Watford loanee Adu-Poku stars in Newport County victory

Watford loanee Michael Adu-Poku earned Player of the Match honours in Newport County's 2-1 League Two victory over Grimsby Town at Rodney Parade.

Michael Adu-Poku made a decisive impact for Newport County in a 2-1 home victory over Grimsby Town. The win extends the Exiles' unbeaten run at Rodney Parade and lifts them to 17th place in League Two with nine points from eight games. This recent form, which includes two consecutive wins and an unbeaten streak at home, has improved their position in the standings.

Hayden Mullins's side took the lead in the 57th minute. Harrison Biggins won possession in midfield and played a through ball for Christian Doidge, who scored his second goal for the club. Shaquille Gwengwe added a second in the 69th minute, converting after a Ciaran Brennan header from a corner kept the ball alive for his fifth league goal of the season. Doidge's goal was his first in four matches, while Gwengwe's strike was his third in his last five appearances.

Grimsby pulled a goal back late through an own goal from Newport goalkeeper Jordan Wright, but the home side defended resolutely under pressure to secure the three points. The result marks a second consecutive win for Newport County, following their 2-0 victory at Swindon Town the previous weekend. Newport's defensive record now shows they have conceded in four of their last five matches, a detail visible in the team's stats.

Adu-Poku earns plaudits

Watford loanee Michael Adu-Poku was named Player of the Match for his energetic performance on the right wing. The 21-year-old, who joined on September 1, delivered several dangerous crosses and tested the Grimsby defence throughout. This is his seventh loan spell away from Vicarage Road, having previously featured for clubs including Barrow and Rochdale. In his three appearances for Newport so far, he has created five chances, a promising start detailed in his player profile.

Michael Adu-Poku said he knows the importance of maintaining his current level. "You've got to work hard up there, so we've just got to continue doing that," the winger stated. He added that the team's focus is on building momentum from this positive result.

Newport County now turn their attention to an away trip to face eighth-placed Gillingham on Saturday, October 3. This upcoming match is part of a challenging fixtures list, with Gillingham having won three of their last five home games. Newport will be looking to extend their winning run and improve their points tally further.