Newport County

Image source, Getty Images

Following significant upheaval at the club over the summer, Nelson Jardim will be more than pleased - while there have been both ups and downs - with his start to life as Newport County boss.

The Exiles sit 14th in League Two after 14 games, three points adrift of the play-off places and 11 clear of the relegation zone.

That is 19 points for Jardim who took control in July. But how does his start as Newport boss compare to his predecessors in the Rodney Parade dugout?

Jardim's record in the league so far consists of six wins, one draw and seven defeats.

Graham Coughlan - the man Jardim replaced as boss - managed five wins, six draws and just three defeats to gain 21 points from his first 14 league matches, two more than Jardim.

James Rowberry had the best start when it comes to recent managers. He gained 27 points courtesy of winning eight games and drawing three of his first 14 league outings as head coach.

Even in the midst of a seemingly fatal relegation battle, Michael Flynn gained 24 points (two of which came after being appointed permanently) to steer the club to safety in the most remarkable fashion.

The record in the years prior to that were uninspiring to say the least.

Graham Westley picked up just 10 points from his first 14 league games, with 10 defeats during that period.

Warren Feeney oversaw a far healthier return of 21 points consisting of six wins, three draws and five losses from his first 14 league games.

John Sheridan left for Oldham Athletic having coincidentally managed exactly 14 league games at Newport - winning just three, drawing six and losing five to pick up 15 points.

As for Terry Butcher, he did not even last 14 League Two games in south Wales.

The former England international was sacked after 10 league matches with a record of just one win, two draws and seven defeats, giving Newport just five points.

So all in all, Jardim's return is certainly healthy when compared to those who have held the post before him.

The Portuguese - along with club chairman Huw Jenkins - will understandably point to the fact that the current new-look squad is continuing to gel while it is also loaded with players in the earlier stages of their professional careers.

And as he closes in on the one-year mark of his tenure as chairman at Rodney Parade, Jenkins can be fairly satisfied with the current trajectory of the club.

Image source, Newport County

Newport County have appointed Rob Thomas as the club’s new head of goalkeeping.

Thomas served as National Goalkeeper Coach Education Coordinator at the Football Association of Wales (FAW) Trust for the past 15 years.

He will now form part of Nelson Jardim's backroom team at Rodney Parade - replacing previous goalkeeping coach Jim Hollman who recently left the club by mutual consent after six years.

A club statement read: "Newport County would like to extend its gratitude to Jim for his contribution over the years and wish him all the best in his future endeavours."

Thomas has spent the past two seasons at Cymru Premier side Haverfordwest County.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Nelson Jardim hopes Newport County will benefit from a midweek without league action in their FA Cup tie with Peterborough United.

The Exiles have played six League Two matches in October prior to their first round encounter with Darren Ferguson's side at Rodney Parade on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

And Jardim hopes his squad can use the additional recovery period and training ground time to deliver a strong performance against League One Posh.

"The cup game is a massive challenge for us. That’s something we are looking forward to," said Jardim.

"This week we will give a little bit more rest to the players who have been playing week in, week out.

"We have a little bit more time to prepare for the game which is a massive one for us.

"We will be looking to prepare for the game very well and make the players feel this is even more important than a league game."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Nelson Jardim reckons his “growing” Newport County side can be reasonably happy with the start they have made to the League Two season.

Newport are 14th in the table after 14 league games under Jardim, who is in his first season as an EFL boss having succeeded Graham Coughlan.

The Exiles are just three points outside the play-off places and 11 clear of the relegation zone.

“We have played 14 games now, not even a third of the competition, and we have 19 points,” said head coach Jardim.

“I think we are doing fairly well. We have to keep pushing and being positive, knowing that this league is very difficult.

“We have to remain calm and adjust what we need to adjust each week to make sure we are competitive.”

Newport’s defensive record has been a concern in the early days of the Jardim era, with 24 goals conceded in his first 12 league games.

But the Portuguese feels his team have shown signs of progress after successive clean sheets, with Saturday’s goalless draw against Fleetwood coming on the back of a 2-0 win at Gillingham.

