Newport County manager Hayden Mullins is demanding a fast start as his side prepares to host Tranmere Rovers in League Two this Saturday. The Exiles are looking to respond after a thrilling but costly 5-3 defeat to Bristol Rovers in the Severnside derby last time out.
This weekend's match kicks off at 15:00 BST at Rodney Parade. Mullins has kept faith with the same starting eleven for all three of Newport's competitive fixtures so far this season, a run that began with a 3-0 victory over Rochdale. The team has shown attacking promise, scoring six goals across their last two outings, but defensive frailties were exposed in that eight-goal thriller.
Hayden Mullins is under no illusions about the challenge ahead. "No game will be easy," the Newport boss stated bluntly. He emphasised the need for a strong beginning to engage the home support. "Come Saturday at three o'clock, we've got to start right, start fast and hopefully we're positive and can get the crowd with us."
The manager will be keen to build momentum at home, where Newport managed just six wins throughout the entire previous League Two campaign. That poor home form contributed to a final league standing of 20th in the 2025 table, with 43 points from 46 games. Their record showed 12 wins, 7 draws, and 27 losses, with a recent form line of WWLWL.
Visitors Tranmere Rovers arrive in Wales in confident mood. Managed by Darrell Clarke, they are unbeaten after two matches, taking four points to sit fourth in the early table. This represents a positive shift from the end of last season, where they won only one of their final twelve league games and finished just two points behind Newport County.
A familiar face could line up against his former club. Striker Courtney Baker-Richardson, who scored four goals for Newport last season, is now with Tranmere and may feature. His potential involvement adds an extra layer of intrigue to the contest. Midfielder Cole Jarvis, who played alongside Baker-Richardson last term, anticipates a physical battle. The full squad details for both teams are available on our squad page.
The dramatic loss to Bristol Rovers, where Newport led after just 15 seconds, highlighted both the team's potential and its vulnerabilities. While the attack fired, the defence conceded five, continuing a trend from the previous campaign where Newport ended with a -29 goal difference, having scored 48 and conceded 77.
That defensive record was a major factor in the club finishing a considerable 44 points behind champions Bromley in the final 2025 standings. Improving that solidity will be a primary focus for Mullins as he looks to steer the team up the table. Fans can analyse the team's statistical performance on our dedicated stats hub.
Newport County's next fixture after the Tranmere clash is a trip to face Crawley Town on September 9th.
