Newport County will be looking to bounce back after consecutive defeats in the league as they face Gillingham at Rodney Parade on Tuesday night (7:45pm).
After beating the Gills 2-0 earlier on in the season at the Priestfield Stadium, the Exiles could complete a league double over the opposition for the third season in a row.
Opposition Form
Gillingham have had a challenging season, enduring a 13-match winless streak that lasted from December 20th until their recent 1-0 victory over Morecambe on Saturday, March 1st.
In January, Gillingham underwent a managerial change, with John Coleman replacing Mark Bonner. However, Coleman has struggled to make an impact, winning only once in his tenure. His record against Newport County is not impressive, having lost four, drawn three, and won only twice in nine meetings.
Max Clark, a key player for Gillingham since joining in 2023, has been a standout performer. The 28-year-old left-back has contributed three assists this season and has kept clean sheets in three of his last four matches, quickly becoming a vital part of the Gills’ defence.
Head-to-Head
Newport County and Gillingham have a long-standing rivalry, having met 85 times in their history. The Exiles hold the upper hand, with 40 wins, 17 draws, and 28 losses.
In recent years, Newport have dominated the fixture, going unbeaten in their last seven encounters with Gillingham. This includes six victories—one of which was a penalty shootout win in the League Cup—and one draw. The Exiles have not lost to the Gills since 1986.
Previous Encounter
Newport County claimed a 2-0 victory over Gillingham earlier this season at Priestfield. The win marked Newport’s second away victory of the season, with goals from Kyle Hudlin and Matt Baker securing the three points.
Baker’s excellent volley was his third goal of the season, and the Exiles also earned their second clean sheet of the campaign, thanks to a solid defensive display.
Shared Shirts
Two players who have represented both clubs include Mark Byrne and Dom Jefferies. Byrne, who left Newport County in 2016 after making 97 appearances, joined Gillingham before moving on to Shelbourne in 2020, then to Bray Wanderers, where he eventually retired.
Jefferies, a product of Newport’s youth academy, made his debut for County at the age of 14. He left for Brentford B in 2020 before making the move to Gillingham in 2022, where he made 71 appearances. Jefferies left Gillingham this summer to join League One side Lincoln City.
Meet The Officials
Aaron Bannister will be the man in the middle when Newport County host Gillingham FC on Tuesday night (7.45pm).
The experienced EFL official is regular at League One and League Two level, and will officiate his second County match of the season.
He previously officiated the Exiles’ 3-1 victory against Accrington Stanley back in August at Rodney Parade.
