Newport County AFC League Two safety confirmed, Walsall 0-0

South Wales Argus

21-04-2025

County knew a win over promotion-chasing Walsall in yesterday's early kick-off at Rodney Parade would finish the job.
A battling 0-0 draw after Ciaran Brennan was sent off 12 minutes from time wasn't enough to get over the line, but Carlisle had to win to keep Nelson Jardim's men sweating.
And the Cumbrians, now managed by former Wales boss Mark Hughes, could only manage a 1-1 draw at Accrington so cannot now catch the Exiles.
Speaking before safety was confirmed, Jardim said he was happy to secure a draw against Walsall - especially after the visitors had a stoppage-time winner eventually ruled out for handball.
"It's a valuable point against a very good team that has spent a lot of months at the top of the table," said Jardim.
"The way we competed and performed, and kept another clean sheet, and showed the fight and the organisation we need was positive.
"I think it was quite even, and for spells we were the better team. After the red card we had to adjust a couple of things and the injuries also had an impact."
Brennan was shown a straight red for what was deemed a dangerous challenge on Taylor Allen.
"The red card was in the 78th minute but, with injury time, we had to play for 22 minutes a man down and we showed the character and the fight that sometimes these boys have been accused of not having," added Jardim, who felt the officials got it right in disallowing Oisin McEntee's goal at the death.
"We could see it clearly. It was a handball and it was the right decision."
In a dramatic finale to what had been a humdrum Easter Monday contest, County also lost substitute Josh Martin to injury after a collision with Walsall goalkeeper Tommy Simkin.
"It was a nasty clash," said Jardim. "I can recall Jacob Carney getting sent off earlier in the season for a very similar situation.
Obviously, with the amount of blood he had in his face, it looked serious."
Martin is likely to miss the Exiles' penulimate match at Fleetwood Town on Saturday, while veteran defender James Clarke's season looks to be over after he was forced off with a groin strain in the first half.
"Clarkey has been great, he's been playing a lot of games and we haven't been able to rotate the team as we'd wish," said Jardim.
"He brings that experience to the back line that we lacked for part of the season.
"But we knew that two games within four days was not going to be easy for him.
"He had to come off with cramps in the last game but we felt it was the right decision to play him again.
"It has come with a cost of losing him for the rest of the season."