2018–19 Newport County A.F.C. season explained

Club:Newport County
Season:2018–19
Manager:Michael Flynn
Owner:Newport County AFC Supporters Trust
Chairman:Gavin Foxall
League:League Two
League Result:7th (play-off finalists)
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:Fifth round
Cup2:EFL Cup
Cup2 Result:Second round
Cup3:EFL Trophy
Cup3 Result:Second round
League Topscorer:Pádraig Amond (15)
Season Topscorer:Pádraig Amond (24)
Stadium:Rodney Parade
Highest Attendance:9,680 v Manchester City (16 February 2019), FA Cup round 5
Lowest Attendance:962 v Plymouth Argyle (13 November 2018), EFL Trophy Southern Group C
Average Attendance:3,409
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Prevseason:2017–18
Nextseason:2019–20

The 2018–19 season was Newport County's sixth consecutive season in Football League Two, 66th season in the Football League and 98th season of English league football overall. For this season the club kit was redesigned to match that worn during the 1938–39 Third Division South championship-winning season.[1] County reached the League Two play-off final but narrowly missed out on promotion. They also reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since the 1948–49 season, losing to eventual winners Manchester City.

Season Review

League

The season began with an away loss to Mansfield Town, leaving County in 23rd place in the league table. However, wins at home to Crewe Alexandra, Notts County and Grimsby Town, and an away 1–1 draw at Exeter City lifted Newport into the play-off places after five games had been played. The following two games away at Port Vale and Oldham Athletic were also won, further improving County's league placing to 2nd, missing out on the top spot on goal difference. In the next game, Newport suffered a surprising home six–nil loss to Yeovil Town, dropping to 3rd place, but still within the automatic promotion zone. After briefly rising to 2nd again following the home win against Cambridge United, County consolidated their position in 3rd place until the loss to Crawley Town put them back into the play-off zone. Following the home win over Colchester United Newport were again in 3rd place with 18 games played, but they slowly slipped down the table, falling as low as 15th after 33 games. However after the loss away to Northampton Town in the 36th game, County spent the rest of the season unbeaten, rising up the table back into the last play-off spot. However, going into the last game, any one of Exeter, Colchester, Carlisle or Stevenage could overtake them and qualify for the play-offs. Whereas the others all needed wins, Exeter could mathematically qualify with a draw, due to their superior goal difference. Into the last three minutes of the final game, both Colchester and Stevenage were winning, Exeter were being held to a draw and Newport were losing at Morecambe. This left County in 11th place with the clock ticking towards full time. However, a Jamille Matt equaliser in the 87th minute lifted Newport back into 7th place at full time. Only Exeter could overtake County now, and as their match was still in progress it was several minutes before the league placings could be finalised. With Exeter failing to score, Newport were confirmed in the play-offs.

Play-offs

County's opponents were Mansfield Town, and they would be hoping for a better result than the season-opening's three–nil loss.

In the home leg, Newport found themselves one–nil down after 12 minutes, only for the top-scorer Pádraig Amond to equalise in the 83rd minute, leaving things all square for the away leg. At Field Mill both teams played out the entirety of the 90 minutes and 30 minutes of extra time without a goal being scored. This took the game to penalties, with County to kick first.Dan Butler scored for Newport, with Nicky Ajose restoring parity for the home side. Pádraig Amond for Newport and CJ Hamilton for Mansfield also scored. Mickey Demetriou scored for Newport, but Tyler Walker's penalty kick was saved by Joe Day. Next up for Mansfield was Mal Benning who had to score to keep his side in the game. His penalty initially hit the post before ricocheting off Joe Day and into the goal. Newport's next penalty kick was taken by Matty Dolan who made no mistake and booked County's place in the play-off final.

The final at Wembley was contested against Tranmere Rovers, who had been promoted to League Two in the previous season's National League play-off final. Much like County's previous game with Mansfield, this too lasted the full 90 minutes without a goal being scored. However in the 89th minute Newport's captain Mark O'Brien was sent off for a second yellow card. This meant that County had to play the entirety of extra time with ten men. When it looked certain that this game would also go to penalties, Connor Jennings scored for Tranmere in the last minute of extra time to give them the win and promotion to League One.

