Following back-to-back wins and ahead of a euphoric FA Cup clash with Manchester United, Newport County turn their attention to their home fixture against promotion-chasing Wrexham this weekend.
Graham Coughlan’s men will be full of confidence following a professional performance at Eastleigh but will need to ensure they keep their feet on the ground ahead of next week’s fixture.
The gaffer made several changes for Tuesday’s game, with Harry Charsley, Aaron Wildig and Seb Palmer-Houlden all returning to the team after being rested against Doncaster. All three men will be hoping to retain their place in the starting XI ahead of what will be a very tough fixture.
The Exiles were handed a boost with the return of Kyle Jameson on the bench in mid-week, and the defender will be hoping to get some minutes in his legs on Saturday afternoon. Coughlan has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the game.
Opposition Form
Wrexham arrive in South Wales on a strong run of form. Phil Parkinson’s men have lost just two of their last 17 matches and have had a very strong start to 2024.
The Reds are unbeaten in January, securing key wins against fellow promotion hopefuls Barrow and Wimbledon, as well as an FA Cup victory over League One Shrewsbury. The club are firing on all cylinders once again after a slip away at Walsall in late December.
Steve Fletcher has been paramount to their recent form, with the striker scoring four times in his last two league games, including a hat-trick against Barrow. Elliott Lee and James McClean have also been in excellent form and will no doubt be a threat on Saturday afternoon.
Phil Parkinson’s team will have been given a boost by the return of Ollie Palmer last weekend. The former Wimbledon man came off the bench against his former team in the 89th minute following a couple of months on the sidelines.
Wrexham will be without Jacob Mendy, who is currently on international duty with The Gambia in AFCON.
Last Time Out
Our last game with Wrexham did place a little under a month ago. We travelled to the Racecourse on December 23rd, backed by a sell-out away end looking to put a halt to Wrexham’s good home form.
Unfortunately, despite a strong first half where several chances were created, Wrexham managed to finally break through our defence in the second half, with goals from James Jones and Elliott Lee being the difference makers.
Head to Head
Clashes between Newport and Wrexham are often extremely intense affairs, and over the years, we have met them in a number of different competitions. Our current record, when factoring in our time in non-league together, clashes in the Welsh and FA Cups, and our league games, is 15 wins from 44 games, with Wrexham winning 19 and 16 ending in a draw.
Our last league encounter at Rodney Parade was back in 2012, with the game ending in a 1-1 draw as we both chased promotion from the National League. The last time Wrexham visited Rodney Parade was in the FA Cup, with goals from Padraig Amond, Jamille Matt, Dan Butler, and an own goal securing a dominant 4-0 win for us.
Played for Both
One former Exile who will line up against us on Saturday afternoon is Ben Tozer. The imposing centre-back spent two years in South Wales, making 62 appearances before signing for Cheltenham and helping them secure promotion to League One.
He has played a key role in Wrexham’s rise over the last two seasons, with his long throws being a key weapon in their arsenal.
Aaron Hayden is another former exile in the Wrexham squad. The defender has been injured since early December and is not set to return this weekend. Other players who have played in both North and South Wales include Scott Boden and Jazzi Barnum-Bobb.
Match Sponsorship
This weekend's match sponsor is Cardiff Classic Shirts. Cardiff Classic Shirts' logo is proudly displayed on the rear of our third shirt.
Cardiff Classic Shirts is Wales' 1st Dedicated Vintage Football & Rugby Shirt Shop! Located in Cardiff at the Pumping Station, CF11 8TT.
Find out more HERE.
Matchball Sponsorship
This weekend' matchball sponsor is Best Blinds. Best Blinds are on our home shirt sleeve and are joining us for this weekend's much anticipated tie with Wrexham as official Matchball sponsor!
Best Blinds are a professional family run business that prides itself on supplying the best and widest selection of blinds availabe, from contemporary interiors to more traditional homes and every style in between.
Find out more HERE.