we can really achieve something. Looking in the league, there is not a team you would say are going to run away with the league. Anyone can beat anyone so we are just looking at that and taking it game by game."

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Bobby Kamwa hopes his numbers are starting to add up after his hat-trick in Newport County's win over MK Dons.

The 24-year-old scored three times in 58 minutes as the Exiles claimed a thrilling 6-3 victory last weekend.

Kamwa, who signed on free in August after he left Burton Albion, had scored only once in 22 Newport appearances before the Dons thrashing.

Kamwa's treble means this is already the best goalscoring season of his career, with the former Leeds United youngster surpassing the three strikes he managed for Burton in 2022-23.

Now Kamwa is eyeing more success in the final third.

"I could smell in that game there would be goals and luckily I took my chances," he said.

"Stats have always been a thing for me - my end product. If it's to do with the ability, I know I can play higher up. But it's always been questions of stats, so I am happy I am starting to concentrate on end product."

Cameroon-born Kamwa has started 16 League Two games this season, and expressed his gratitude to boss Nelson Jardim.

"I want to say thank you to the gaffer for trusting me," he added.

"There are times when it hasn't come off for me but he has stuck with me. I am happy I could repay him.

"I do a lot of finishing, crossing after training. These are things I need to stick at and focus on. If I can get that right, I know what level I can play at."

Newport will look to build on the MK Dons triumph when they go to Bromley on Thursday, 26 December (15:00 GMT).

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Nelson Jardim hope there is "much more to come" from his Newport County side after they ended their six-game winless run in League Two with an emphatic 6-3 victory over MK Dons.

Hat-tricks from Bryn Morris and Bobby Kamwa earned the Exiles a seventh league win of the campaign - with Newport moving to within five points of the play-off places.

But Jardim feels his side can continue to grow in what is their first season under the Portuguese.

"We did have good wins but obviously you want to see games like that [against MK Dons]," said Jardim.

"The way I see football is what happened here today.

"We are still growing and trying to find our way but I hope there's much more to come and I'm sure there will be.

"We have to keep our feet on the ground and try to improve because I hope there's much more to come.

"I think we are doing well as a squad. I urge everyone to keep going and improve because football is ups and downs."

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Nelson Jardim dedicated Newport County's 6-3 win against MK Dons to his family after they attended the goal fest at Rodney Parade.

Bryn Morris and Bobby Kamwa both scored hat-tricks as the Exiles ended their run of six League Two matches without victory in style.

Jardim's wife, Ana, and children Francisco, eight, and Carolina, 12, all travelled from their native Portugal to watch the fixture against MK Dons in Newport.

"I would like to thank the players and the fans, they were brilliant," said Jardim.

"But I think they will understand if I dedicate this win entirely to my wife and my family, my two kids.

"They were here today, they deserved this win as well.

"The effort that I do here 24/7 working for this club but also them, especially my wife, dealing with the children alone in Portugal, so it's tough for everyone.

"So I think they deserve that, and I dedicate this win for them."

Victory sees Newport sit 16th in the table, just five points adrift of the League Two play-off places.

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Newport County return to Rodney Parade on Saturday hoping to draw a crowd and win a game.

County take on MK Dons having not played at home since the 0-0 draw with Grimsby Town on 16 November.

That was the first of four successive League Two draws for the Exiles, three of which were goalless stalemates.

It is part of a run that has seen Nelson Jardim's side win just one in 12 in all competitions.

But it is the three clean sheets from the last four games that is offering some hope for a team who, a month ago, had the worst defensive record in the division.

Having had little problem scoring, but plenty of issue keeping teams out, Newport have doubled their season shut-out tally over the past four games.

Becoming tough to beat is a positive for Jardim, who is keen to continue the consistency, but is aware that more is needed from a side 17th in the table.

"Some of the draws have been very good against sides doing well," said Jardim. "Any of those games could have gone either way; we are not too far away from winning but have to be wary we were also not too far to losing.

"But we need to stay consistent in our style and improving in the areas we are not quite there yet and know that down the road you will get your rewards."

Jardim says he has not sacrificed attacking ambition to tighten up at the back, adding: "You never try to do that, you look to work on areas to improve, but you try and progress as a whole.

"Overall, at the start of the season we were scoring a lot but also conceding a lot and that was down a little bit to me not knowing the players, and them not being used to me and the things we wanted to do.

"But this is a process that will have ups and downs - and hopefully we can be in a situation where we only look upwards."

Jardim says MK Dons – among the top scorers in the division and one place outside the play-offs – will be tough opposition, but added: "We have started to show some consistency and had points away at tough places. We can be proud of the way we are progressing but also know we need to do more."