“We have to take the positives which is back-to-back games without conceding goals,” Jardim added.

“That shows the team is growing, being more competitive and hard to beat. That’s something we are looking for and will give us a foundation for the future.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

After a confidence-boosting win on the road, Newport County return to Rodney Parade looking to make up for their dismal show at home last time out.

Head coach Nelson Jardim says his squad will be looking to atone for their poor performance in the 3-0 defeat at home to Chesterfield as they take on Fleetwood Town on Saturday.

The loss to the Spireites contributed to a dismal run of three consecutive reverses for the Exiles.

But Newport ended that sequence last Tuesday when they won 2-0 at Gillingham.

Jardim said: “That was one of those games that can only give you confidence in the way you are working and the way the boys are performing.

"It was a very positive win but we must carry on what we are doing and what we are believing in.”

And he admitted the visit of Fleetwood, just a place behind Newport in the League Two table in 14th, would be a chance to banish the fans’ memories of the last home game.

He said: “The fans have been great to us. It is always disappointing when we don’t win, but as a coach I can’t promise we will win every game. But I can promise everyone in the club is doing their best every day.”

Newport were trailing within the first minute against Chesterfield but will be buoyed by their midweek result as they take on a Fleetwood side managed by former Scotland and Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam.

The Lancashire club are currently a place behind Newport standing 14th in the League Two table having lost their last two games.

But they have proven adept on their travels, collecting 10 of their 16 points on the road with three wins and a draw.

Newport have been assessing midfielder Bryn Morris who was taken off at half-time at Gillingham with a knock and Jardim believes that precautionary measure will pay off.

He said: “Sometimes you have to make big decisions and when you are winning 2-0 at half-time, we knew that second half was going to be tough.

“We cannot afford to lose a player like Bryn as well, so you have to take a good decision. It has proven it was a good decision, we have saved the player and managed to win the game.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County head coach Nelson Jardim would be keen for Kyle Hudlin to extend his current loan with the League Two club.

And the in-form giant Huddersfield Town striker would be “open” to the idea of remaining with the Exiles for the rest of the season.

The 6’9” forward joined on loan from League One Huddersfield in August, following an injury to Hamza Kargbo, who is still working his way back to fitness.

But Jardim is impressed by what he has seen of Hudlin.

“I have spoken about the character and everything, he is definitely one of the players we are lucky to have around and he is one of them I would like to keep," he said.

“If that was only my decision I would definitely want him and he has proven why.”

Hudlin, one of the tallest footballers in the world, has hit three goals in his last five Newport appearances including a well taken strike in Tuesday's 2-0 win at Gillingham.

Just over a year ago, the former student had a contract extension with Huddersfield to keep him with the Yorkshire club until 2026.

But if the Exiles were to push for a loan deal beyond January, they player would give it serious consideration.

"I am very open to it," said Hudlin.

“It’s all about analysing what pops up in January, what Huddersfield want and obviously what works for both parties. But so far I am really enjoying my football, I really like the staff and the players.

“It’s just about keeping my head down seeing how far I can take it up until the deadline and then we will re-evaluate from there.”

During the summer, Newport chairman Huw Jenkins instigated an overhaul of the Exiles' playing staff and brought in 17 players. All bar one, like Hudlin, aged 24 or under.

A clutch of loan players were included in that number by Jenkins, who will have the final say on whether to push for a longer loan stay for the former Solihull Moors forward.

Jardim admitted: “To be fair I don’t do my days thinking about what type of agreements they have.

“I go through days trying to find ways to improve players and making them feel they are well treated, getting what they need and the reasons why they came here.

“I am sure they are happy, that is the feedback I am having not only from these players but also from the clubs.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Matt Baker admitted it felt “weird” to score against the club which nurtured his early steps in professional football.

But the defender, 21, seems to relish returning back to his home in the garden of England.

Baker’s clinical strike put Newport on their way to Tuesday’s fine 2-0 League Two win at Gillingham, where the Wales Under-21 cap spent 10 years as a youngster.

The former Stoke player said: “It was a good feeling, it's my old club so a weird feeling to score.

