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It is two weeks since our last league game away to Shrewsbury, when in the end we got a credible draw, but it was another game when we failed to win after scoring first. This has become a bad trend of the season so far, as this is the fifth time this has happened, giving up 11 points from that winning position. Danny Cowley has emphasised how important it is to get that first goal in games, so he will be disappointed we have only managed to go on and win once against Rochdale, when incidently that was the only time we have kept a clean sheet. That is the obvious problem, the defence, and we need to get back to the 2024/25 season when we had 21 clean sheets. Equally the most in League Two that season. After getting 7 points from the first 3 games this season, we have now gone 5 games without a win, or if your glass is half full, we are currently 3 games undefeated.
On 20 November 2025, Christian Fuchs was appointed manager of Newport, with them bottom of the table on 11 points after 16 matches. After starting with eight consecutive matches without a win, things were looking desperate. But a better second-half to the season, cumulated in them winning the final game of the season to stay up. The great escape had been achieved. Fuchs unexpectedly resigned as Newport manager just days before players were due to return to pre-season training, stating "he didn't have a lot to give". This was a shock, and another was to follow - well certainly to Colchester fans - when the new manager was to be Hayden Mullins. Newport started the season with a bang by beating recently promoted Rochdale 3-0 on the first day, but they have only won once in 8 league games since. Though a half full glass will show they are currently undefeated in their last 4. Overall they have a very similar record to us, with both having won 2 and drawn 2 at home, and both only managing 2 draws away, and losing on all their other visits.
Newport, a brief history Formed in 1912, they were originally nicknamed The Ironsides due to Newport being home to Lysaght's Orb Works steel works. The club began life in the Southern League before being invited to become founder members of the Football League Third Division in 1920. They failed re-election in 1931, but were elected back into the Football League the next year. They struggled for the next few seasons, but went on to be crowned Third Division South champions in 1938–39. World War II meant they had to wait until the 1946–47 season to take their place in the Second Division, though they were relegated at the end of the campaign. They were relegated out of the Third Division in 1962. In the 1979–80 season, under manager Len Ashurst, they secured promotion out of the Fourth Division and won the Welsh Cup for the first time. They reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup the next year. In the 1980s they suffered financial difficulties with a double relegation costing them their Football League place in 1988 and the club went out of business in February 1989.
The club reformed but were initially unable to play at their home ground at Somerton Park, so picked up the nickname of the "Exiles". They immediately won the Hellenic League in 1989–90 and were promoted out of the Southern League Midland Division in 1994–95. While playing at Newport Stadium, they were relegated from the Premier Division in 1997, before winning promotion out of the Midland Division again in 1998–99. Placed in the Conference South in 2004, they went on to be crowned champions in 2009–10 and after moving to Rodney Parade in 2012, they returned to the Football League following a 25-year absence after winning the Conference National play-off final in 2013 under manager Justin Edinburgh.
Head to head We have only played each other 18 times. We have a pretty good record against Newport, winning 9 drawing 4 and losing the other 5.
They played for both Quite a list, but one or two are a bit tenuous, as they never made a league appearance for both teams.
Frank Nouble: The experienced forward originally joined Newport for the 2017–18 season, scoring a memorable 13-minute hat-trick against Chesterfield. He moved to Colchester in 2018, where he became a fan favorite across multiple spells. Ryan Jackson: The pacey right-back played for Newport from 2013 to 2015 before later spending three seasons with Colchester between 2017 and 2020. Alex Gilbey: A product of the Colchester academy, Gilbey captained their youth side and made over 100 senior appearances for the U's. During his early development, he was loaned to Newport in 2013, playing a key role in their historic Conference Premier play-off final victory over Wrexham. Ryan Inniss: The commanding center-back spent the 2017–18 season on loan at Colchester, making 19 appearances, before later joining Newport for the 2019–20 campaign. Courtney Senior: The winger made 145 appearances for Colchester after joining them in 2017. Upon his release in 2021, he signed directly with Newport. Shawn McCoulsky: Featured on loan for Newport during their 2017–18 season (scoring 11 goals) and later signed a permanent deal with Colchester in 2021. Michael Spellman: The winger was named the Exiles' supporters' player of the season during a two-year stint with Newport. He spent time at Colchester ahead of the 2026/27 season, but only as a trialist. He featured in some of their pre-season friendly matches (such as a game against Peterborough United in July 2026), but the club did not sign him to a permanent contract. Shortly after his trial, he joined Gateshead. Tommy O'Sullivan: The Welsh youth international midfielder had a loan spell at Newport in 2015 and later signed permanently for Colchester in 2017. Luke Gambin: Joined Newport on loan for the second half of the 2020/21 season. Played for Colchester from 2019 to 2021 before his loan switch. Jake Turner: Current Newport goalkeeper.Previously spent a period on loan with Colchester in the 2021/22 season. Steve Maedenborough:Played for Newport early in his career during the mid-1980's. Had a brief spell with Colchester later in 1994. Owura Edwards: Began his youth development in Newport's academy. Spent three seasons with Colchester, initially on loan in 2022, then permantly from 2023 to 2026.
