Newport County 2020–21 football season
The 2020–21 Newport County A.F.C. season was the club's eight consecutive season in the EFL League Two . It was Newport's 68th season in the Football League and 100th season of league football overall.
On 22 September 2020 Newport County beat Championship club Watford 3–1 at home in the third round of the EFL Cup to reach the fourth round for the first time in the club's history.[1] Newport were drawn at home to Premier League club Newcastle United in the fourth round and after drawing 1–1 in normal time Newcastle won the penalty shoot-out.[2] Newport again reached the third round of the 2020-21 FA Cup to face Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion at home on 10 January 2021.[3] Newport lost to Brighton on penalties having drawn 1-1 after extra time.[4] On 19 January 2021 goalkeeper Tom King scored the first goal of his career with a wind-assisted goal kick in the 12th minute of Newport's 1–1 League Two draw at Cheltenham Town .[5] On 21 January 2021, his goal was confirmed to have broken the Guinness World Record for longest football goal, with a distance of 96.01 metres (105 yards), a record previously held by Asmir Begović .[6] In March 2020 Newport were permitted by the EFL to move two home matches to Cardiff City Stadium due to the poor condition of the Rodney Parade pitch.[7] Newport finished the 2020-21 season in 5th place in League Two and qualified for the play-offs.[8] Newport beat Forest Green Rovers 5-4 on aggregate to reach the play-off final for the second time in three seasons.[9] In the League Two playoff final at Wembley Stadium on 31 May 2021 Newport lost to Morecambe , 1-0 after a controversial 107th minute penalty.[10]
Transfers [ ]
Transfers in [ ]
Date from
Position
Nationality
Name
From
Fee
Ref.
4 August 2020
CB
Scot Bennett
Unattached
Free transfer
[11]
20 August 2020
CB
David Longe-King
St Albans City
Free transfer
[12]
20 August 2020
CF
Ryan Taylor
Plymouth Argyle
Free transfer
[13]
2 September 2020
RB
Liam Shephard
Forest Green Rovers
Free transfer
[14]
4 September 2020
LW
Kevin Ellison
Morecambe
Free transfer
[15]
8 January 2020
CM
Jack Evans
Swansea City
Free transfer
[16]
28 January 2021
CF
Dom Telford
Plymouth Argyle
Undisclosed
[17]
29 January 2021
CB
Priestley Farquharson
Connah's Quay Nomads
Undisclosed
[18]
18 March 2021
CM
Joe Ledley
Newcastle Jets
Free transfer
[19]
Loans in [ ]
Date from
Position
Nationality
Name
From
Date until
Ref.
28 August 2020
CF
Saikou Janneh
Bristol City
2 January 2021
[20]
3 September 2020
CF
Scott Twine
Swindon Town
2 January 2021
[21] [22]
7 September 2020
CB
Brandon Cooper
Swansea City
5 January 2021
[23]
18 September 2020
CB
Bradley Webb
Bristol City
2 January 2021
[24]
16 October 2020
RB
Aaron Lewis
Lincoln City
2 January 2021
[25]
16 October 2020
AM
Jamie Devitt
Blackpool
17 January 2021
[26]
16 October 2020
CF
Jamie Proctor
Rotherham United
17 January 2021
[27]
5 January 2021
CF
Owen Windsor
West Bromwich Albion
1 February 2021
[28] [29]
8 January 2021
CF
Jake Scrimshaw
AFC Bournemouth
End of season
[30]
20 January 2021
AM
Luke Gambin
Colchester United
End of season
[31]
25 January 2021
CM
Anthony Hartigan
AFC Wimbledon
End of season
[32]
2 February 2021
CF
Nicky Maynard
Mansfield Town
End of season
[33]
Loans out [ ]
^ Loan deal cut short enabling a permanent transfer elsewhere.[35]
Transfers out [ ]
Pre-season [ ]
Win
Draw
Loss
Postponed
Competitions [ ]
League Two [ ]
League table [ ]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion, qualification or relegation
1
Cheltenham Town (C, P)
46
24
10
12
61
39
+22
82
Promotion to the EFL League One
2
Cambridge United (P)
46
24
8
14
73
49
+24
80
3
Bolton Wanderers (P)
46
23
10
13
59
50
+9
79
4
Morecambe (O, P)
46
23
9
14
69
58
+11
78
Qualification for League Two play-offs
5
Newport County
46
20
13
13
57
42
+15
73
6
Forest Green Rovers
46
20
13
13
59
51
+8
73
7
Tranmere Rovers
46
20
13
13
55
50
+5
73
8
Salford City
46
19
14
13
54
34
+20
71
9
Exeter City
46
18
16
12
71
50
+21
70
Updated to match(es) played on 31 May 2021. Source:
EFL Official Website Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences
[55] (C) Champion;
(O) Play-off winner;
(P) Promoted
Result summary [ ]
Overall
Home
Away
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
46
20
13
13
57
42
+15
73
13
5
5
27
17
+10
7
8
8
30
25
+5
Last updated: 1 May 2021.
