Newport County Seeks Turnaround as Grimsby Town Boasts Strong Away Record

Newport County, under the leadership of head coach Nelson Jardim, has now played 20 matches across all competitions. Remarkably, only one of these fixtures has concluded in a draw. This season has largely seen decisive outcomes for Newport, with their inconsistent performance persisting as they prepare to host Grimsby Town in a League Two match on Saturday. Jardim’s hope is that Newport can, once again this season, manage to reverse their fortunes. The Jardim era commenced in August with consecutive defeats, which the Exiles subsequently countered with a run of three straight victories. This was followed by another three losses, then a period of three wins in four games, succeeded by three additional defeats. Newport then secured a win at Gillingham and achieved their sole draw under Jardim’s tenure to date, which occurred at home against Fleetwood Town at the end of October. Since that time, the team has experienced cup eliminations against League One opponents Peterborough United and Reading, sandwiching a disappointing league defeat away at Tranmere Rovers last weekend. Newport has not endured a winless streak of four matches throughout the current season, suggesting that Jardim’s squad might anticipate a victory when Grimsby visits Wales. David Artell’s team, Grimsby, arrives in less than optimal form, having secured only one win in their last five matches across all competitions. However, Grimsby’s recent performance in away matches within the fourth tier has been exceptional. Following initial defeats in their first three away league fixtures this season, the Mariners have achieved five consecutive victories on the road. Consequently, in the 2024-25 season, only Port Vale, the current leaders, have accumulated more away League Two points. Therefore, Newport’s attempt to break their current losing streak is expected to be challenging.