Newport1 - 1Port Vale

The visitors meanwhile are looking to avoid a fourth consecutive league game without a win after what had looked a promising start to their season.

Match preview

Newport's start to their league campaign has certainly been interesting, as despite having the second-lowest xG and joint-highest xGA in League Two, they find themselves fourth after four games played.

While Graham Coughlan's side have been conceding numerous chances in their games, they have been prolific in taking their chances in their opening matches and this has been a major factor in their results thus far.

Newport are yet to see any joy in the cup competitions though, having been eliminated from the EFL Cup first round at the hands of Leyton Orient, and most recently falling to a 2-1 loss at home to Cheltenham Town on Tuesday evening in the Football League Trophy.

In terms of their league form, The Exiles come into Saturday's game on the back of a 1-0 away win at rock-bottom Morecambe courtesy of Aaron Wildig's early strike, and the midfielder now has two goals in his last two games.

Rodney Parade was not a happy place for Newport at the back end of last season, losing four games in a row on home soil, but they have won their first two home league games of this season with 3-1 victories over Doncaster Rovers and Accrington Stanley.

Port Vale travel to Newport looking for a first win in three league games, after their 4-0 defeat away at Barrow was followed up with last weekend's 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Doncaster.

Despite goals from Ryan Croasdale and Ethan Chislett, Luke Molyneux's brace and Billy Sharp's close-range finish dealt Darren Moore consecutive league defeats.

Port Vale were relegated from League One last season - scoring just 41 goals in 46 games in the process - and having sold forwards Ryan Loft, Uche Ikpeazu and James Wilson over the summer, Moore will need to find goals from his new signings if the Valiants are to push for the playoffs.

Strikers Ruari Paton and Jayden Stockley did join over the summer, but with both yet to score in the league, it is clear where the problems lie for Port Vale.

They do however come into Saturday's game on the back of a 2-2 draw and subsequent penalty shootout win over Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-21s in the Football League Trophy, with goals from Lorent Tolaj and Ronan Curtis.

Newport County League Two form:

Newport County form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

W

L

Port Vale League Two form:

Port Vale form (all competitions):

L

D

W

L

L

W

Team News

Defender James Clarke (quad) has been ruled out for at least four weeks after picking up an injury in training ahead of the Morecambe game.

Coughlan otherwise has a fully-fit squad to pick from, but it would be a surprise if he tinkered with his team from their last league outing.

For Port Vale, Mitch Clark (torn cartilage) is the only long-term absentee, but he has recently been joined on the sidelines by Sam Hart, who according to Moore is set to be out for a lengthy period of time.

Dan Jones is likely to deputise in place of the injured Hart, and in attack the likes of Stockley and Antwoine Hackford will be pushing for starts in place of Paton if Moore chooses to change up his attacking line.

Newport County possible starting lineup:

Townsend; McLoughlin, Baker, Jameson, Brennan, Driscoll-Glennon; Antwi, Morris, Wildig, Kamwa; Baker-Richardson

Port Vale possible starting lineup:

Ripley; John, Heneghan, Hall; Cover, Croasdale, Garrity, Jones; Tolaj, Curtis, Paton

We say: Newport County 2-1 Port Vale

Previews by email