Newport's Final Day Showdown with Barrow
Newport County will face relegation rivals Barrow on the final day of the season as they fight to maintain their Football League status.
Recalling the 2017 Great Escape
Nearly ten years after Newport County's remarkable "great escape," the club finds itself battling to avoid relegation once again. In 2017, under newly appointed manager Michael Flynn, Newport achieved one of the most dramatic survivals in English Football League (EFL) history. Flynn guided the Exiles from being 11 points adrift at the bottom of League Two to safety with a last-minute victory on the final day.
Fast forward to the current season, Newport are again embroiled in a relegation fight with eight games remaining. Manager Christian Fuchs hopes to evoke the spirit of that historic survival to keep the club in the Football League, despite Newport spending over five months in the relegation zone.
It was not until 3 March, after a 3-1 win over Tranmere Rovers, that Newport finally moved clear of the relegation places for the first time in 151 days.
'Big Win' Boosts Survival Hopes
During a four-week period, Newport won three matches, equalling their total wins from the first four months of the league season, which significantly improved their chances of survival.
However, a narrow 1-0 defeat to league leaders Bromley on Tuesday night, combined with Harrogate Town's victory over Tranmere, has brought Newport back within a point of the relegation zone.
Former Wales international Sam Vokes, speaking on the Feast of Football podcast, expressed that Newport will be "gutted" to have lost to the league leaders despite dominating much of the match.
"As players it has to come from within. You're fighting for your job, your livelihood. To stay in the EFL is huge. With eight games to go, that has to be the inspiration."
For supporters, the relegation battle is an uncomfortable repeat of recent seasons. This marks the third consecutive season Newport, who finished 22nd last season, are fighting to avoid the drop, despite Fuchs previously insisting the club was not in a relegation battle.
Nevertheless, Fuchs found positives in the performance against Bromley, who remain unbeaten in 20 matches.
"I really enjoyed [how we are] playing with freedom, playing really good football in many stages of the game, and a lot to build on," said Fuchs. "The morale of the team [is] top. They are buzzing after the game, after the performance, and we need to take it in the next game. The effort they put in deserved more. I'm very proud of the team. We didn't deserve what we got [on Tuesday]."
County's Position Compared to 2017
Newport are striving to avoid relegation to the National League, the fifth tier of English football, which they last competed in during 2013.
Currently, Newport sit just above the relegation zone with 31 points from 38 games, one point fewer than at the same stage in 2017. However, the key difference is that in 2017 they were seven points adrift, whereas now they remain above the drop zone and retain control over their destiny.
Fuchs acknowledged the fine margins involved, noting that Newport created "enough chances for three games" against Bromley but lacked the finishing touch.
Newport have scored six goals in their last six matches but failed to score in three of those games. Their total of 36 league goals is the fourth lowest in the division.
Fuchs has urged his team to improve "in both boxes," as Newport have kept only six clean sheets and conceded 65 goals, the second highest in the league.
The club has also made the most errors leading to goals, exemplified by former Exile Corey Whitely's long-range winner on Tuesday, which resulted from a loose clearance.
Injuries have posed challenges, with Lee Jenkins forced off on Tuesday due to a shoulder problem and Michael Spellman limping off at Barnet. However, Fuchs stated that "everybody is available" for the upcoming trip to Walsall except Spellman, who is the joint top-scorer.
The Austrian manager hopes for Spellman's return before the season ends and emphasized the importance of squad versatility and shared responsibility for survival.
"Everybody has a responsibility in their individual positions, but then together as a collective as well," said Fuchs.
Newport County's Remaining Fixtures
- Walsall (A) - Saturday, 21 March (15:00 GMT)
- Shrewsbury (H) - Saturday, 28 March (15:00 GMT)
- Crawley (H) - Friday, 3 April (15:00 BST)
- Notts County (A) - Monday, 6 April (15:00 BST)
- Harrogate Town (H) - Saturday, 11 April (15:00 BST)
- Cheltenham (A) - Saturday, 18 April (15:00 BST)
- Oldham (H) - Saturday, 25 April (15:00 BST)
- Barrow (A) - Saturday, 2 May (15:00 BST)
Newport enter this run of fixtures with renewed confidence after a challenging period facing top-six sides. With two wins from their last four matches, hope remains alive. Vokes expects a "minimum" of four points from their next two home games.
Key matches against the current bottom two, including Harrogate at home and a potential final day decider at Barrow, mean Newport's fate is still undecided.
Former captain Jason Perry has expressed concern that Newport may face relegation to the National League for the first time in 14 seasons.
"This [relegation battle] should have been spelt out months ago. But I saw in the second half against Barnet (Saturday, 14 March) in their performance, an organisation to the team for the first time. The challenge is can they repeat that for 90 minutes and they'll need to repeat that from now to the end of the season. If they do it they're capable of staying up. If they don't, well you get punished in football and you get what you deserve."
With eight decisive matches remaining, Newport County have been in similar situations before and have survived against greater odds. Another "great escape" remains within reach.