The Portuguese hopes the long-awaited return home will help his side's cause.

"Rodney Parade is massive for us. The fans give us so much energy and are a massive factor in us reaching our objectives," he said.

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Iwan Roberts reckons Newport County are "not a million miles away" from climbing the League Two table, but says the Exiles must make better use of striker Kyle Hudlin.

Newport are 17th in the fourth tier ahead of Saturday's home game against MK Dons (15:00 GMT) after a six-game winless league run which has featured five draws.

This weekend will see a welcome return to Rodney Parade for the Exiles, who have played on their patch only once since 2 November.

"They have drawn five of the last six - they are not a million miles away," former Wales striker Roberts told this week's Feast of Football podcast.

"They are missing their best player in Aaron Wildig, who is not going to be available for the rest of the season [because of injury].

"I am a big admirer of the way Nelson Jardim wants his team to play. They are comfortable on the ball - they build from the back and keep the ball really well."

Roberts, who watched Newport's stalemate at Colchester last weekend, feels the issues for head coach Jardim are in attack.

"They get to the final third and there's just a lack of ideas and a lack of creativity," he added.

"One criticism is they don't use Kyle Hudlin's physicality as much as they should do. I think they should be dropping balls into his chest so he can control it and, if you have someone who's 6ft 9in, you have to put crosses in the box."

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Bobby Kamwa is looking forward to experiencing the Rodney roar once more this weekend after a month on the road.

The Exiles return home to face MK Dons on Saturday having not played on their own patch since 16 November.

A postponement, FA Cup exit and a run of away fixtures have starved the Amber Army of chances to see their side at home.

And former Leeds wideman Kamwa has also had injury issues, meaning he has only been on the Rodney Parade pitch for two hours in more than two months.

But after recovering from a hamstring problem to feature off the bench in last weekend's 0-0 draw at Colchester, Kamwa is raring to go in front of Newport's supporters once more.

"I know the fans have been waiting so hopefully we can put a good performance," said the 24-year-old.

"It's a very different experience, especially the way the ground is with the stands right next to pitch.

"I like it because you can really feel the fans and the atmosphere and it can really get you going.

"They're not afraid to let you know when you need a bit more urgency and sometimes you need that as players if you go to sleep - a bit of voice from the fans and you're back awake."

Kamwa has made 22 appearances for Nelson Jardim's side, scoring one goal so far - an impressive effort in the August home win over Doncaster.

But the summer arrival from Burton is targeting more from both himself and a County team who are currently 17th in League Two.

"I think there's more to come," he added. "We're getting to halfway of the season, we'd like to be higher up the table which is our aim.

"But we've still got a lot of time. The boys are gelling together well now. We've seen over the past few results we're a hard team to beat, so I think there's more to come.

"And hopefully I can influence the games more with goals and assists to help us get up the table."

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Newport County make a long-awaited return home this weekend hoping to deliver victories during the hectic festive fixture schedule.

Nelson Jardim's side host MK Dons on Saturday in what will be their first Rodney Parade outing since 16 November, when they drew 0-0 with Grimsby Town.

County have won four of eight League Two games on their own patch this season, with Jardim's men aiming to further improve that record as they take on the eighth-placed Dons.

Victory would be timely given that Newport have not won in six league games since their 2-0 success at Gillingham on 22 October.

That was their only triumph, in fact, in 12 games in all competitions since the 3-1 win over Salford City on 1 October.

It has not been all bad news for Newport, who have claimed creditable draws at Colchester United, AFC Wimbledon and Notts County in their last three league outings.

That sequence leaves Newport 17th heading into the Christmas period, nine points clear of the relegation zone.

But with MK Dons marking the start of a run of five league games in just over a fortnight, Newport will be keen for a couple of wins at least.

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Newport County's League Two fixture against Carlisle United at Rodney Parade has been rearranged for Tuesday, 11 February with a 19:45 GMT kick-off time.

The match was originally meant to take place on 7 December but was called off due to the impact of Storm Darragh, which saw most sporting events that Saturday fall to the adverse weather conditions.

Newport decided to postpone the fixture after consulting the Met Office, the English Football League (EFL) and the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), saying at the time: "The safety of travelling fans, staff, players, and officials is the top priority, and this is considered the best decision given the circumstances."

The club has said that all match tickets purchased for the game will remain valid for the rearranged date, while season tickets also remain valid.

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Nelson Jardim has been impressed with the consistency his Newport County side are now showing after they claimed a point at Colchester United.

The Exiles have drawn each of their past four League Two matches, three of which have been away from home, while they have kept clean sheets in three of those outings.

While Jardim feels his Newport side - who are without a win in six league games - are far from the finished article, the Portuguese feels the stalemate at Colchester will stand the club in good stead moving forward.

