Newport County's penalty struggles are the worst in the entire English Football League, a problem that has hampered their campaign. The club has converted only two of nine spot-kicks across all competitions over the past two seasons, a success rate of 16.7 percent. This issue has contributed to a season where they have scored 20 goals and conceded 17, leaving them 14th in League Two with 18 points from four wins, six draws and four losses.
Six of those nine attempts were aimed to the goalkeeper's right and all were saved. In League Two alone, the Exiles have scored just once from six penalties. Three different managers have overseen the team during this slump, which has persisted despite a recent 4-1 win over Chesterfield on Saturday 30 October. Their recent form of two wins, two draws and one loss includes that victory, a 1-0 loss at Cheltenham on Saturday 24 October, and a 2-2 draw at Rotherham on Tuesday 20 October.
Gwenge's return offers hope
Shaquille Gwenge is available again after a three-game suspension and has been practicing penalties extensively. Manager Hayden Mullins was without the forward for those matches, during which Newport missed two penalties. Gwenge, who has six goals this season, is seen as a potential solution to the conversion issues.
Other players who have been denied from twelve yards include Cameron Antwi, Nathaniel Opoku, Bobby Kamwa and Shaquille Gwenge. Harrison Biggins scored a penalty in the 2-2 draw at Rotherham in October but missed one against Cheltenham Town four days later. Ged Garner's effort was saved to the left against Swindon Town, while Yahya Bamba had a penalty ruled out for a double touch before converting the retake.
Mullins defends penalty-taking approach
Hayden Mullins, the 47-year-old manager, insists on giving sole penalty responsibility to his centre-forward and remains unconcerned by the poor record. "We never lay any blame on anyone who steps up to take a penalty," Mullins said. He added that penalties depend on fatigue, mindset, location, the goalkeeper and how a player feels in the moment.
"Penalties are always tough," Mullins said. "Harrison scored the game before [but] it's a game of cat and mouse really between you and the goalkeeper." The manager stated he would never spend too much energy worrying about the success rate and that the team can practice as much as they want to be ready for the next opportunity.
Newport County currently sit 14th in League Two with 18 points from 14 games, two points off the play-off places. They are 13 points behind leaders Salford City. Their next test is an away match against fourth-placed Crewe on Saturday 14 November, a fixture that will test their resolve from the spot as they aim to close the gap.
