[ 17 Jan 26 ] GILLS v Newport County AFC Match Thread

[Garawa]

- Against the reformed Newport, the Gills have only won 1 and lost 6 of the 9 league and cup meetings. However, they have already played twice at Newport in 4 months, drawing 1 and winning 1 after 6 straight defeats against the Exiles.
- In all competitions, Newport have lost 19 (including 8 of their previous 12 matches) and won just 5 of their 31 league and cup games . However, they have won 1, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their most recent 3 - the loss coming away at top-of-the-table Bromley.
- Newport last won away at fellow relegation-threatened side Harrogate in October. It was a third consecutive away win in all competitions and a 4th win on the road from their 5 home and away wins. Since then, they are winless in 6 away (5 defeats), scoring 4 goals and conceding 15.
- Newport and Harrogate, both of League 2's bottom sides, have won 4 league games and lost 15 and both have taken 244 shots at goal (on target, off target and blocked), the fewest attempts in the division.
- Newport have won 75 corners in League 2, the fewest in the division. It is 46 fewer than the total won by the Gills and 1 short of 100 fewer than Barnet who have won the most corners in League 2.
- Newport have conceded 21 goals before half time and have a first half goal difference of -13, both the worst totals in League 2. Only Bristol Rovers (44) and Crawley (45) have conceded more goals than Newport's 43 but 2 of their 4 clean sheets have come in their last 3 league games.
- Newport have taken just 3 away leads in League 2, the joint fewest in the division. They have been behind for a total of 882 minutes in their 24 league games (an average of 36.8 minutes for each league game played) and they have been behind for 568 minutes more than they have been ahead - both the worst totals in the division.

[Sat 17th January 2026] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Gillingham FC v Newport County AFC
Opposition Manager: Christian Fuchs. Matchday Team: Jordan Wright, Ryan Delaney, [c] Matthew Baker, Lee Jenkins (Cameron Antwi), Anthony Glennon, Liam Shephard (Joe Thomas), Bobby Kamwa, Harrison Biggins, Matthew Smith (Ciaran Brennan), Michael Spellman (Tanatswa Nyakuhwa), Nathaniel Opoku (James Crole)
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (24th)
Referee: Carl Brook
Attendance: 5,548 (166)

(15.00) Kick Off [ 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 ]
(15.02) A vital save by Morris denies the visitors a certain goal at the expense of a corner.
(15.03) Morris on hand again to make a series of saves but the Gills can't clear the box and eventually the ball loops into the net.
(15.03) GOAL! Gillingham 0-1 Newport County AFC: Spellman
(15.19) A great shot by Jonny Smith beats the goalie but deflects just over the bar for a corner.
(15.39) GOAL! Gillingham 1-1 Newport County AFC: Masterson
(15.39) Morris comes out to the edge of his box. He fails to intercept and the defender takes the ball round him. He stops it from going out for a goal kick, plays it back to the middle of the box with everyone scrambling back and Masterson makes a perfectly timed challenge in the box.
(15.45) 2 minutes will be added
(15.47) Half Time 1-1

(16.04) The second half kicks off.
(16.09) A lovely cross by Jonny Smith creates the opportunity for a perfect header for Andrews but he puts it just over.
(16.15) Good work by Rowe to work space down the left. He gets in a shot that is parried and just misses a teammate who would surely have tapped home.
(16.16) Rowe brilliantly pulls the ball back for Andrews who was waiting to convert in the centre of the box but he shoots straight at the keeper.
(16.18) Fantastic work by Gale to shrug off two defenders. He cuts back to Andrews who blazes over from a yard or two out and with the keeper stranded.
(16.20) The game stops due to lack of officials after the 4th official was indisposed. Calls for a trained referee in the crowd.
(16.29) The game resumes.
(16.34) The Gills freekick is floated in and the keeper claws the header away from right underneath the bar.
(16.42) GOAL! Gillingham 1-2 Newport County AFC: Antwi
(16.48) Penalty! Only just on as a sub, McCleary is tripped in the box after good work to keep the Gills attacking.
(16.49) GOAL! Gillingham 2-2 Newport County AFC: Little (pen)
(16.49) The makeshift 4th official indicates there will be a minimum of 15 additional minutes.
(16.52) A fantastic swerving run through two Gills defenders ends with a shot across Morris who turns it over from right under the bar for a corner.
(16.57) GOAL! Gillingham 3-2 Newport County AFC: McCleary
(17.02) A brilliant save by Morris tips the ball past the post but it is returned with him stranded on the floor and Newport can't force the ball over the line.
(17.06) FULL TIME 3-2

Gills' League Position After Game: 14th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c62w6kz26r1t
Match highlights: https://youtu.be/RO_3PiKBYDs?si=nlDQr5ud7lw02lsF