Newport County return to League Two action this Saturday as they host Grimsby Town at Rodney Parade (3pm), aiming to end a run of four games without a win.
The Exiles will be looking to bounce back after a 3-0 defeat to Reading in midweek, which extended their losing streak to three consecutive games.
Head Coach Nelson Jardim will be without defender Kyle Jameson for Saturday's clash, as the 26-year-old is suspended following a red card in last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Tranmere.
Pre-Match Views
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s fixture, Nelson Jardim said: “We’re in a tough spell at the moment, there’s no hiding away from that.
“We’re not where we want to be, and we’re not playing how we want to play. But we have to stick together.
“It’s a tough time for everyone at the moment and everyone is hurting, but we are determined to get back to winning ways."
Watch Nelson Jardim’s full pre-match press conference HERE.
Opposition Form
After finishing 21st last season, Grimsby Town have enjoyed an upturn in form this year and currently sit in 7th place, holding the final playoff spot. The Mariners have won eight, lost seven, and have yet to draw a game in the league.
However, despite their strong position, Grimsby have one of the poorer defensive records in the league, conceding 1.7 goals per game, the fourth worst in League Two, with a total of 25 goals conceded.
One standout performer for Grimsby this season has been left-back Denver Hume, who has been a key figure both defensively and offensively, contributing four assists.
Hume was named Man of the Match in a 3-2 win over Carlisle United, where he also recorded two assists. He’s tied for second in the league for chances created (7), alongside former Newport player Adam Lewis and current Exile Anthony Glennon.
Previous Encounter
The last time Newport defeated Grimsby was on February 6, 2021, when the Exiles triumphed 1-0 despite being reduced to 10 men.
Midfielder Scot Bennett was sent off in the first half for a foul on Grimsby forward Stefan Payne, but a second-half goal from Nicky Maynard after a deflected Matty Dolan shot gave Newport the win.
Nick Townsend was the hero in goal, making six crucial saves to secure the clean sheet and the three points.
Meet The Officials
James Oldham will be the man in the middle when Newport County host Grimsby Town on Saturday afternoon.
A seasoned referee with experience in League One, League Two, and the National League, Oldham will be officiating his first County match of the season.
Read more about Oldham and his officiating team HERE.
Head-to-Head
Newport and Grimsby have faced off 36 times since their first encounter in 1921, which ended in a 2-1 win for Newport. Over the years, Grimsby have had the upper hand, with 16 wins, 8 draws, and 12 losses.
Grimsby are currently unbeaten in their last four matches against Newport, with two wins and two draws. The most recent encounter came on April 6, 2024, when Grimsby won 1-0.
In the 2020-21 season, Newport did the double over the Mariners, winning 2-0 away in December and 1-0 at home in February — their last victories against the club.
Shared Players
There are several players who have featured for both clubs.
Anthony Glennon, now with Newport, joined the Exiles in the summer from Grimsby after making 60 appearances for the Mariners. Glennon has been a key contributor to Newport’s attack, with four assists so far this season.
Bryn Morris, a midfield regular for Newport, made the move from Grimsby in 2023. After one season at Blundell Park, where he made 42 appearances, Morris has since played 72 games for the Exiles and scored eight goals.
Key Facts
- Grimsby are second in League Two for away form, having picked up 15 points on the road.
- The Mariners are the only team in the division not to have drawn a game this season.
- Grimsby are unbeaten in their last two visits to Rodney Parade (W1 D1), after failing to win any of their first seven away games against Newport in the Football League (D2 L5).
- Newport have failed to score in their last two home league games. They haven’t gone three home league games without a goal since October 1980.
- Grimsby have won their last five away league games, a club record they’ll be hoping to extend to six.
- Newport have not won any of their last four league meetings with Grimsby (D2 L2), and have not scored more than once in any of those matches.