Source:[citation needed ]
Results by matchday [ ]
Matchday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Ground A H A H A H A A H H A H H A H A A A H A H A A A H H H H A H A A H A A H A H A H H H A H H A Result D W W W L W W W W W L W D D W W L D L D D D L L W L D L W D L W W W L L L W D D L W D W W D Position 10 9 3 1 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 7 4 5 5 7 6 6 8 6 6 4 4 5 7 7 7 6 7 7 7 6 5 5
Matches [ ]
Win
Draw
Loss
Postponed
The 2020–21 season fixtures were released on 21 August.[56]
Scunthorpe United v Newport County
12 September 2020 1 Scunthorpe United 1–1 Newport County show Scunthorpe 15:00 BST (UTC+1 )
Loft 58'
Report
Taylor 32'
Stadium: Glanford Park Attendance: 0 Referee: Ben Speedie
Bolton Wanderers v Newport County
Newport County v Mansfield Town
Cambridge United v Newport County
10 October 2020 5 Cambridge United 2–1 Newport County show Cambridge 15:00 BST (UTC+1 )
Mullin 38' , 61'
Report
Twine 67'
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Carl Brook
Newport County v Tranmere Rovers
Bradford City v Newport County
24 October 2020 8 Bradford City 0–3 Newport County show Bradford 15:00 BST (UTC+1 )
Report
Demetriou 1' Amond 44' Dolan 90+3' (pen. )
Stadium: Valley Parade Attendance: 0 Referee: Declan Bourne
Newport County v Harrogate Town
Carlisle United v Newport County
3 November 2020 11 Carlisle United 3–2 Newport County show Carlisle 19:00 UTC
Alessandra 15' (pen. ) Mellish 68' , 81'
Report
Devitt 84' Sheehan 90+2'
Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 0 Referee: Scott Oldham
Newport County v Port Vale
Forest Green Rovers v Newport County
1 December 2020 14 Forest Green Rovers 1–1 Newport County show Nailsworth 19:00 UTC
Matt 76'
Report
Abrahams 45+2' (pen. )
Stadium: The New Lawn Attendance: 0 Referee: Ben Toner
Newport County v Morecambe
5 December 2020 15 Newport County 2–1 Morecambe show Newport 15:00 UTC
Amond 11' Dolan 83' (pen. )
Report
Mendes Gomes 32'
Stadium: Rodney Parade Attendance: 0 Referee: Sam Purkiss
Grimsby Town v Newport County
8 December 2020 16 Grimsby Town 0–2 Newport County show Cleethorpes 19:00 UTC
Report
Twine 25' Amond 45+1' (pen. )
Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 0 Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Leyton Orient v Newport County
Salford City v Newport County
15 December 2020 18 Salford City 1–1 Newport County show Salford 19:00 UTC
Clarke 44'
Report
Sheehan 90+4' (pen. )
Stadium: Moor Lane Attendance: 0 Referee: Ross Joyce
Newport County v Oldham Athletic
Crawley Town v Newport County
26 December 2020 20 Crawley Town 1–1 Newport County show Crawley 15:00 UTC
Demetriou 32' (o.g. )
Report
Haynes 5'
Stadium: Broadfield Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: David Rock
Newport County v Salford City
16 January 2021 21 Newport County 0–0 Salford City show Newport 15:00 UTC
Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade Attendance: 0 Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Cheltenham Town v Newport County
19 January 2021 22 Cheltenham Town 1–1 Newport County show Cheltenham 19:00 UTC
Blair 45+5'
Report
King 12'
Stadium: Whaddon Road Attendance: 0 Referee: Peter Wright
Oldham Athletic v Newport County
Harrogate Town v Newport County
Newport County v Grimsby Town
6 February 2021 25 Newport County 1–0 Grimsby Town show Newport 15:00 UTC
Maynard 51'
Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade Attendance: 0 Referee: Craig Hicks