Notable Non-playing Cross-overs
Hayden Mullins: He took charge of Colchester as head coach between 2021 and 2022, overseeing 40 games. In July 2026, he was officially appointed as the new first-team manager of Newport. Joe Dunne: He is a legendary figure at Colchester, where he played over 160 games and served as the club's first-team manager between 2012 and 2014. He later worked at Newport, serving as assistant manager alongside Graham Coughlan from October 2022 until June 2024.
Predictions Danny said in Monday's Gazette a number of players had been suffering from tendonitis, due to playing and training on hard pitches. This was why they were rested from the squad that played Luton. Hopefully two weeks rest will give them time to recover. A number of fringe players had good games against Luton, to make a case for selection, but I think Danny will stay by the team that played Shrewsbury, if he is sticking with the 4-4-2 formation he employed then. If he reverts back to 4-5-1, then I would replace Ihionvien with Thorn.
Lo-Tutala
Hunt Tucker Raggert Iandolo
Sesay Jay Williams Payne Anderson
Kouassi Ihionvien
Subs: Roberts Digby Kuffour Lubala Terry Thorn Connolly.
As for a result. Now all the new guys should be back to full fitness, I have a good feeling about this team, and I am going for a 2-0 win, with goals from Sesay and Payne.
Weather watch A dry day with sunny intervals and a moderate (15mph) breeze, and a maximum tempreature of 15C. Ideal weather for playing football.
mfb
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Exiles to lose their undefeated home record, as the U's finally win away on 09:50 - Oct 10 with 866 views
Nice one mfb, thanks! I must admit I always find it a bit of a quandary whether a reformed club is the same club as the original? Newport Council thought so, which was why they prohibited the new Newport from playing at Somerton Road over unpaid rent owed by the old Newport.
Second trip of the season coming up, looking forward to it.
280 U’s fans, only about 300 seats available. The drunken kids arrive late from the pub, and inevitably only seats in the front two rows are available. So they stand in the aisles and at the front of stairwells, obstructing the view of others that must sit on health grounds. Same thing happened at Bristol Rovers. Stewarding utterly useless. Newport should have opened the area behind the goal area for those wishing to stand.
At times things got very unpleasant and the kids language in front of many (very young) juniors was shameful. Young fans were even criticising septuagenarian fans that have supported the team for 50+ years for “not getting behind the team”, and for (example) not standing when the chant instructs you (e.g. ignoring disabilities and infirmities).
How can anybody consider bringing grandchildren into an atmosphere such as this? At home, I moved after twenty years in S2 to S5 because of deteriorating youth behaviour, and away ground experience must similarly embrace a “family area” and make proper provision for the elderly that must sit and whose medical conditions leaves them breathless if they become too vocal. Disabilities are not always obvious, but hate and spite are conspicuous.
Half time catering, one person in burger van to serve 280 - ridiculous queues. In the bar, the only pale ale was Neck Oil at £6.50 a pint. Chants desiring the death of Robbie Cowling and Andy Burnham, or declaring that the referee is a paedophile are patently hate crimes. Singing this nonsense in the High Street would produce an arrest, so why not in a football ground? Racist chants might have been eliminated, but have been replaced with a new level of disgust. I might cease travelling away if our idiot fans continue this embarrassment. Rant over.
