Newport County suffered a third consecutive away defeat after a late error gifted Northampton Town a 1-0 victory at Sixfields. Manager Hayden Mullins told the South Wales Argus his team deserved more from the match this week, which saw them fail to score for the first time this season.
Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh struck the decisive blow in the 87th minute, punishing a turnover from Cameron Evans on the edge of the Newport area. The result leaves County 20th in the League Two table, still searching for a first win since the opening day. Their final position last season was also 20th, having finished with 43 points from 46 games.
Hayden Mullins pinpointed a recurring issue. "One mistake we got punished for, and it's happening a bit at the moment," the manager said. The critical error came from Evans, whose loss of possession in a dangerous area was pounced upon by Northampton. Mullins felt his side were too naive in their play at times, turning the ball over in the wrong areas of the pitch.
Despite the defeat, the manager saw positive periods. He said the Exiles were tight and solid for large parts of the first half and dominated the second period, looking comfortable against a Northampton side relegated from League One last term. "We definitely deserved a point at least," Mullins insisted, praising how his players stood up to the home side's aggression after the break.
The loss compounds a difficult start for Newport County. They have now gone five matches without a victory since their opening day success. Their current position of 20th mirrors their final standing from the 2025 campaign, where a record of 12 wins, seven draws and 27 losses left them 44 points behind champions Bromley.
Creating few chances against Northampton was a new concern, breaking a run of scoring in every previous match this season. The team's overall goal difference from last season, where they conceded 77 times while scoring 48, highlights a defensive frailty that Mullins will be keen to address.
Mullins's post-match analysis was a mix of frustration and resolve. He acknowledged the need for improvement in specific aspects of Newport's play to stop the cycle of self-inflicted wounds. The late nature of the winner, coming with just three minutes of normal time remaining, made the setback particularly hard to swallow for the travelling supporters.
The manager reiterated his belief that the performance level warranted a share of the spoils. His comments suggest a focus on cutting out the individual errors that are proving costly, rather than a complete tactical overhaul. The team's recent form of two wins, two losses and a draw in their last five games of the previous season shows they are capable of better.
Attention now turns to halting this poor run of form on the road. Mullins and his staff will work on those tweaks he mentioned, aiming to bring greater game management and resilience to the squad. The players available for this task are listed on the club's squad page.
Newport County's next opportunity to put things right comes quickly, with another away fixture scheduled. The team will need to rediscover their scoring touch quickly to improve upon last season's tally and climb the table. Their upcoming fixtures present a chance to build some momentum before the end of September.
