Newport County AFC started their League Two campaign on a high note, securing a 3-0 victory over Rochdale at Rodney Parade. The win, achieved through goals from Kyle Cameron, Shaquille Gwengwe, and Yahya Bamba, marked a significant milestone for the Exiles. Manager Hayden Mullins, who was making his competitive debut at Rodney Parade, was pleased with the team's performance and the strong support from the home fans.
Mullins highlighted the team's solid start to the season, stating, 'We know that we need to make our home form really positive this season and we wanted to lay a marker down and I think we did that.' He praised the players for their execution, saying, 'The boys deserve massive credit because they went about their jobs really well. They've really responded to what I'm trying to put across, they believe in the work that we've been doing and they put in a real good shift.'
Despite the victory, Mullins remained humble and realistic, noting, 'I think there's definitely another level. I don't think this is us. It's the first game of the [league] season and there's definitely more levels.' He also pointed out that the team's fitness could improve and that there were more scoring opportunities.
Mullins expressed particular joy for the goalscorers, especially Shaq and Yahya, saying, 'That will give them such a lift.' He also mentioned that Doidgey could have added another goal, which would have made the day perfect. The manager emphasized the importance of building a connection with the fans and acknowledged the upcoming tough challenges, stating, 'It's going to be really tough this season. We've done nothing yet. It's the first game and we've got a really tough one next against Bristol [Rovers].'
Overall, Mullins remains optimistic about the team's future and is confident that with continued hard work and focus, the Exiles can achieve great things this season.