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Exiles to lose their undefeated home record, as the U's finally win away on 09:38 - Oct 11 with 463 views
Exiles to lose their undefeated home record, as the U's finally win away on 06:52 - Oct 11 by noah4x4
Horrible experience - worse than Bromley
280 U’s fans, only about 300 seats available. The drunken kids arrive late from the pub, and inevitably only seats in the front two rows are available. So they stand in the aisles and at the front of stairwells, obstructing the view of others that must sit on health grounds. Same thing happened at Bristol Rovers. Stewarding utterly useless. Newport should have opened the area behind the goal area for those wishing to stand.
At times things got very unpleasant and the kids language in front of many (very young) juniors was shameful. Young fans were even criticising septuagenarian fans that have supported the team for 50+ years for “not getting behind the team”, and for (example) not standing when the chant instructs you (e.g. ignoring disabilities and infirmities).
How can anybody consider bringing grandchildren into an atmosphere such as this? At home, I moved after twenty years in S2 to S5 because of deteriorating youth behaviour, and away ground experience must similarly embrace a “family area” and make proper provision for the elderly that must sit and whose medical conditions leaves them breathless if they become too vocal. Disabilities are not always obvious, but hate and spite are conspicuous.
Half time catering, one person in burger van to serve 280 - ridiculous queues. In the bar, the only pale ale was Neck Oil at £6.50 a pint. Chants desiring the death of Robbie Cowling and Andy Burnham, or declaring that the referee is a paedophile are patently hate crimes. Singing this nonsense in the High Street would produce an arrest, so why not in a football ground? Racist chants might have been eliminated, but have been replaced with a new level of disgust. I might cease travelling away if our idiot fans continue this embarrassment. Rant over.
Unfortunately, it only takes a few disappointing results for the RC shit to resurface. I got the sense that a few of the older vocal supporters weren’t there yesterday as a moderating influence. To be honest though, there was very little for a decent turnout to get excited about. I thought Digby had a decent game, but few others did. Jack Payne was surprisingly poor, struggled to find a pass all game.
Exiles to lose their undefeated home record, as the U's finally win away on 14:27 - Oct 10 by wessex_exile
Looks like Kouassi must be injured?
According to pre match interview it emerged that he has a serious hamstring injury, which unfortunately the opposition found out about between the Thursday and Saturday. Seems Mullins coped better knowing than he did. Somehow we need to find a makeshift centre forward sharpish or another bottom two finish looms . The exciting times ahead have rapidly disappeared.
Exiles to lose their undefeated home record, as the U's finally win away on 06:52 - Oct 11 by noah4x4
Horrible experience - worse than Bromley
280 U’s fans, only about 300 seats available. The drunken kids arrive late from the pub, and inevitably only seats in the front two rows are available. So they stand in the aisles and at the front of stairwells, obstructing the view of others that must sit on health grounds. Same thing happened at Bristol Rovers. Stewarding utterly useless. Newport should have opened the area behind the goal area for those wishing to stand.
At times things got very unpleasant and the kids language in front of many (very young) juniors was shameful. Young fans were even criticising septuagenarian fans that have supported the team for 50+ years for “not getting behind the team”, and for (example) not standing when the chant instructs you (e.g. ignoring disabilities and infirmities).
How can anybody consider bringing grandchildren into an atmosphere such as this? At home, I moved after twenty years in S2 to S5 because of deteriorating youth behaviour, and away ground experience must similarly embrace a “family area” and make proper provision for the elderly that must sit and whose medical conditions leaves them breathless if they become too vocal. Disabilities are not always obvious, but hate and spite are conspicuous.
Half time catering, one person in burger van to serve 280 - ridiculous queues. In the bar, the only pale ale was Neck Oil at £6.50 a pint. Chants desiring the death of Robbie Cowling and Andy Burnham, or declaring that the referee is a paedophile are patently hate crimes. Singing this nonsense in the High Street would produce an arrest, so why not in a football ground? Racist chants might have been eliminated, but have been replaced with a new level of disgust. I might cease travelling away if our idiot fans continue this embarrassment. Rant over.
Doesn't sound good noah. It's becoming a worrying theme that a small number of our "fans" are not particularly pleasant people and that's putting it mildly. It's a unsavoury element that I'd prefer our football club not to be associated with. Idiotic morons the lot of them.
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