Newport County

Ethan Latham
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Head coach Nelson Jardim says Newport County must produce a response when they travel to Gillingham on Tuesday.

The Exiles suffered a painful 3-0 loss to Chesterfield at Rodney Parade last Friday, their third successive defeat.

It is now 24 goals conceded in 12 league games this season for Newport, who are 15th in League Two and have the joint worst defensive record in the division.

Jardim has highlighted the importance of responding after Chesterfield when his side face Gillingham.

"We need a response. We knew this month would be difficult, we've played tough opposition but the boys have shown character," he said.

"Gillingham will be a huge challenge. We need to do better away from home - I know that.

"When we’ve needed to bounce back we’ve found a way, and that’s what we need to do again."

Gillingham are sixth in the table despite being in poor form themselves, having suffered a fourth straight defeat at Bradford City over the weekend.

Jardim says Newport can take some confidence from an improved second-half performance against Chesterfield.

"We showed character and intensity," he said.

"If we take that into Tuesday, I’m confident that we will compete."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County have been told they will have “no problems” turning around their form – by the manager that inflicted a third straight league defeat on the Exiles.

County suffered in front of their own fans on Friday night as they went down 3-0 to Chesterfield at Rodney Parade.

The result saw supporters boo at the full-time whistle as Nelson Jardim’s side made it three losses in a row following defeats at Bradford and Harrogate.

But Chesterfield boss Paul Cook says he has sympathy for Jardim’s side after the game was won through a 42-second defensive shocker and two late goals.

“Newport are going through one of those spells, unfortunately for them, where when things go wrong they go wrong. We’ve all been there,” Cook told Chesterfield’s club media.

“They started so aggressively on the front foot and they continued that for the full game, it was never ever a 3-0 scoreline and Newport will feel really hard done by.

“It looks like it’s been a convincing win and it was never that; Newport were excellent for long periods and the goals late on took the game away from them.

“We were up against it for long periods. If they play like that they’ll have no problems winning football games.”

Newport face Gillingham on Tuesday and Jardim will be hoping for a little more luck next time out.

The Portuguese was among those at Rodney Parade who believed Kyle Hudlin’s cross was carried over his own line by Spireites goalkeeper Max Thompson with the score still at 1-0.

But Chesterfield assistant boss Danny Webb said: “Whether the ball crossed the line or not, I couldn’t give a monkey’s. You can’t moan about that; referees have a difficult job, and things should even themselves out over the season.”

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Newport County will keep their fingers crossed over the fitness of Noah Mawene after the Preston youngster was forced off in their defeat to Chesterfield.

The on-loan midfielder came off the bench 60 minutes into the 3-0 loss on Friday night - but only lasted eight minutes after pulling up after chasing a ball.

Head coach Nelson Jardim did not specify what the issue was with the 19-year-old, but said: “We will have to assess. I don’t know how bad it is, I don’t think it’s a big problem.

“He’s been a little bit fatigued. This level is a bit different for him to the experience he’s had before at under 21s with the intensity, he’s been doing well for us but we’ll assess and go from there.”

The game marked the return of Kai Whitmore, the midfielder coming off the bench in the second half for his first appearance since August following a calf injury.

The former Haverfordwest midfielder caught the eye with his cameo, and Jardim added: “Kai came back well and hopefully he can continue to improve his fitness because he’s a player we need at the moment.”

Meanwhile Jardim confirmed defender Matt Baker was rested for the game after his involvement with Wales Under 21s, adding: “He came back late and a bit tired and fatigued so the option was to give him a rest because the games and minutes are piling on and we have to be clever in the way we manage the players.”

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Nelson Jardim says he is prepared to shield his players from criticism over their defending – despite their latest problems at the back.

Chesterfield’s 3-0 win at Rodney Parade left County with the worst defensive record in League Two ahead of the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

It is now 24 goals conceded in 12 league games under the Portuguese, with basics an issue in the defeat to Paul Cook’s side - starting with a mix-up between Kyle Jameson and keeper Nick Townsend which lead to the opener after just 42 seconds.

And with Will Grigg allowed to score too easily for a late brace to seal the win for the visitors, Jardim admitted his side “lost focus” and did not defend the mistakes.

“It was not a good start, it set the tone and we lost a little bit of confidence and didn’t find the right spaces and right pass,” Jardim said. “Half-time we made the right changes and you could see the improvement straight away, but that start was just unlucky I guess.

“We are working hard every day to make sure we are more consistent, the basics. In terms of positioning I think we were there, we just didn’t deal with the basics right at times. It’s disappointing but we have to bounce back and Tuesday [against Gillingham] is the day.

Asked whether players should take more responsibility for the errors, Jardim said: “They always take their responsibility in the dressing room and on the training ground, they do that, they are big men, they take it. But I will take the blame that I have to and try to help them as best as I can.

“We’ve started the season by changing the shape, by looking at the players we have available, but now is not the time to think about that, it’s a moment to assess and watch the game again, move forward and decide what’s best for everyone.”

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Newport County full-back Cameron Evans is the winner of the EFL League Two Goal of the Month for September.

The 23-year-old opened the scoring in Newport's 2-1 home win over Crewe Alexandra on 28 September, a result that ended a run of three straight league defeats.

The ball was shifted quickly from the left wing and diagonally across the pitch before Evans angled in an unstoppable rising piledriver, finishing off a flowing Newport move in style.

Evans said: “I was just happy just to be nominated to be honest. My first month back in full-time football, and to get my first goal and Goal of the Month too, I’m just buzzing.

