Newport County

Rob Phillips
BBC Wales Football Correspondent

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

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 ed 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 its 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 gs 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 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 and the whole squad's ," Jardim said of the goalkeeper.

"It's a strong dressing room and we're all ive. 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 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 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, ed 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 its 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."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

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.

Image source, PA Media

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.