Cup

County's FA Cup began with a trip to Southern League Metropolitan Police. Goals either side of half time by Pádraig Amond and Jamille Matt completed a comfortable 2–0 win for Newport. County were again drawn away in the second round, this time to National League side Wrexham. The game, broadcast on BT Sport, ended in a 0–0 draw, necessitating a reply at Rodney Parade. The draw for the third round had been made before the replay had taken place, with the winners rewarded with a home tie against 2015–16 Premier League champions Leicester City. Newport won the replay 4–0 and had still to concede a goal in the competition. In the third round, televised on the BBC, County took the lead against Leicester after just 10 minutes thanks to a Jamille Matt header. With the clock ticking down towards full time, Leicester's Rachid Ghezzal scored an equaliser in the 82nd minute. Newport had conceded an equaliser at exactly the same late stage in the previous season's fourth-round match with Tottenham Hotspur, but this time they found an even later winner. Leicester's Albrighton conceded a penalty for handball, which was duly converted by Amond, to put Newport into the fourth round for the second season in succession. In the fourth round, County were drawn away at Middlesbrough, in what was dubbed the Transporter Bridge Derby.[2] At the Riverside, Daniel Ayala put Boro into the lead in the 51st minute and that is how the score remained at the 90th minute. Despite piling on the pressure in the last ten minutes, Newport could not find an equaliser, until former Boro academy player Matty Dolan scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time to force a replay. The draw for the fifth round had been made before the replay had taken place, with the winners rewarded with a home tie against Premier League champions Manchester City. The Middlesbrough replay, broadcast by BT Sport, was a completely different affair to the first game, with Newport running out comfortable 2–0 winners in a game they completely dominated. Manchester City had won both their previous FA Cup games 7–0 against Rotherham United and 5–0 against Burnley, but they found County a much sterner test. Newport kept the scoreline to 0–0 at half time, but shortly after the break Leroy Sané scored for the visitors, but their expected goal rush never materialised. It was not until the 75th minute that City scored their second through Phil Foden. Pádraig Amond got a goal back for County in the 88th minute, leaving the score 1–2 in the 89th minute. However, almost immediately Foden grabbed his second, with Riyad Mahrez scoring City's fourth in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Although County were out, Pádraig Amond, who had scored in all five rounds, remained the FA Cup top goalscorer until Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus scored twice in their record-equalling final to share the honour. Newport had lost just two of their last 12 FA Cup matches, each time to one of the Premier League's 'big six' sides.

In the EFL Cup, Newport were drawn away to Cambridge United in the first round. County cruised to a 4–0 lead by the 90th minute, only to be denied a clean sheet by an Ade Azeez penalty. In the second round, Newport were drawn at home to Oxford United, but failed in their attempt at the Oxbridge double, losing 3–0.

Transfers

Transfers in

Date fromPositionNationalityNameFromFeeRef.
1 July 2018 Free [3]
1 July 2018 Free [4]
1 July 2018 Free [5]
1 July 2018 Free
1 July 2018 Free [6]
4 August 2018 Free [7]
23 October 2018 Free [8]
31 January 2019 Undisclosed [9]
9 March 2019 Free [10]

Transfers out

Date fromPositionNationalityNameToFeeRef.
2 July 2018 Free [11]
21 March 2019 Retired N/A [12]
30 June 2019 Retired N/A [13]
30 June 2019 Released
30 June 2019 Released
30 June 2019 Released [14]
30 June 2019 Released
30 June 2019 Released
30 June 2019 Free
30 June 2019 Free [15]

Loans in

Date fromPositionNationalityNameFromDate untilRef.
1 July 2018 13 December 2018 [16]
18 July 2018 27 January 2019 [17]
30 July 2018 End of Season [18] [19]
2 August 2018 2 January 2019 [20]
31 August 2018 3 January 2019 [21] [22]
4 January 2019 3 April 2019 [23]
18 January 2019 End of Season [24]
31 January 2019 End of Season [25]
31 January 2019 End of Season [26]

Loans out

Date fromPositionNationalityNameToDate untilRef.
27 July 2018 End of Season [27]
10 January 2019 End of Season [28]
27 March 2019 End of Season [29]

Competitions

League Two

See main article: 2018–19 EFL League Two.

