Tom Nichols captains a 3-4-2-1. Newport start with Gerard Garner up front in a 4-2-3-1.
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Tanatswa Nyakuhwa and Yahya Bamba offer Newport two direct runners either side of Garner.
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8 Ollie Clarke · 15 Joe Hungbo · 24 Matty Virtue · 26 Dan Butler · 42 Josh Terry · 37 Charlie Summers · 44 Rory Da Costa
Captain: Tom Nichols · Lewis Ward in goal
Garner up front · Nyakuhwa on the right
The former West Ham midfielder took charge of Newport in July 2026. His side arrived at Swindon on a run of league draws and defeats.
Before taking over at Newport, Mullins worked with the Fulham under-21s and managed Colchester United. Earlier coaching spells at Watford followed a playing career that included West Ham and Crystal Palace. For Town supporters, his touchline choices give the visiting team a story beyond the starting XI.
At home again, Town were looking to respond to defeats at Salford and York. Earlier wins here against Colchester and Port Vale showed what they could produce at The County Ground.
A focal point up front who scored on his Newport league debut. Watch how he times his runs behind Town’s back line.
Garner joined Newport from Barrow in 2025 and scored on his League Two debut for County against Notts County. At 1.88m, he offers an aerial outlet, but his role goes beyond crosses: he can drop to link with midfield and bring the wide players into the attack. Follow whether Town’s centre-backs can prevent him turning those touches into chances.
A Newport-raised Cardiff academy player, direct on the flank. His movement creates space for the centre-forward.
Born and raised in Newport, Nyakuhwa grew up watching County before moving through Cardiff City’s academy. A first loan spell at Rodney Parade in January 2026 was cut short by injury; he returned for a second season-long loan that September. The Wales under-21 international gives Newport a direct runner who can carry the ball from deep or attack space behind a defender.
A new arrival with pace in wide areas. Follow the spaces he finds when Newport turn defence into attack.
Bamba arrived from Forest Green Rovers in June 2026. Before that, he scored 11 times in 50 appearances for Eastbourne Borough. Newport recruited him for his pace and versatility across the front three, so his starting position need not be where Town encounter him later in a move. Watch the width he creates and the gaps his runs leave for teammates.
Fletcher Holman broke the deadlock after a counterattack. Joe Thomas’s own goal followed to secure Town’s home win.
WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS
Harry Smith levelled at Rodney Parade and substitute Joe Westley struck late to give Town the win.
Kyle Hudlin put Newport ahead in the 13th minute, following up after David Ajiboye’s shot was saved by Jack Bycroft. Town responded two minutes later: Harry Smith volleyed in from the edge of the box. After the break, both sides had chances before substitute Joe Westley met Tunmise Sobowale’s low delivery to put Swindon in front. Newport pushed for a late equaliser, but Town held on to take all three points from Rodney Parade.
Town’s first recorded visit to Somerton Park ended in victory through Bertie Denyer’s goal.
In the first season of the Football League’s new Third Division, Swindon travelled to Newport’s Somerton Park on 21 October 1920. Bertie Denyer scored the only goal in a 1-0 away victory. Surviving records confirm the date, venue, result and scorer, but offer little detail about the play itself. It was the first league chapter in a fixture that has continued for more than a century.
Newport signed Aldridge as a 20-year-old in 1979. Fourteen goals in his first season helped County win promotion and the Welsh Cup, setting up the European adventure that took them to a Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final.
County’s ascent gave Aldridge the platform for a remarkable career. He left for Oxford United in 1984, later winning major honours with Liverpool and playing in Spain for Real Sociedad. He returned to Merseyside with Tranmere Rovers, where he became player-manager. For Newport fans, the story starts with a prolific young striker at Somerton Park and a side capable of taking on Europe.
Amond scored 24 times in 2018-19 and became the face of County’s cup runs. His penalty knocked out Leicester City, while goals against Tottenham and Middlesbrough added to Newport’s modern folklore.
