Newport County return to Sky Bet League Two action tonight as they host Chesterfield at Rodney Parade (8pm).
The Exiles will be eager to bounce back after a tough 1-0 defeat to Harrogate Town last weekend, marking their second consecutive loss.
Playing at home should provide a morale boost for County who could move in the play-off places with a victory over the Spireites.
Pre-match thoughts
Speaking ahead of tonight’s fixture, Nelson Jardim said: “It is a big game and we’ve had a lot of big games at home this season. In every big game the fans have helped to push the team.
“We always go about the game in a positive way and try to attack our opposition early. Everyone is ready to fight for our objectives and be on the front foot against Chesterfield.
“Chesterfield is a strong club pushing for promotion and they’ve started very well. They have a good squad, well drilled team and in the last five games they haven't been beaten."
Opposition Form
Chesterfield currently sit in 12th place, level on points with Newport at 15.
The Derbyshire-based club has had a solid season, with only two league losses, complemented by three wins and six draws. Under the guidance of manager Paul Cook, Chesterfield has been competitive in League Two following their promotion from the National League and comes into this match on a five-game unbeaten streak.
A standout player for Chesterfield is 23-year-old James Berry, who has impressed with five goals and one assist in eleven matches. He opened the season with two goals in a 5-0 victory over Crewe Alexandra, showcasing his attacking prowess.
Another notable player to watch is Will Grigg, a fan favourite and Football League veteran. The striker has scored four goals and provided one assist in eight starts this season, continuing to build on his impressive record against Chesterfield, where he has netted 29 goals in 53 appearances.
Grigg's resurgence echoes his past form that saw him selected for Northern Ireland’s Euro 2016 squad.
Head-to-Head
The two sides first clashed in 1946, with County suffering a 2-0 defeat in Derbyshire. Across 38 encounters, Chesterfield have had the upper hand with 19 wins to Newport's 16, alongside two draws. Newport's first victory over Chesterfield came in 1947, when they won 3-0.
Read about our first and last win against the Spireites in years gone by HERE.
Previous Encounter
In a memorable 2017 matchup at Rodney Parade, Newport County defeated Chesterfield 4-1. After trailing at half-time, the Exiles roared back with a second-half hat-trick from Frank Nouble and a debut goal from Padraig Amond, highlighting Newport’s attacking capabilities. This was County’s sixteenth and most recent win against tonight’s opponents.
Shared Shirts
Tom Naylor is the only player currently in the squads who has played for both clubs. Naylor joined Newport on loan from Derby County during the 2013-14 season, making 40 appearances and scoring two goals.
Key match facts
- Newport County has triumphed in three of their last five Football League encounters with Chesterfield (D1, L1), matching the total number of wins they secured in their previous 13 meetings combined.
- Chesterfield has faced difficulties in their away fixtures against Newport, losing six of their last seven Football League matches at Rodney Parade (D1), with their last win dating back to December 1969.
- Newport has been formidable at home lately, winning four of their last five league games (L1). In each of these victories, they scored at least two goals while consistently conceding just one.
- Since their return to the EFL this season, Chesterfield has secured two wins in five away league games (D1, L2), equaling the number of victories they had managed in their previous 28 away matches combined.
- Chesterfield have drawn the most games (6) in League Two and the National League this season.
- The Spireites boast the third-highest possession rate in League Two at 61.3%.
- In total, 122 goals have been scored in the 38 matches between these two teams, averaging 3.2 goals per game.
