Newport County return to Sky Bet League Two action this Saturday as they travel to Port Vale (3pm).
Nelson Jardim’s side will look to bounce back after three consecutive defeats to Bromley, Walsall and AFC Wimbledon.
The Exiles are still searching for their first win of the year, and a victory against Port Vale on Saturday could kickstart their 2025 campaign.
Pre-Match Views
Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s game, Nelson Jardim said: “Port Vale are another team who haven’t played over the last two weeks or so, but we’re expecting a tough game,
“We don’t expect them to change much from what they’ve been doing because they’ve been doing well, aside from some recent results.
“We expect it to be a very competitive and good game, where it’s an excellent opportunity for our young boys to show their quality and value, and try and transform their performances into results.”
Opposition Form
Darren Moore’s side have enjoyed a strong first half of the season, with the Valiants pushing for automatic promotion. Currently fourth in the table, the Staffordshire side are just one point behind third-placed Salford and two points off second-placed Crewe.
Port Vale boast an impressive defensive record, with only two sides in the league having more clean sheets than their ten.
Relegated from League One last season, Vale are among the favourites to reclaim their place in the third tier.
Ben Garrity leads Port Vale as captain for the 2024-25 season. A versatile midfielder, Garrity has been a key figure since joining from Blackpool in 2021. Known for his energy, tenacity, and eye for goal, he has consistently impressed with his work ethic and commitment.
Garrity’s leadership came to the fore during the 2023-24 season, and despite the team’s relegation, he remained a standout performer. His ability to drive the team forward and contribute crucial goals makes him vital to their promotion push. As captain, his influence on and off the pitch will be crucial in their bid to return to League One.
Shared Shirts
One player who has represented both the Valiants and the Exiles is Harry Charsley.
The 26-year-old Wirral-born midfielder developed at Everton’s academy, making his debut in a UEFA Europa League win against Apollon Limassol in 2017.
Charsley joined Mansfield Town in January 2020, scoring seven goals in 77 appearances under former County boss Graham Coughlan.
In January 2022, he moved to Port Vale and featured as a substitute at Wembley when they secured promotion with a 3-0 victory over Mansfield.
In January 2023, Charsley reunited with Coughlan at Newport County, making 55 appearances and scoring seven goals during his 18-month spell. He joined National League side Oldham Athletic in the summer of 2024.
Meet The Officials
Stephen Parkinson will be the referee for Newport County’s League Two clash against Port Vale on Saturday afternoon (3pm).
An experienced official in the EFL, Parkinson regularly takes charge of matches in both League Two and National League.
Previous Encounter
The Exiles’ most recent victory at Vale Park came on May 2, 2022 in a thrilling encounter.
On the penultimate day of the league campaign, Newport dashed Port Vale’s hopes of automatic promotion with a resilient 2-1 victory in Stoke-on-Trent.
Ryan Haynes opened the scoring in just the third minute, finishing first-time from Finn Azaz’s low cross. Vale equalised through Ben Garrity early in the second half, but Azaz restored Newport’s lead with a stunning 72nd-minute volley after Vale failed to clear a corner.
The result secured all three points for County and dented Vale’s promotion ambitions.
Head to Head
Newport County first faced Port Vale in 1938. Since then, the sides have met 51 times, with Newport winning 16, Vale 21, and 14 matches ending in a draw.
Since May 1987, County have lost just once away to Port Vale—a 2-1 defeat at Vale Park in 2021.
Key Facts
- Port Vale have won just two of their last 10 Football League games against Newport County (D3 L5), though they won the reverse fixture 4-1 in September at Rodney Parade.
- Newport County have won two of their last three away league games at Vale Park (L1), as many as in their previous 20 visits combined (D3 L15).
- Port Vale have won only one of their last nine league games (D5 L3), though that victory came in their last match—a 2-1 win over Doncaster.
- Newport have won just one of their last ten league games (D5 L4), conceding 12 goals across their last four outings.