Newport v Sutton preview

26 August 2023

Sutton's second away Sky Bet League Two game of the season sees U's heading down the M4 to take on Newport County at Rodney Parade. U's will be wearing the third choice white kit.

Last season's visit to Newport, at the end of February, saw one of U's best away performances of the season as goals from Coby Rowe and Ali Smith secured a 2-0 win, and at that stage U's form was such that a play-off place was a serious possibility. Subsequent form saw Sutton drop back to mid-table, and indeed that win remains U's last away win in the league. It also banished memories of the previous season's visit when Newport came from 2-0 down at half time to win 3-2 with a stoppage time penalty.

It's been something of an inconsistent start for Newport, who finished last season one place and one point behind Sutton. They were beaten heavily at Accrington on the opening day but recovered with a Carabao Cup win over Charlton and a 4-0 league win against Doncaster, since when they have lost 4-2 at Crewe but won 3-0 at Forest Green. Striker Will Evans, who signed at the start of last season from Welsh Premier League football, has scored five goals in those league games, plus one against Charlton, and goes in to the weekend as the division's leading scorer. Strike partner Seb Palmer-Houlden, on a season long loan from Bristol City, has also impressed in the early games.

Like U's, Newport have a Carabao Cup second round tie to look forward to next week, with Premier League Brentford visiting Rodney Parade.

Sutton have lost three in a row after the successes of the first week against Notts County and Cambridge United, and will again be without Harry Smith as the striker sits out the last game of his three game ban. However manager Matt Gray reports that both Sam Hart and Aiden O'Brien will be in contention for selection after recovering from injury, although goalkeeper Steve Arnold remains on the sidelines with a hip injury.

Referee Matt Corlett is in his first season on the EFL list and is taking charge of a Sutton game for the first time.

Tickets remain on sale on line by clicking here but must now be collected from the Newport ground on the day. Prices are £24 for adults, £20 for age 60 and over, £18 for ages 16-21, £12 for age 12-15, £10 for age 6-11 and free for children under 6. Tickets can be bought at the ground on the day of the game from the away end ticket booth at gate 6, but carry a £2 increase on the above prices. The ticket booth opens at 1.30pm, and this is also where pre-bought tickets can be collected.

Our accommodation is in the covered Bisley Stand, and we will be wearing our white kit.

Supporters not travelling can listen to a full audio commentary through our iFollow service, and overseas supporters can watch the game live. For the audio commentary in the UK, passes can be bought for £2.50, but monthly passes are available for £4.49 and season passes for £45, both excellent value. Overseas supporters can watch every league and EFL Trophy game, with a match pass costing £10. Again monthly passes are available at £25 and time is running out to buy an annual video pass at the early bird price of £140 which runs out at the end of August. Click here for full details and to purchase a pass.

Anyone who wants to watch a game live on Saturday can see if our Academy side can maintain their 100% record against another side to have won both their first two EFL Youth Alliance games, AFC Wimbledon. The game is at the KCL Kings Sports Ground in Windsor Avenue, New Malden (KT3 5HA), kick off 10.30am.

For supporters travelling to Newport, the Supporters' Club coach leaves the VBS at 8.45am.

Independent travellers driving should leave the M4 at junction 24 and take the B4237 towards Newport (East). In about two and a half miles at a set of lights turn left, still signposted the B4237. Go under a railway bridge and turn right at the next set of lights in to Corporation Road. The ground and the away supporters' entrance is on the left. There is no parking at the ground, but street parking is available around the ground and the town centre multi-storey car parks are only a short walk away.

By rail you can travel from Paddington to Newport on an hourly service at 48 minutes past the hour, taking about an hour and a half. It's about a ten minute walk from the station to the ground,- come out of the main exit and turn left in to Queensway. Keep going until you get to a large roundabout, and take the pedestrian underpass to the centre of the roundabout. Turn left towards Clarence Pier and the River Usk. On returning to ground level cross the bridge in front of you over the river and turn right in to Rodney Parade. Due to Saturday's rail strike the last return train is at 17.31.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Match report for Newport County 3 Sutton United 1

26 August 2023

Newport County 3 (Kizzi og 70, Charsley 77, Evans 87) Sutton United 1 (Patrick 53)

Three goals in the last twenty minutes consigned Sutton to a fourth consecutive league defeat after Omari Patrick's goal early in the second half had given U's the lead. Joe Kizzi's own goal saw Newport level before goals from Harry Charsley and Will Evans secured the points for the home side.

