Newport County will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in the league as they travel to Chesterfield on Saturday afternoon (3pm).
After a comfortable 3-1 win over Gillingham on Tuesday night, the Exiles will be looking to build momentum with another win as they head to the SMH Group Stadium.
Pre-Match Views
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's game, Nelson Jardim said: “The mood in the camp is really positive after the win in midweek. But the most important thing is the performance. Going into every game, we want to perform well.
“This week, the message has been about consistency. The challenge for this team now is to maintain that consistency.
"It’s going to be another tough game. We know how tough it is to play away from home, especially with a young squad.”
Opposition Form
Chesterfield have made a solid return to the Football League following their promotion from the National League last summer. Currently sitting in 16th place with 42 points from 33 games, the Spireites have had a steady campaign.
However, Paul Cook’s side has hit a rough patch recently, losing four consecutive games. Despite their struggles, Chesterfield remains a dangerous opponent for the Exiles.
The Spireites boast an impressive attacking record, ranking fourth in goals per game (1.5), fifth in shots on target per game (4.2), and third in average possession (60.7%). These statistics suggest they will pose a serious attacking threat to Newport.
Armando Dobra has been central to Chesterfield’s offensive play this season, contributing eight goals and two assists. Will Grigg, another key figure, has also scored eight goals and is currently joint top scorer alongside Dobra. Unfortunately, Grigg has been sidelined since the end of December with a calf injury and will miss Saturday’s game.
Head to Head
Newport County and Chesterfield first met in 1946, with the Exiles suffering a 2-0 defeat in Derbyshire. Of the 39 encounters between the two sides, Chesterfield have the upper hand with 20 wins to Newport’s 16, plus two draws. Newport’s first victory over Chesterfield came in 1947, with a 3-0 win.
Previous Encounter
A memorable clash between the two sides occurred in 2017 at Rodney Parade, where Newport County came from behind to defeat Chesterfield 4-1.
Trailing at halftime, the Exiles mounted a second-half comeback, with Frank Nouble scoring a second-half hat-trick and Padraig Amond marking his debut with a goal. This remains Newport’s most recent win over Chesterfield and showcased their attacking prowess.
Shared Shirts
Tom Naylor is the only player currently in the squads who has played for both clubs. Naylor had a brief spell at Newport in the 2013-14 season, on loan from Derby County, making 40 appearances and scoring twice.
This season, Naylor has been a key figure for Chesterfield, making 29 appearances, assisting five goals, and scoring two. His versatility in midfield and defense has been invaluable to the Spireites.
Key Facts
- In total, 125 goals have been scored in the 39 matches between these two teams, averaging 3.21 goals per game.
- Chesterfield have won each of their last two Football League games against Newport County, last enjoying a longer run between 1968 and 1980 (five games).
- Newport County have lost eight of their last nine away Football League games against Chesterfield (D1), conceding 2.3 goals on average across that time.
- Chesterfield have lost each of their last four league games, last having a longer losing run in the Football League in September/October 2017.