Matches

On 21 June 2018, the League Two fixtures for the forthcoming season were announced.[30] [31]

Play-offs

See main article: 2019 English Football League play-offs.

FA Cup

See main article: 2018–19 FA Cup.

The first round draw was made live on BBC by Dennis Wise and Dion Dublin on 22 October.[32] The draw for the second round was made live on BBC and BT by Mark Schwarzer and Glenn Murray on 12 November.[33] The third round draw was made live on BBC by Ruud Gullit and Paul Ince from Stamford Bridge on 3 December 2018.[34] The fourth round draw was made live on BBC by Robbie Keane and Carl Ikeme from Wolverhampton on 7 January 2019.[35] The fifth round draw was broadcast on 28 January 2019 live on BBC, Alex Scott and Ian Wright conducted the draw.[36]

EFL Cup

See main article: 2018–19 EFL Cup.

On 15 June 2018, the draw for the first round was made in Vietnam.[37] The second round draw was made from the Stadium of Light on 16 August.[38]

EFL Trophy

See main article: 2018–19 EFL Trophy.

On 13 July 2018, the initial group stage draw bar the Under 21 invited clubs was announced.[39] The draw for the second round was made live on Talksport by Leon Britton and Steve Claridge on 16 November.[40]

Squad statistics

[41] [42] |-!colspan=14|Player(s) who have left the club during the season:|}

Goals record

Rank No. Nat. Po. Name Total
19 CFPádraig Amond 1552123
211CFJamille Matt 1431220
342CFAntoine Semenyo 30126
43 LB31004
28CBMickey Demetriou 40004
65CBFraser Franks 30003
7 RMRobbie Willmott 21003
8 CMMatt Dolan 21003
14RW20013
1017CBScot Bennett 20002
25CB20002
1210CMKeanu Marsh-Brown 10001
14RWAde Azeez 10001
15CMTyreeq Bakinson 10001
16CMJosh Sheehan 10001
19CF10001
20CBCameron Pring 10001
27CFHarry McKirdy 10001
Total 59114680

Disciplinary record

Rank No. Nat.Po. Name League TrophyTotal
13 LB701100000000801
316CMJosh Sheehan 600100000100800
28CBMickey Demetriou 700100000000800
54 CMJoss Labadie 700000000000700
5CBFraser Franks 501000100000601
25CB600000000100700
817CBScot Bennett 600000000000600
911CFJamille Matt 500000000000500
102 RBDavid Pipe 300100000000400
26CBRegan Poole 400000000000400
127 RMRobbie Willmott 201000000000201
9 CFPádraig Amond 300000000000300
1414RW200000000000200
21RBTyler Hornby-Forbes 200000000000200
22CM200000000000200
33CM100000100000200
42CFAntoine Semenyo 200000000000200
198 CMMatt Dolan 100000000000100
14RWAde Azeez 100000000000100
15CMTyreeq Bakinson 100000000000100
19CF100000000000100
27CFHarry McKirdy 100000000000100
Total 75035002002008403

