On New Year’s Day, Newport County found themselves languishing down in 18th in the League Two table. Fast forward just under two months and they have now risen to 10th, on the cusp of the top seven. Could the Welsh side be dark horses for the play-offs?
They are just two points behind Walsall in the final play-off spot, whom County beat 3-0 earlier this month. The Midlands side will be hard to topple though, having won their last four matches.
The Exiles’ are in impressive form themselves. Their 20 points from their last 10 league outings has put them in contention in the upper reaches of the table, and they currently sit third in the form table.
Newport were heavily tipped to struggle at the beginning of the campaign after arguably overachieving last season with a 15th placed finish. Of course, it helps to have a prolific goalscorer in your midst and in 26-year-old Will Evans, the Welsh side do have an accomplished attacker. With 20 goals in 34 games, only Notts County’s Macaulay Langstaff and Salford City’s Matt Smith have scored more.
Youngster Seb Palmer-Houlden, on loan from Championship side Bristol City, often partners him up-front. In 22 starts, the 19-year-old has six goals. He recently signed a new three-year deal with his parent club so is highly thought of at the Robins.
Fellow forwards Luke Jephcott, Omar Bogle and Offrande Zanzala aren’t bad backups either. The latter scored two against Harrogate Town in their previous fixture, which saw Newport record an impressive 4-1 away win.
Graham Coughlan has to take some credit for their consistency as well. The Irishman has seen his side win seven times in all competitions since the beginning of the year. Experience at the back helps and with captain Scot Bennett and Shane McLoughlin, they have that in abundance, with over 200 league appearances between them.
Old heads Bryn Morris and captain Bennett shore up the midfield alongside ex-Morecambe midfielder Aaron Wildig. The Exiles’ style of play is possession-based and a lot of their play does go through the midfield.
It was announced last month that the club had been purchased by Welshman Huw Jenkins, formerly chairman of Swansea City, buying the club from the supporter’s trust. A few days later in the FA Cup, County reached the fourth round, overcoming Oldham Athletic, Barnet and Eastleigh along the way, before eventually going out to Premier League giants Manchester United.
Despite a brilliant day at Rodney Parade for the club and their fans, The game ended 4-2, but the Welsh side showed character coming from 2-0 down to level the game before United turned up the heat.
Coughlan has to contend with one of the hardest run-ins in the league though, facing fellow promotion-chasers Barrow, Stockport County and Mansfield Town in their last 12 games. This run of form is bound to have given them confidence, however, and two points is a small margin to overcome.
As is the tightness of League Two, no less than 11 teams could make it into the play-offs. With all the limelight on their Welsh neighbours Wrexham, could Newport thrive in these last 12 games and sneak into the top seven? There’s no reason why they can’t.
