Match Report
On the table this was a mismatch: Northampton Town (3rd, 83 pts) held a 26-point advantage over Newport County (15th, 57 pts). Newport County's recent output outran their position: 11th on form over five rounds, 15th in the table. Scoring rates set the scale: Newport County 1.15 scored and 1.22 conceded per game, Northampton Town 1.35 and 0.91, with the league averaging 1.17.
Defeat had not touched Newport County in 5 games. 8 matches unbeaten backed Northampton Town's arrival, having scored in 9 consecutive games.
The head-to-head ledger counts 12 games: 2 Newport County wins, 8 for Northampton Town, 2 draws, at 2.58 goals per meeting. The pattern favours whoever hosts: home teams have won 67% of the meetings. 1.4 goals per game in the last five meetings marks a drop from the historical 2.58.
The match was played at Rodney Parade in Casnewyd (capacity 7,850). On the scoreboard, Newport County led 1-0 at the break; 2 second-half goals set the final 3-0.