Newport County suffer heavy pre-season defeat to Reading
Newport County suffered a 4-0 defeat to League One side Reading in a pre-season friendly at Rodney Parade. The Exiles, who finished 20th in League Two last season with 43 points, struggled against their higher-league opponents.
What happened in the match?
Reading took the lead early when former Portsmouth forward Jacob Brown slotted home from the edge of the area after just 10 minutes. The Royals had further chances to extend their lead before the break but could only add a second goal early in the second half. Josh Stokes finished a neat move after capitalising on Yahya Bamba's misplaced pass. Jerae Jones then added two more goals to complete a dominant performance by Reading.
Why it matters for Newport County
The heavy defeat highlights the challenge Newport County face as they prepare for the new League Two season. Interim boss Chris Todd gave starts to five summer signings and teenager Harri Pugh, but the team will need to improve defensively if they are to avoid another struggle at the bottom of the table. Last season, they conceded 77 goals, finishing with a -29 goal difference.
What comes next for the Exiles?
Newport County will host Italian giants Roma at Rodney Parade on Tuesday, 4 August, in what promises to be a packed and exciting fixture. Their first competitive game of the season will be away to AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup on Saturday, 8 August, followed by their League Two opener at home to Rochdale on Saturday, 15 August. Their next league fixture is against Tranmere on 29 August, with the visitors currently 21st in the table.