Newport County v Southend United
9 February 2021 26 Newport County 0–1 Southend United show Newport 19:00 UTC
Report
Clifford 74'
Stadium: Rodney Parade Attendance: 0 Referee: Paul Howard
Newport County v Exeter City
Newport County v Forest Green Rovers
21 February 2021 28 Newport County 0–2 Forest Green Rovers show Newport 13:00 UTC
Report
Davison 43' Matt 63' (pen. )
Stadium: Rodney Parade Attendance: 0 Referee: Neil Hair
Walsall v Newport County
24 February 2021 29 Walsall 0–1 Newport County show Walsall 17:30 UTC
Report
Labadie 71'
Stadium: Bescot Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Sam Allison
Tranmere Rovers v Newport County
2 March 2021 31 Tranmere Rovers 1–0 Newport County show Birkenhead 19:00 UTC
Woolery 7'
Report
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 0 Referee: Ben Toner
Newport County v Bradford City
9 March 2021 33 Newport County 2–1 Bradford City show Cardiff 19:00 UTC
Dolan 77' , 90+6' (pen. )
Report
Cook 46'
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Will Finnie
Morecambe v Newport County
13 March 2021 34 Morecambe 1–3 Newport County show Morecambe 15:00 UTC
Songo'o 20'
Report
Dolan 8' (pen. ) Sheehan 45+1' Ellison 79'
Stadium: Mazuma Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Andy Haines
Port Vale v Newport County
Newport County v Leyton Orient
20 March 2021 36 Newport County 0–1 Leyton Orient show Cardiff 13:00 UTC
Report
Wilkinson 61'
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Samuel Barrott
Barrow v Newport County
2 April 2021 37 Barrow 2–1 Newport County show Barrow-in-Furness 15:00 BST (UTC+1 )
Quigley 56' Devitt 84'
Report
Bennett 24'
Stadium: Holker Street Attendance: 0 Referee: Lee Mason
Newport County v Bolton Wanderers
5 April 2021 38 Newport County 1–0 Bolton Wanderers show Newport 15:00 BST (UTC+1 )
Maynard 63'
Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade Attendance: 0 Referee: Graham Salisbury
Mansfield Town v Newport County
9 April 2021 39 Mansfield Town 1–1 Newport County show Mansfield 18:00 BST (UTC+1 )
Sinclair 84'
Report
Labadie 75'
Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 0 Referee: Christopher Pollard
Newport County v Carlisle United
13 April 2021 40 Newport County 0–0 Carlisle United show Newport 19:00 BST (UTC+1 )
Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade Attendance: 0 Referee: Lee Swabey
Newport County v Cambridge United
17 April 2021 41 Newport County 0–1 Cambridge United show Newport 12:30 BST (UTC+1 )
Report
Drysdale 79'
Stadium: Rodney Parade Attendance: 0 Referee: Thomas Bramall
Newport County v Crawley Town
Exeter City v Newport County
Newport County v Scunthorpe United
Newport County v Cheltenham Town
Southend United v Newport County
8 May 2021 46 Southend United 1–1 Newport County show Southend-on-Sea 15:00 BST (UTC+1 )
Hobson 11'
Report
Demetriou 56'
Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 0 Referee: John Brooks
Play-offs [ ]
Main article: 2021 English Football League play-offs
Forest Green Rovers v Newport County
Morecambe v Newport County
31 May 2021 (2021-05-31 ) Final Morecambe 1–0 (a.e.t. ) Newport County show Wembley Stadium , London 15:00 BST (UTC+1 )
Mendes Gomes 107' (pen. )
Report
Attendance: 9,083 Referee: Bobby Madley
FA Cup [ ]
Win
Draw
Loss
Postponed