“We were on a counter-attack and I pushed up as a right-back, got to the edge of the box, Cam [Antwi] played it to me, a nice assist and I just thought, 'I’ll hit this', looked up and it was in the top corner.

“The main thing was getting the three points, we won 2-1 against Crewe who are a very good side and will be up there, so it was a really important three points.”

Evans beat off competition from Notts County’s David McGoldrick, Barrow’s Gerard Garner and Grimsby Town’s Charles Vernam.

Lead judge Don Goodman said: “Evans still had plenty to do when the ball was shifted over to him just outside the area, but his finish was emphatic and left the goalkeeper with no chance.

“Newport came into this game on the back of three straight defeats, and it can’t be underestimated how much confidence a strike like this can give a team who were desperate for a win, especially at home.”

The news is a boost to both Evans and Newport ahead of Friday night's home League Two game against a Chesterfield side just a place above the Exiles in 12th courtesy of goal difference.

Rob Phillips
BBC Wales Football Correspondent

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Newport County’s testing injury list is beginning to relent and manager Nelson Jardim could not be happier.

After Friday's home game against Chesterfield, Newport face a run of five League Two games and a daunting FA Cup home tie with League One Peterborough.

“It’s ruthless and a relentless league and we need almost two squads to be competitive in every game in this period," said Jardim.

"We knew October we had these fixtures with a cup game coming, it's going to be busy, we need all of them they know that.”

With goalkeeper Nick Townsend and Wales under-21 defender Matt Baker set to return from international duty to face the Spireites, Jardim also has left sided defender Anthony Glennon available again after suspension.

An added bonus is the return to first team reckoning of former Haverfordwest and Penybont midfielder Kai Whitmore, who has been sidelined since August with a calf injury after a promising opening to the campaign.

Jamie Miley is close to returning after a hernia operation, having had just one Football League Trophy outing against Cheltenham since he joined on loan from Newcastle United in the summer.

And adventurous defender Shane McLoughlin is edging closer to fitness having been ruled out with a knee injury sustained in the home defeat by Port Vale, on September 7.

Hamzad Kargbo, who needed shoulder surgery after a short cameo appearance as a substitute in the season opener at Cheltenham, is also a few weeks away.

Jardim is now faced with selection dilemmas, particularly in the defensive ranks.

Chesterfield are unbeaten in their last five league encounters, drawing four of those, but the one win in that sequence was a 3-0 victory at Doncaster Rovers.

In fact they have lost just one of their last eight league and cup encounters.

But they will be without former Newport player Tom Naylor, who is suspended after collecting five bookings. Naylor made 40 appearances on loan at Newport from Derby in the Exiles’ first season back in the Football League.

He has started every League Two game for last season’s National League champions this season.

Jardim said: “Chesterfield are a strong, strong club pushing for promotion. They have started very well, they have a good squad, a good drilled team.”

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Rodney Parade has so far been home, sweet home for Newport County this season.

But head coach Nelson Jardim admits the poor away form has turned up the pressure to perform in front of their own fans.

Newport go into Friday’s League Two encounter with Chesterfield, lying 13th in the table, one place behind the visitors on goal difference.

But only three of Newport’s tally of 15 points so far have come on the road – a 1-0 win at Morecambe.

Indeed, Newport have lost their other five league games on their travels.

By contrast, they have won four of their five league matches at Rodney Parade, losing to current table toppers Port Vale in the other.

Jardim does not deny the effects of the disparity in the form and realises the poor return from away games places a big onus on his squad to cash in on home comforts.

“It definitely adds to the pressure. I am not going to hide that, it is true. Winning away is a bonus, but we know also it is difficult,” said Jardim.

But he believes the points haul from away games will increase the more his squad gel together, after Newport made 17 recruits during the summer transfer window.

Jardim felt his side deserved more from the last two defeats – a 3-1 reverse at Bradford and last Saturday’s 1-0 loss away to Harrogate.

Jardim said: “Football is so complex, you can not only speak about one thing there are a lot of things that contribute to whether you play well or not. Every team has this home factor which is an element when you play away.

“There are other things, but the fans are definitely a factor.

“I can only control what I can control and what the boys can do. I am sure there will be a point where we will be playing well and doing well away as well.”

And as Newport look to strengthen their home fortress on Friday night (20:00 BST) with a victory which would help them stay within touching distance of the play-offs, Jardim believes his squad is making progress.

Newport drafted in 17 signings during the summer as the Huw Jenkins era of ownership kicked in with a flourish. They have also suffered damaging injuries in the opening two blocks of the campaign.

Jardim said: “With all these changes and all what happened I think I would have taken this and everyone would taken what we have done so far at the beginning of the season.

"So we can only be proud of what we have been doing so far and we can only be positive going forward."

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Newport goalkeeper Nick Townsend will be hoping for no repeat of his recent experiences on international duty with Antigua and Barbuda when he returns to his club.

Antigua and Barbuda conceded 10 goals over two games with Townsend in goal, 5-0 in each in back-to-back Concacaf Nations League encounters with Dominican Republic.

In his absence, Newport lost 1-0 at Harrogate Town last Saturday after which Nelson Jardim and his squad rallied around Townsend's stand-in Jacob Carney following his fumble that led to the hosts' winner.

One website rated Townsend as Antigua and Barbuda's best player in their home defeat on the same day. On Wednesday, Townsend and his team-mates suffered the same fate in the away encounter.

Newport host Chesterfield on Friday night at Rodney Parade (20:00 BST) and whoever is in goal, Exiles fans will be hoping for a change of fortune.

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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."