League Two: How Newport County could line up versus Tranmere

South Wales Argus

03-05-2025

The Exiles finish 2024/25 with a home encounter with Tranmere Rovers and will aim to ensure that the new boss, who will be picked by owner Huw Jenkins in the coming weeks, doesn't start the next campaign on a winless streak.
Nelson Jardim had that unfortunate situation at Cheltenham in August when the last-gasp defeat made it nine losses on the spin after Graham Coughlan's eight to finish the previous season.
County go into the Tranmere game after limping towards mathematical safety since the professional 3-0 win against Harrogate on March 15.
Draws against Bromley, MK Dons and Walsall mean that they haven't quite hit the depths of despair of last season, when Coughlan cut a frustrated and perplexed figure.
Injuries and a heavy workload took their toll after a long season that featured the highs of Manchester United in the FA Cup run and the wonderful win against Wrexham at a packed Parade.
County might not be on a losing streak but the nature of the defeats to Grimsby, Notts County, Carlisle, Colchester and Fleetwood means that there is plenty to prove.
EFFORT: Bobby Kamwa and the rest of the attack will hope to fire in County's last game of the season (Image: Magi Haroun/Huw Evans Agency)
Can this squad show more grit, determination, resilience and fight?
In truth, one afternoon against Tranmere in a battle to avoid finishing 22nd – which would be County's lowest finish since the Great Escape – will not banish such doubts.
Interim head coach Dafydd Williams wants County to show more of their traditional traits but arguably doesn't have the personnel to achieve that.
There isn't a snarling holding midfielder on the books while options are limited in defence due to the absence of the suspended Ciaran Brennan and injured James Clarke and Jaden Warner.
Can they fire in attack? It's four games without a goal and stats site fotmob states they have created just one big chance in those fixtures.
Possible County XI: Townsend, Thomas, Baker, Jameson, Glennon, McLoughlin, Antwi, Whitmore, Ajiboye, Hudlin, Kamwa.
THE OPPOSITION
A tense afternoon for Tranmere at Rodney Parade looked very possible for much of the run-in but they secured their EFL status last weekend.
A 2-0 win against Crewe at Prenton Park meant that Carlisle, who went down to defeat at Cheltenham anyway, will join Morecambe in the National League.
It has been a hugely disappointing season for Rovers, who started with plenty of hope under Nigel Adkins after a strong second half of the previous campaign.
Tranmere probably showed too much faith in Adkins when things were going wrong and interim boss Andy Crosby has got them out of a pickle in a terrific audition to get the top job permanently.
Crosby has been in charge for 12 fixtures and has a record of five wins, five draws and two defeats.
He is averaging 1.67 points per game, which is the tally that third-placed Bradford have over the course of the season.
COUNTY STATS
Leading scorer: Bobby Kamwa (9).
Most assists: Anthony Glennon (8).
League position: 21st (49 points).
Form guide: DLLDDL.
FORM: Tranmere have turned around their fortunes to escape the drop (Image: Magi Haroun/Huw Evans Agency)
TRANMERE STATS
Leading scorer: Omari Patrick (10).
Most assists: Josh Hawkes, Omari Patrick, Regan Hendry (4).
League position: 22nd (48 points).
Form guide: LWDLDW.
MATCH ODDS
County 18/5, draw 11/4, Tranmere 4/6
LAST TIME
County were awful when beaten 2-1 at Tranmere in November, Connor Jennings and Kieron Morris earning the spoils for Rovers despite Kyle Hudlin's late header.
A miserable afternoon was completed when Jameson was sent off for a daft booking in added time.
Tranmere also won 2-1 in Newport in the run-in last season thanks to a brace by influential loanee Rob Apter.
League Two fixtures (all 3pm): Accrington v Chesterfield, Bradford v Fleetwood, Bromley v Cheltenham, Carlisle v Salford, Colchester v Barrow, Crewe v Walsall, Grimsby v AFC Wimbledon, Morecambe v Harrogate, Newport County v Tranmere, Notts County v Doncaster, Port Vale v Gillingham, Swindon v Milton Keynes Dons.