The draw for the first round was made on Monday 26 October.[57] The second round draw was revealed on Monday 9 November by Danny Cowley .[58] The third round draw was made on 30 November, with Premier League and EFL Championship clubs all entering the competition.[59]
EFL Cup [ ]
Win
Draw
Loss
Postponed
The first round draw was made on 18 August, live on Sky Sports , by Paul Merson .[60] The draw for both the second and third round were confirmed on 6 September, live on Sky Sports by Phil Babb .[61] The draw was conducted on 17 September 2020 by Laura Woods and Lee Hendrie live on Sky Sports .[62]
EFL Trophy [ ]
Win
Draw
Loss
Postponed
The regional group stage draw was confirmed on 18 August 2020.[63]
Pos
Div
Team
Pld
W
PW
PL
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification
1
L2
Cheltenham Town
3
3
0
0
0
4
0
+4
9
Advance to Round 2
2
ACA
Norwich City U21
3
2
0
0
1
8
3
+5
6
3
L1
Plymouth Argyle
3
1
0
0
2
5
6
−1
3
4
L2
Newport County
3
0
0
0
3
1
9
−8
0
Welsh League Cup [ ]
The draw for the Welsh League Cup sponsored by Nathaniel MG was made on 2 December 2020 with Newport County and Cardiff City invited as wildcard entries.[64] The fuxture was postponed and the competition was subsequently cancelled by the Football Association of Wales due to the Coronavirus pandemic .[65]
Squad statistics [ ]
Source:[67]
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute .
Players with squad numbers struck through and marked left the club during the playing season.
Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Newport County.
Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes.
Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper ; DF – Defender ; MF – Midfielder ; FW – Forward
As of 10 February 2021
Total
League Two
FA Cup
League Cup
League Trophy
1
GK
Tom King
9
1
3+1
1
2+0
0
1+0
0
2+0
0
2
DF
Ash Baker
8
1
1+3
0
1+0
1
0+0
0
3+0
0
3
DF
Ryan Haynes
33
1
25+0
1
3+0
0
4+0
0
1+0
0
4
MF
Joss Labadie
22
1
16+3
0
0+1
0
2+0
1
0+0
0
5
DF
Kyle Howkins
4
0
2+0
0
0+0
0
2+0
0
0+0
0
6
DF
Priestley Farquharson
2
0
1+1
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
7
MF
Robbie Willmott
28
0
5+14
0
2+1
0
1+3
0
2+0
0
8
MF
Matt Dolan
29
3
23+1
3
2+0
0
3+0
0
0+0
0
9
FW
Pádraig Amond
34
8
12+12
5
1+2
1
3+1
1
3+0
1
10
MF
Josh Sheehan
30
2
23+0
2
3+0
0
4+0
0
0+0
0
11
FW
Tristan Abrahams
28
8
15+8
4
1+0
0
4+0
4
0+0
0
14
DF
Aaron Lewis
3
0
1+2
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
15
DF
David Longe-King
9
0
6+2
0
1+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
16
FW
Luke Gambin
4
2
4+0
2
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
17
DF
Scot Bennett
27
1
14+6
1
3+0
0
2+0
0
2+0
0
18
FW
Nicky Maynard
2
1
2+0
1
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
19
FW
Dom Telford
3
0
1+2
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
20
MF
Anthony Hartigan
2
0
2+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
21
FW
Lewis Collins
10
0
2+3
0
0+1
0
1+2
0
1+0
0
22
FW
Kevin Ellison
16
1
1+10
1
0+3
0
0+0
0
1+1
0
24
MF
Jack Evans
1
0
0+1
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
26
FW
Owen Windsor
1
0
0+1
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
27
FW
Jake Scrimshaw
6
1
4+2
1
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
28
DF
Mickey Demetriou
32
1
26+0
1
3+0
0
3+0
0
0+0
0
29
FW
Ryan Taylor
14
2
7+2
2
0+1
0
0+3
0
1+0
0
30
GK
Nick Townsend
27
0
23+0
0
1+0
0
3+0
0
0+0
0
32
DF
Liam Shephard
29
1
22+0
1
2+0
0
4+0
0
0+1
0
33
DF
Joe Woodiwiss
3
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
