All the facts you need ahead of Saturday's visit to Colchester United.
After confirming their elimination from the Checkatrade Trophy following a 2-1 defeat to Swansea City U23’s on Tuesday night, the Exiles return to league action as they travel to Colchester United this Saturday.
Looking at the home side
Colchester have had a promising start to the season and after eleven matches this season they find themselves in eleventh place in Sky Bet League 2, two points outside the playoff places. Despite their league position though they are winless in their last four league games and were defeat by Southampton’s Under 23 side on Tuesday night. Chris Porter is their top scorer so far this campaign with four goals to his name and with some tough fixtures coming up they will be look for three points against the Exiles this Saturday.
Form Guide
Newport County – LWLD D DL L L 6 points
Colchester United – W WLWLWDLDL 14 points
Getting There
By car: The stadium is moments away from the A12 trunk road that serves East Anglia, so to access the stadium from the south, turn off at Junction 28, turning right at the first roundabout. Go across the bridge and then go straight over the second roundabout, before turning right into United Way from the third roundabout. You are now at the stadium.
By train: Travelling to the stadium by train is going to be slightly more difficult due to the rail replacement bus service that is in place whilst work to the Severn Tunnel is complete. The best option is to take the 8.10 from Newport that arrives in London Paddington at 10.37. From there spend an hour on the underground to Newbury Park. There is then another hour on the bus to Witham Park station where you can catch a connecting train to Colchester. For the return journey trains leave Colchester at 12 minutes past the hour and arrive in Newport five and a half hours later.
Upcoming Milestones
Jazzi Barnum-Bobb – 1 appearance for 25 career appearances
Dan Butler – 1 appearance for 125 career appearances
Jon Parkin – 3 appearances for 575 career appearances and 1 goal for 175 career goals
Lenell John-Lewis – 1 goal for 50 career goals
Kyle Cameron – 5 appearances for 25 career appearances
Previous Milestones
Joe Day v Swansea U23’s was his 150th career appearance
Last Time Out
Newport fell by two goals to one against Swansea City U23’s at Rodney Parade on Tuesday night, their goal coming in stoppage time at the end of the game when Jennison Myrie-Williams fired home from twenty five yards. It was the visitors who had taken a two goal lead though when in the first half Botti Biabi was left alone at the back post to nod home and then they doubled their advantage three minutes from time when Alexander Samuel curled a left footed effort into the top right corner of the net.
The Man in Charge
Mark Haywood is in charge for this fixture with his assistants Graham Kane and Adrian Waters, the fourth official is Nigel Lugg. This is Haywood’s eleventh season on the list and the last time he took charge of the Exiles was in the first round of the FA Cup last year away at Brackley Town. Before that he took charge of the home game against Accrington Stanley in the 2014/25 season and in December 2013 he had the whistle for the 3-2 home victory against Chesterfield. So far this season he has handed out 26 yellows and 3 red cards in 8 matches.
Around the league (all times 3pm unless stated)
Accrington Stanley v Cheltenham Town
Blackpool v Cambridge United
Doncaster Rovers v Barnet
Exeter City v Grimsby Town
Hartlepool United v Crawley Town
Leyton Orient v Portsmouth
Luton Town v Crewe Alexandra
Mansfield Town v Notts County (12:15pm)
Morecambe v Carlisle United
Stevenage v Plymouth Argyle
Yeovil Town v Wycombe Wanderers