Newport County return to action this Saturday afternoon (3pm) as they travel to the SMH Group Stadium to take on Chesterfield for their next Sky Bet League Two clash.
The Exiles head into this match following a 2-1 home defeat in their Vertu Trophy opener against arsenal U21s. Up against a side that narrowly missed out on promotion to League One, Newport County will be looking to return to winning ways against a strong opponent.
Opposition Focus
Chesterfield have made a steady start to their second season back in League Two, recording four wins, three draws and two defeats from their opening nine matches. That return sees them sitting in 6th place, inside the early play-off positions. The Spireites have looked lively in attack with 14 goals scored, though defensively they have shown some vulnerability, conceding 12 times so far.
It comes after a strong 2024–25 campaign, when Paul Cook’s side narrowly missed out on promotion, reaching the League Two play-off semi-finals before falling short against Walsall. Having returned to the EFL as National League champions the year before, the Spireites have quickly re-established themselves as genuine contenders.
Over the summer, Chesterfield made several key additions to strengthen their squad. Zach Hemming arrived from Middlesbrough to add competition in goal, while striker Lee Bonis joined from ADO Den Haag to boost their attacking options. Former Liverpool youth prospect Adam Lewis signed from Morecambe at left-back, with winger Dilan Markanday (Blackburn Rovers) and midfielder Ryan Stirk (Walsall) also coming in. The club further bolstered their ranks with several loan deals, including Matt Dibley-Dias and Devan Tanton from Fulham.
With a refreshed squad and Cook at the helm, Chesterfield will be aiming to build on last season’s play-off run and push once again for promotion to League One.
Head-to-Head
Newport County and Chesterfield share a long history on the pitch, dating back to their first meeting in 1946, when Chesterfield came out on top.
The two sides have met a total of 40 times, with the Spireites currently leading the head-to-head record with 22 wins. The Exiles have claimed 20 victories, while there have been just two draws, highlighting how decisive this fixture usually is.
Last season, Chesterfield completed the league double over County, a result that David Hughes and his players will be eager to avenge when the sides meet again this weekend.
Memorable Encounter
One of the most memorable clashes between Newport County and Chesterfield came in the 2017–18 season, when the Exiles ran out 4-1 winners at Rodney Parade.
Chesterfield struck first after some slick build-up play, with Chris O’Grady firing past Joe Day from close range. Moments later, Jordan Sinnott nearly doubled the visitors’ advantage, rattling the post with a curling effort.
After the break, however, Newport turned the game on its head. Frank Nouble pounced on a misplaced pass and unleashed a thunderous strike from distance into the top corner to level the scores. Nouble then headed home to put Newport ahead, before completing his hat-trick with another powerful header that left goalkeeper Tommy Lee with no chance.
Nouble remained central to the action, this time turning provider with a low-driven cross for Padraig Amond, who showed superb composure to slot into the bottom corner and seal a comprehensive win for the Exiles.
Shared Shirts
Goalkeeper, Glyn Thompson had a short spell with Chesterfield in 2005 where he made just one appearance before leaving the club in the same year to rejoin Shrewsbury Town. In 2007, Thompson would join Newport County in the National League South. The shot stopper would help the Exiles gain promotion to the English fifth tier, with a record of 103 points, 28 points ahead of Dover Athletic in second place.
Tom Naylor joined Newport County on loan from Derby County in the 2013-14 season, making 40 appearances in all competitions for the Exiles. Naylor played a key role in helping the County record a 14th-place finish in their first season back in the EFL. Naylor joined Chesterfield in the National League in the summer of the 2023-24 season. Naylor helped the Spireites gain promotion to the EFL, winning the National League title on 98 points. The experienced midfielder is still a vital part of Paul Cook’s side that last season just missed out on promotion to League One.