3+0
0
35
FW
Ryan Hillier
3
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+3
0
36
FW
Lewys Twamley
3
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
2+1
0
37
MF
Sonny Lewis
2
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
1+1
0
38
GK
Callum Brain
1
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
1+0
0
40
DF
Harrison Bright
2
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+2
0
41
MF
Callum Ryan-Phillip
2
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
2+0
0
42
MF
Zack Maher
1
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+1
0
45
MF
Aneurin Livermore
1
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
1+0
0
Players who left the club::
6
DF
Brandon Cooper
25
1
18+1
1
2+0
0
3+0
0
1+0
0
14
MF
Jamie Devitt
11
2
1+7
1
3+0
1
0+0
0
0+0
0
16
DF
Bradley Webb
2
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
0+0
0
2+0
0
18
FW
Jamie Proctor
13
2
5+5
1
2+1
1
0+0
0
0+0
0
19
FW
Scott Twine
24
7
18+1
6
1+0
0
3+0
1
1+0
0
20
FW
Saikou Janneh
12
2
4+4
1
0+1
1
0+1
0
2+0
0
Goals record [ ]
As of 10 February 2020
Disciplinary record [ ]
As of 10 February 2021
Rank
No.
Nat.
Po.
Name
League Two
FA Cup
League Cup
League Trophy
Total
1
4
CM
Joss Labadie
5
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
7
0
1
2
17
CB
Scot Bennett
4
0
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
1
3
6
CB
Brandon Cooper
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
7
RM
Robbie Willmott
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
4
0
0
32
RB
Liam Shephard
3
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
1
6
10
CM
Josh Sheehan
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
7
3
LB
Ryan Haynes
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
28
CB
Mickey Demetriou
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
33
RB
Joe Woodiwiss
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
10
2
RB
Ash Baker
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
5
CB
Kyle Howkins
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
9
CF
Pádraig Amond
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
11
CF
Tristan Abrahams
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
18
CF
Jamie Proctor
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
19
CF
Scott Twine
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
22
LW
Kevin Ellison
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
24
RB
Aaron Lewis
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Total
27
0
4
2
0
0
4
0
0
6
0
0
1
0
0
40
0
4
References [ ]
show National teams
League competitions
Level 1 Levels 2–4 Levels 5–6 Levels 7–8 Levels 9–10
Combined Counties League (Premier , One )
East Midlands Counties League (level 10 only)
Eastern Counties League (Premier , One North , One South )
Essex Senior League (level 9 only)
Hellenic League (Premier , One East , One West )
Midland League (Premier , One )
Northern Counties East League (Premier , One )
Northern League (One , Two )
North West Counties League (Premier , One North , One South )
Southern Combination League (Premier , One )
Southern Counties East League (Premier , One )
South West Peninsula League (Premier East , Premier West - level 10 only )
Spartan South Midlands League (Premier , One )
United Counties League (Premier , One )
Wessex League (Premier , One )
Western League (Premier , One )
West Midlands (Regional) League (Premier - level 10 only )
Cup competitions
Youth competitions