With skipper Craig Eastmond missing through injury there was a first league start for U's for Craig Clay, with Harry Beautyman taking the captain's armband, while Sam Hart and Aiden O'Brien were fit to take places on the substitutes' bench.

There weren't too many clear sights of goal for either side in the early stages, Jack Rose diving on a glancing Ryan Delaney header following a long throw from Shane McLoughlin, and Patrick seeing a curling effort that might have been heading inside the post deflected away by James Clarke. Midway through the half the game's first corner produced a half chance for the home side as Aaron Wildig's flag kick from the left was headed wide by Clarke, and on the half hour Adam Lewis sent a 20-yard shot just too high for the hosts after a cross from the right had run loose.

Newport threatened again eight minutes before half time when leading scorer Will Evans collected a high ball over the top and stayed clear of Omar Sowunmi only to see Rose dive to his left to save and then react superbly to deny Seb Palmer-Houlden as the ball ran loose. It had been far from one way traffic, though, with Josh Coley and Omari Patrick both lively on the flanks, and after doing well to create some space Coley saw one shot blocked. Coley and Lee Angol were booked for fouls in quick succession in first half stoppage time but Newport were unable to take advantage of the free kicks as the half ended goalless.

The first chance of the second half was Sutton's, as a Rob Milsom free kick was cleared as far as Harry Beautyman, whose low shot was deflected wide, but just three minutes later U's had the lead as Coley's cross found the head of Angol at the far post, and although his header was blocked the ball ran loose to Patrick who fired home.

Rose came to Sutton's rescue, and Milsom's in particular, five minutes later when Scot Bennett's cross was headed back by Palmer-Houlden, and a ricochet off Milsom was going in until Rose's reaction save stopped it on the line, and as the home side looked for an equaliser Beautyman blocked Wildig's shot and Bryn Morris shot just over after Rose had punched Wildig's cross clear. U's still threatened, though, and Patrick was denied by Nick Townsend after being put through by Coley.

The game turned as Newport brought on last season's leading scorer Omar Bogle for his first appearance of the season after injury, and the striker was involved in the build up that led to the equaliser within four minutes as he combined with Evans to release Lewis on the left, and his cross was diverted spectacularly in by a diving Kizzi. Seven minutes later and the turn round was complete as another Lewis cross was collected by McLaughlin beyond the far post, and he chipped the ball back for Harry Charsley to head home.

Patrick shot too high from the edge of the penalty area before U's rang the changes with four substitutes, Sowunmi going in to the forward line, but before the changes could take any effect another replacement, Sam Hart, was unable to prevent the ball reaching Palmer-Houlden on the right and his cross was headed in by Evans. It might have been worse but for a fine save by Rose from Bogle after the striker had been left clear by Ryan Jackson's underhit pass.

Sutton: J Rose, J Kizzi, R Milsom (sub S Hart 84), O Sowunmi, B Goodliffe, C Clay(sub C N'Guessan 84), J Coley (sub D Mellor 85), S Kashket(sub A O'Brien 61), L Angol (sub R Jackson 85), H Beautyman, O Patrick. Subs n/u B House, L John. Booked: Coley, Angol, Sowunmi

Newport: N Townsend, S McLoughlin, A Lewis, R Delaney, J Clarke, A Wildig(sub J Waite 89), W Evans, B Morris, S Palmer-Houlden(sub J Seberry 89), H Charsley, S Bennett (sub O Bogle 66). Subs n/u J Maxted, L Payne, N Wood, M Bondswell. Booked: Bennett

Referee: Matt Corlett

Attendance: 3,730 (157 away)

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Newport County vs Sutton United - Replay - Sat 26th August 2023

Newport County vs Sutton United - Highlights - Sat 26th August 2023

Newport County vs Sutton United - Extended highlights - Sat 26th August 2023