Arriving from Hartlepool in 2017, Amond gave Newport an instinctive penalty-box presence and a knack for the big occasion. He scored in every round of County’s 2018-19 FA Cup run as they reached the fifth round against Manchester City. The same season ended with a trip to Wembley for the League Two play-off final. His chapter shows how the club’s underdog spirit carried into a new generation.
Back at The County Ground on loan from Stevenage, Butler knows Newport from the inside. He was their player of the year in 2017-18.
Butler joined Newport from Portsmouth in 2016 and became a fixture at left-back. He captained County on his 100th competitive appearance, collecting four awards at their 2017-18 presentation. A move to Peterborough followed in 2019; later came a spell with Stevenage, who loaned him to Town in September 2026. The Swindon league figures are before this Newport fixture.
Town’s own academy product played on loan at Newport before returning to Swindon and scoring seven league goals in 2020-21.
Twine made his Town debut as a teenager in 2017 and gained experience on loan at Chippenham, Waterford and Newport. Swindon recalled him from County in January 2021. His long-range strike against Ipswich became a standout moment in his final Town season. He moved on to MK Dons and Burnley, then joined Bristol City, where he was playing in the Championship in this edition’s season.
The former Newport captain signed for Town in 2024 and later returned to County on loan. He moved to Oldham in summer 2026.
Delaney wore the Newport armband during the 2023-24 season, including their FA Cup tie with Manchester United. He joined Swindon the following summer and made 21 league appearances, scoring once in 2024-25. A January 2026 loan took him back to Rodney Parade for the rest of that season. He signed for Oldham Athletic in July 2026.
Rose scored 36 times in 165 appearances for Newport and helped secure the 2009-10 Conference South title.
After coming through Manchester United’s academy, Rose joined Newport via Oxford United and became an important part of County’s rise. His later Football League career included Fleetwood, Oxford, Northampton and Portsmouth. He signed for Swindon in January 2019 and played until January 2020. After retiring, he became Head of Academy Coaching at Salford City.
Favourite colour? Red, of course. Here’s the rest in Louis’s own words.
Unfortunately, it was Tottenham.
It has to be red!
Breaking Bad isn’t too bad!
I love a bit of padel.
Scoring my goal against Port Vale at home under the lights.
I’ll go with Lucas Griffiths-Brown.
Teleportation would be pretty sick.
I’ll go with Party Next Door.
I love a Domino’s meat feast with some cookies on the side!
Ronaldo.
On loan from Newcastle United, Munda arrived at Town in August. He set up a goal on his league debut against Cheltenham, then won the penalty that helped turn the Colchester match in Town’s favour.
Munda joined Newcastle United’s academy aged nine and represented England at under-18 level. A season-long loan brought him to Town in August 2026. His first senior start came against Cheltenham, when he set up Aaron Drinan’s opener and played all 90 minutes. He later won the penalty against Colchester as Town came back to win 3-1. He gives the midfield a player willing to receive the ball and drive into the box.
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Campaign preview · rewards activate from kick-off in a live editionTown and Newport get under way at the County Ground.
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Gerard Garner finished after four minutes. Lewis Ward saved Garner’s penalty in the 17th, but Tanatswa Nyakuhwa struck in the 80th to settle the match. Town held more of the ball and won more corners, yet put just one shot on target.
A loose pass from Lewis Ward gave Newport an opening inside four minutes, and Gerard Garner put the visitors ahead. Ward then saved a penalty after Tanatswa Nyakuhwa was brought down. Yahya Bamba struck a post as Newport pushed for a second before the break.
Town kept the contest alive. Tom Nichols and Jaylan Pearman threatened in the first half, while Nichols went close again after the interval. Joe Hungbo broke through late on, only for Jake Turner to make the save.
In the 80th minute, Bamba sent Nyakuhwa through to finish Newport’s second. Town finished with more possession and corners, but the visitors made more of their chances.
A loose pass from Lewis Ward gave Garner a sight of goal. Newport took the lead inside four minutes.
Who made the difference against Newport County?
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