Newport County suffered a disappointing 4-0 defeat against Swindon Town on Saturday afteroon.
Goals from Kabongo Tshimanaga, Paul Glatzel, Joel Cotterill and an own goal by Matt Baker led Swindon to their first win of the season.
Head coach Nelson Jardim made four changes to last Saturday's 4-1 defeat to Port Vale. Matt Baker returned to the squad after missing last week's match due to international duty with the Wales U21s squad.
Bryn Morris was moved back to the defence to cover for the suspended Kyle Jameson and Noah Mawene therefore replaced Morris in the midfield.
The game started in the worst fashion for the Exiles with the Robins scoring first in the fourth minute. Following a melee in the box, the ball was cleared to the feet of Kabongo Tshimanga who smashed the ball into the bottom left corner.
Swindon kept pushing for a second soon after with Joel Cotterill finding himself with space to shoot, but he the midfielder dragged his effort wide of the target.
Newport looked to gain a foothold on the game and pushed to grab an equaliser through captain Aaron Wildig. Following some great forward play by Courtney Baker-Richardson, he set Wildig away on goal, with a dinked pass, but his subsequent effort was blocked well by Tunmise Sobowale.
Following Wildig’s effort Swindon quickly regathered the ball and set off on a quick counter attacking move. The fluid attacking move saw George Cox find Paul Glatzel in the box who glances his header into the bottom left corner from close range.
In the 21st minute Swindon added a third to their tally. A deep ball in by Jeff King from a free kick is headed across the box and ricochets off County defender, Matt Baker.
Just before going into the break Swindon netted their fourth. Cox once again fired a good ball across the box that was met by Glatzel. His effort on goal was pushed out by Towsend to Cotterill who slotted home from inside the box.
Half Time
Swindon started the second half as they left off with a sharp attacking move which was stopped by Townsend as he denied Glatzel his second of the game.
Substitutes, Bobby Kamwa and Kiban Rai, looked to inject more pace into the Newport attack. The changes added a slight improvement to the second half performance as the Exiles looked to establish themselves in the second half.
After failing to clear their lines, another goal line scramble saw Swindon go close to a fifth goal in the 74th minute. The ball dropped to Harrison Mintum but the substitutes effort was snuffed out by Townsend.
In the final stages of the game, County looked to net a consolation goal but they were unable to break down a stubborn Swindon defense.
Full Time
Newport County return to action in the Bristol Street Motors Group Stage Trophy against West Ham United’s academy on Tuesday night at Rodney Parade (7pm).
Swindon Town: Bycroft, Sobowale, Wright (C) , Cotterill (Ofoborh 63’), Glatzel, King, Kilkenny, Freckleton, Tshimanga, Butterworth, Cox (Minturn 46’).
Substitutes: Barden, McGurk, Cain, Drinan, Mitchell.
Newport County: Townsend, Glennon, Baker, Morris, Baker-Richardson, Greaves (Kamwa 46’), Antwi (Jephcott 46’), K.Evans, Wildig (C) (Rai 51’), C.Evans, Mawene.
Substitutes: Carney, Sederry, Hudlin, Sanca.
Attendance: 6,857 (866 away)