“But to go one up and take the second with Kyle Hudlin’s goal and stick in the game until the final whistle, I thought we did really well.”

Baker, who had two loan spells at Newport before joining permanently in June, was on the Gillingham books from 2011 to 2021. He paid tribute to the upbringing he had with Kent’s only Football League club.

“I think the 10 years I was here I really enjoyed it. The staff who coached me and the players I met here made me the player who I am today. I am only grateful for what the Gills have done for me," he added.

He certainly enjoys returning. Baker has now played for Newport three times at the Priestfield Stadium – and has returned to Wales with a victory every time.

Baker’s fierce, rising shot from a Bobby Kamwa free-kick was the versatile defender’s third goal of the campaign, but his roots meant a dilemma when the ball had gone in the net.

Asked if he celebrated, Baker said: “I was in between celebrating and not celebrating. I have a lot of respect for the club, but I am a Newport player at the end of the day, so to score it’s hard not to celebrate.”

The goal and victory improved a mixed couple of weeks for Baker, who qualifies for Wales through his mother who was born in Narberth.

He was part of the Wales Under-21 squad whose hopes of making their first tournament finals were undone by defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic.

The 2-1 defeat was also hampered by an administrative error by the Football Association of Wales which ensured Matty Jones' side did not have a clutch of players available to them for the key qualifier.

Because of international duty head coach Nelson Jardim opted to side line Baker, who watched as Newport crashed 3-0 at home to Chesterfield last Friday.

“It's been a busy few weeks, disappointing with the under-21s, but to come back in straight away after Friday, you have to be straight at it and I think myself and the whole team, fought really hard for that win (at Gillingham).”

Baker, who can also play in midfield, has now moved up to second in the Newport goal scoring charts having netted three league goals.

He is now on a par with Huddersfield loanee Kyle Hudlin - who also netted against Gillingham - and is one behind skipper Aaron Wildig.

“The first two seasons I did not have one goal," Baker said.

"I said to myself I need to get on the score sheet more. Now three goals in eight league games this season is good going. I want to keep it up and keep scoring for the team.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County head coach Nelson Jardim has called for patience to be shown to his young team believing they have further improvements in them.

The Exiles ended a three game League Two losing run with a 2-0 win at Gillingham on Tuesday night.

And Jardim declared: “This was about the team, these boys have been brilliant every day at the training ground.

“It's not easy to go through a spell of three defeats, but that is where you show the type of person you are and the character you have.

“I can assure everyone at the club – and the fans – stick with us, be a little bit more patient, because we can only get better.”

The Newport triumph was only their second on the road in the league this season, following a 1-0 win at Morecambe on August 31.

A doughty defensive display – after first half goals from Wales under-21 defender Matt Baker and giant striker Kyle Hudlin - also earned Newport just their second league clean sheet of the campaign.

Going into the match Newport had the joint-worst defensive record in League Two, having conceded 24 goals. But that dubious honour is now held by Carlisle, who have leaked 27 goals.

Jardim cited errors which cost Newport in their run of three defeats, at Bradford, Harrogate and in last Friday's 3-0 reverse against visitors Chesterfield.

The Newport boss said: “You expect them (mistakes) to happen during the season. Sometimes they all happening at the same period and I think that is what was happening (to us).

“The clean sheet is massive for us and can actually give us confidence that we are good when it comes to defending.”

Newport signed 17 players during the summer transfer window, every one of them bar Courtney Baker-Richardson the age of 24 or under.

Newcastle loanee Jamie Miley made his league bow at Gillingham and Jardim thinks some of the players are still adapting the physical rigours of League Two.

Jardim said: “We have to build that type of match fitness in the squad. All the boys who are used to playing at this level do not need that, but these young boys need a bit of extra care.”

Newport continued their remarkable run at the Priestfield Stadium where they have won on their last three league visits, consigning Gillingham to a fifth consecutive defeat.

But with Newport having ended their poor run, with injured players still to return, the Exiles are currently 13th in the table, just three points outside the play-offs and 10 points clear of the bottom two.

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.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

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.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

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.”

Image source, EFL

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

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 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.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

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."

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

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.