"It's always a good point away, especially after the terrible couple of weeks against tough teams and not having a home game in between to chase a little bit more," he said.

"It was a positive point and something good for us moving forward - the team is showing consistency.

"Not everything was how I wanted it and there is a lot to improve; I am not happy with some of the details but overall it was a fair result after our effort.

"We made a good start and created some goal-scoring chances but then towards the end of the half Colchester were in control, but the threat was more from corners and free-kicks rather than open play.

"The subs brought energy in the second half and we did create some chances, but then we lost some control by not keeping the ball.

"That is an aspect that we have to improve and I believe there will be a time when we feel really comfortable having the ball."

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Newport County hope their first win in eight games will come at Colchester United on Saturday - despite a pretty uninspiring record in that corner of south-east England.

County haven't won since their trip to Kent on 22 October, when goals from Kyle Hudlin and Matt Baker gave them an impressive 2-0 win at Gillingham in League Two.

They've since lost three games - including one in the FA Cup and one in the EFL Trophy - and drawn four.

And fans planning to follow the Exiles to Essex this weekend might travel more in hope than expectation given that modern-day County have only won once at Colchester in eight attempts.

That sole victory came in March 2021, goals from Joss Labadie and Padraig Amond giving Mike Flynn's Newport a 2-0 win to complete the double over The U's.

All of Newport's other trips to Colchester since 2016-17 have resulted in draws or losses, including a 2-1 defeat in March during the eight-match losing run that brought the 2023-24 campaign to a dismal end.

But Newport will be encouraged by performances in recent games, especially coming back from 2-0 down to earn a point at AFC Wimbledon on 3 December.

County have drawn their last three League Two matches, all of which have been against opponents who are currently in the top nine of the table.

Newport return to action at Colchester after Saturday's game with Carlisle United at Rodney Parade was postponed due to concerns over Storm Darragh.

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Midfielder Kieron Evans says he is encouraged that Cardiff City boss Omer Riza has been in touch during his loan spell at Newport County.

Evans is on a season-long loan at Rodney Parade after signing a new one-year deal with the Bluebirds in the summer.

The 22-year-old has made 10 League Two starts for County, and Riza - now Cardiff's permanent manager until the end of the season - has been keeping tabs on him.

"I've spoken to Omer, he's been in contact a few times," said Evans.

"I had a good relationship with him anyway when I was at Cardiff. It's nice to hear him asking me how I'm doing and stuff like that.

"He's a good bloke, keeping an eye on me to see how I'm doing."

Brithdir-product Evans played on loan at National League outfit Gateshead last season, having previously had a spell at Torquay United. He has five league appearances to his name for the Bluebirds.

He made a second-half substitute's appearance in Cardiff's 2-0 Carabao Cup first-round win over Bristol Rovers in August.

He says it is too early to predict where he will be playing his football next season.

"I signed a new deal at Cardiff at the start of the season. I've got to be respectful of Cardiff," he said.

"All I'm focussing now is playing as many games as I can for Newport, and we'll see what happens at the end of the season."

Evans, usually a wide midfielder, has been playing in a deeper role for County in the past couple of games, in the absence of injured co-captain Aaron Wildig.

"The gaffer has put me as like a [number] six, which I'm happy to do for the team," said Evans.

"I've not played there much before. I've played more like a number 10 if anything, but I can play deep.

"I wish I could get forward a bit more, but I don't really mind it."

Luca Muzzupappa
BBC Sport Wales

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Shane McLoughlin says momentum is on Newport County's side after their last-gasp draw at AFC Wimbledon.

McLoughlin captained the Exiles to a 2-2 comeback draw at Wimbledon in midweek, scoring a penalty in added time to ensure the points were shared.

Defender McLoughlin says he relished the chance to salvage a point for his team, despite Newport's recent spot-kick troubles.

Bryn Morris and Kyle Hudlin have both missed penalties this season, in home stalemates against Fleetwood Town and Grimsby Town.

"I was looking forward to it," McLoughlin said.

"We've missed a few this season so I said I was going to go next. I was confident I was going to put it away."

Newport have drawn their last three League Two matches, all of which have been against opponents who are currently in the top eight of the table.

The Exiles sit 16th, but McLoughlin feels they can kick on from here.

"We're all together, all pushing in the same direction," he added.

"We feel like we need to keep getting stronger every week. In this league, if you can put some results together you don't know where it can take you. We're hoping to keep looking up and keep going up."

Newport return to action at Colchester United on Saturday, 14 December after today's League Two contest with Carlisle United at Rodney Parade was postponed due to concerns over Storm Darragh.