Preview: Newport County v Barrow

18 September 2020

Do your homework ahead of Saturday by checking out our full and in-depth preview of the trip to Rodney Parade.

Newport County v Barrow
Saturday 19^th September 2020, 3pm
Rodney Parade
Sky Bet League Two

In Opposition
Having staved off relegation in dramatic fashion on the final day of 2016/17, Newport County have built on that ‘great escape’ by more firmly establishing themselves in League Two.

They finished in the top half the following season and then went on to make the play-offs in 2018/19, only to suffer an agonising extra-time defeat to Tranmere Rovers in the Final at Wembley.

Although they were struggling for consistency when last season was brought to a premature close, County have made a solid enough start to 2020/21.

Having beaten Swansea City in the First Round of the Carabao Cup, they picked up a creditable point at Scunthorpe United in their first League Two outing last weekend before enjoying more cup success when they secured a place in Round Three by defeating Cambridge United in midweek.

Head To Head
Saturday’s fixture will be just the seventh competitive meeting between the two clubs and the first since they shared the National League in 2012/13.

On that occasion both games went with the away side, as County ran out 3-0 winners in Cumbria in September 2012 before The Bluebirds won 2-0 at Rodney Parade the following January thanks to goals from Matthew Flynn and Danny Rowe.

Barrow have the slight edge historically having won three of the previous six encounters so they will be hoping to build on that record in South Wales this weekend.

One To Watch
Front man Padraig Amond has been Newport County’s top scorer in each of his three season as the Club since joining from Hartlepool United at the start of 2017/18.

The Irishman has hit the net an impressive 51 times in 159 outings for The Exiles and, while he hasn’t opened his account so far this term, he will definitely be one to watch on Saturday.

Amond is a renowned finisher, capable of scoring all kinds of goals with his feet and his head, whilst he also has the awareness to create for those around him – he needs keeping quiet this weekend.

Team News
David Dunn will run the rule over the players who missed last weekend’s League Two opener through injury, while front man Scott Quigley serves the last of his three-game suspension.

Exiles boss Michael Flynn also has good options at his fingertips ahead of the weekend but won’t be able to call upon defender David Longe-King who remains sidelined.

Referee
Robert Lewis will be the man in the middle for this week’s encounter at Rodney Parade as the experienced whistler takes charge of his first Barrow game in over a decade.

The last time he saw The Bluebirds in action was when he presided over a 2-1 FA Cup win against Eastleigh in November 2009, whilst he also saw us draw 1-1 at Wrexham in the National League seven months earlier.

This weekend will be Lewis’ first outing of the 2020/21 campaign.

Betting
Newport have been installed as 6/5 favourites for three points but you can back The Bluebirds at 11/5, whilst the draw is priced up at 9/4 with Sky Bet.

Click here now to take a look at Sky Bet’s range of odds on Saturday’s action.

Live Streaming
Match Passes to watch Saturday’s game live on iFollow Bluebirds are now available – fans are reminded that Season Ticket holders do not get free access to away games.

You can buy a Match Pass to watch the action now priced at £10, while oversea supporters pay £7.

Click here now to buy your Match Pass for Saturday.

Live Commentary
We will also provide an audio commentary of Saturday’s game when we link up with BBC Radio Cumbria who will describe all the action as it unfolds.

You can purchase an Audio Match Pass for £2.50, an Audio Monthly Pass for £4.49 or sign-up for Audio Season Pass which provides all live commentary and video news for just £45.

Click here now to subscribe to iFollow Bluebirds.

Match Reports

Bluebirds Beaten At Newport

19 September 2020

A photo of Dior Angus — Dior Angus in action for Barrow

Barrow were narrowly beaten in South Wales as Newport County claimed all the points from a scrappy encounter at Rodney Parade on Saturday.

In a game punctuated by a collection of niggly fouls and stoppages, The Exiles clung on to the win handed to them by Ryan Taylor’s clinical finish just after half-time.

David Dunn opted to make one change to his starting line-up, drafting in Luke James to partner Dior Angus in attack – Jack Hindle had to be content with a place on the bench.

It was Newport who started the brighter and they set about dominating possession in the opening ten minutes, though Scott Twine’s curling free-kick just wide of the upright was all they mustered in terms of efforts on goal.

The Bluebirds began to settle as time wore on and Brad Barry got away brilliantly down the right after exchanging passes with Tom Beadling but Dior Angus couldn’t quite apply the finishing touch in the middle and the chance was gone.

The deadlock was broken on 19 minutes when the dangerous Ryan Haynes whipped a cross in from the left which Barrow couldn’t deal with and, when it was laid back for Liam Shephard, he drilled it low in to the bottom left corner of the net.

Barrow could have been back on level terms within a couple of minutes when Angus bullied his way in to possession on the edge of the Newport box to feed Luke James; he teed up Tom Beadling whose deflected shot was parried away by keeper Nick Townsend.

It was all square on 28 minutes though. A lovely move down the right from Barrow saw James pick up the ball on the right corner of the box and he laid it back to Lewis Hardcastle and the skipper whipped a venomous strike beyond Townsend and in to the corner of the net for 1-1.

The Bluebirds almost stole in front on the stroke of half time when more enterprising work from Barry down the right opened a door for Angus; the front man collected the ball on the right edge of the box before swivelling brilliantly to let fly with a curling effort which just beat the bar.

County restored their lead just three minutes in to the second half – but they were given a big helping hand. Sam Hird received the ball under pressure and his pass was intercepted by Ryan Taylor on the edge of the box and the front man finished clinically to make it 2-1.

The second half descended in to a scrappy affair, with both sides giving away needless fouls and hosts managing proceedings well by playing for time on occasions.

Dunn’s men were struggling to find the dangerous areas as much as they had during the first half and it was the home team who continued to look the more likely to trouble the scorers further – though Dixon’s goal was rarely under enormous threat.

Appeals for a Barrow penalty were waved away when Hindle took a tumble moments after his introduction as a substitute, as Dunn made changes to try and find a way back in to the game.

However, County held on to their advantage to claim the three points and their third home victory already in the new campaign.

Full Time: Newport County 2 Barrow 1

Newport County: Townsend, Haynes, Howkins, Cooper, Willmott, Sheehan, Twine (Labadie 86), Janneh, Demetriou, Taylor (Abrahams 76), Shephard (Baker 86).
Subs not used: King, Amond, Bennett, Collins.

Booked: Howkins, Abrahams.

Barrow: Dixon, Barry, J Jones, Hird (Gribbin 67), Nlthe (Wilson 22), Brown, Beadling, Hardcastle, M Jones, James, Angus.
Subs not used: Lillis, Taylor, Biggins, Hindle.

Booked: M Jones, Brown, J Jones.

Attendance: Behind Closed Doors

Referee: Robert Lewis