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Introducing the 2018/19 Newport County AFC Kit. 10 July 2018. Newport County A.F.C..
  2. Web site: Winners of the Transporter Bridge Derby to Receive a Special Canvas. Newport County A.F.C.. 21 January 2019.
  3. News: Newport sign Wales midfielder Crofts . 26 June 2018 . BBC . 26 June 2018.
  4. News: Franks joins Newport as Owen-Evans leaves . 18 June 2018 . BBC . 18 June 2018.
  5. News: Newport sign Brighton full-back Forbes . 28 June 2018 . BBC . 28 June 2018.
  6. News: Jamille Matt: Newport sign former Blackpool striker . 20 June 2018 . BBC . 20 June 2018.
  7. Web site: Exiles announce last-minute goalkeeper signing. 4 August 2018. South Wales Argus.
  8. Web site: Joss Labadie: Former midfielder re-signs for Newport County. 23 October 2018. BBC Sport.
  9. Web site: Ade Azeez Leaves U's To Join Newport County For An Undisclosed Fee . . 31 January 2019.
  10. Web site: Will Randall: Winger joins Newport County until end of season. 9 March 2019. BBC Sport.
  11. Web site: Michael Flynn: Reynolds departure frees up funds for new arrivals. 2 July 2018. South Wales Argus.
  12. Web site: Fraser Franks: Newport defender retires because of heart problem. 21 March 2019. BBC Sport.
  13. Web site: David Pipe: Newport County defender to retire at end of season. 23 April 2019. BBC Sport.
  14. Web site: 28 May 2019 . Newport County release Andrew Crofts, Tyler Forbes and Will Randall . 20 July 2024 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  15. Web site: Will Vaulks, Joe Day and Curtis Nelson sign for Cardiff City. 27 June 2019. BBC Sport.
  16. News: Newport sign Rovers' Cooper on season loan . 22 June 2018 . BBC . 22 June 2018.
  17. News: 18-year-old Antoine Semenyo joins County on loan from Bristol City . 18 July 2018 . . 18 July 2018.
  18. Web site: Bristol City midfielder joins Newport County on loan. 27 July 2018. South Wales Argus.
  19. Web site: Bakinson Extends Loan Stay at County Until the End of the Season . . 8 January 2019.
  20. News: Newport County AFC sign Mark Harris on loan . 2 August 2018 . . 2 August 2018.
  21. Web site: Cameron Pring: Newport County sign Bristol City defender on loan. 31 August 2018. BBC Sport.
  22. Web site: Cameron Pring departs Rodney Parade . . 3 January 2019.
  23. Web site: Newport County sign West Ham United defender Vashon Neufville on loan . . 4 January 2019.
  24. Web site: Defender Regan Poole re-joins the Exiles on Loan until the end of the Season . . 18 January 2019.
  25. Web site: Versatile Attacking Midfielder Ben Kennedy Signs on Loan from Stevenage . . 31 January 2019.
  26. Web site: Third Signing of #DeadlineDay Confirmed as Striker Harry McKirdy Signs . . 31 January 2019.
  27. News: Newport County striker Momodou Touray heads to Barry Town United on loan . 27 July 2018 . . 27 June 2018.
  28. Web site: Jay Foulston Joins Merthyr Town on Loan . . 10 January 2019.
  29. Web site: Tyler Forbes joins Salford City on loan until the end of the Season . . 27 March 2019.
  30. News: EFL fixtures for 2018–19 in full . 21 June 2018 . BBC . 21 June 2018.
  31. News: Newport County Scores & Fixtures . 21 June 2018 . BBC .
  32. News: First round draw . . 23 October 2018 . 22 October 2018.
  33. News: Guiseley to face Fleetwood in FA Cup second round . BBC . 12 November 2018 . 12 November 2018.
  34. Web site: Emirates FA Cup third round Draw Made At Stamford Bridge . . 11 December 2018.
  35. Web site: Two London Derbies And Three All Premier League Ties Among Emirates FA Cup Draw . . 8 January 2019.
  36. Web site: The Draw For The Emirates FA Cup fifth round Was Made Live On The BBC's One Show . . 5 February 2019.
  37. News: Lampard's Derby at Oldham in Carabao Cup . 15 June 2018 . BBC . 15 June 2018.
  38. News: Round Two Draw . . 16 August 2018 . 19 August 2018.
  39. News: Checkatrade Trophy: Round One Draw information . 13 July 2018 . . 13 July 2018.
  40. Web site: Checkatrade Trophy Round Two Draw Confirmed . . 19 November 2018.
  41. Web site: Newport County. FootballSquads. 8 May 2018 .
  42. Web site: Squad stats. Soccerbase. Centurycomm. 8 May 2018 .