Town will be looking to make it three league wins in a row this weekend as Newport County AFC visit the Energy Check County Ground on Saturday.

Despite Richie Wellens’ men going out of the FA Cup last weekend, their league run stays in-tact and another win could take them to within two points of the play-offs.

Last time out in the league, Town thrillingly beat Stevenage 3-2, and will hope for the same amount of excitement in their third home game in 12 days.

The Oppo

After finishing 22^nd in the 2016/17 League Two season, Newport improved on their showing last season, finishing 11^th. This term, they have maintained that steady progression and find themselves fourth heading into the Christmas fixture list.

Despite a 3-0 opening day loss, their early-season form was impressive – they won seven out of ten game in the league to kick off their 2017/18 campaign.

Since then, they’ve maintained a relatively steady form, apart from almighty blips against Yeovil and Crawley, losing 6-0 and 4-1 respectively.

Jamille Matt is their top goalscorer this season with 10 goals – Padraig Amond is hot on his heels with nine, and five assists, however.

Head-to-head

Town’s record against Newport, in the league, is not the greatest – the last time the Robins beat Saturday’s visitors in a league fixture was 1987.

Earlier in the seaso, Town were on top in the Checkatrade Trophy, winning 1-0 through a Michael Doughty penalty - Swindon's third victory over the Exiles in four years. 

06 Sep 1986        Newport County AFC v Swindon Town    D             2-2          League Division Three

25 Jan 1987         Swindon Town v Newport County AFC    W            3-0          League Division Three

23 Sep 2014        Newport County AFC v Swindon Town    W            1-2          Johnstones Paint Trophy

01 Sep 2015        Newport County AFC v Swindon Town    W            1-1          Johnstones Paint Trophy

25 Nov 2017        Swindon Town v Newport County AFC    L              0-1          League Two

14 Apr 2018        Newport County AFC v Swindon Town    L              2-1          League Two

11 Sep 2018        Swindon Town v Newport County AFC    W            1-0          Football League Trophy

The Gaffer

Newport born and bred, Michael Flynn has a long relationship with the Club.

He began his Newport career as a teenager in the academy before breaking through to the first team and eventually earning a move to pro-football.  In 2012, Flynn returned to help fire the Club into the Football League with victory over Wrexham in the play-off final at Wembley.

After initially retiring from playing, he progressed through the roles of first team coach, academy manager, then (briefly and slightly bizarrely) Football and Business Development Director, before returning as a first team coach under then manager Graham Westley.

He re-signed as a player in January 2017 making his fourth debut for the Club in a 3-1 home win vs Hartlepool.

In March 2017, Michael Flynn was appointed the Club’s Caretaker Manager in the face of almost certain relegation from the Football League.  Cast 11 points adrift with 12 games to go, the rookie manager was tasked with nothing more than restoring fight and pride into the Club.  12 games later, he and the team had achieved what football pundits had deemed impossible and fought their way out of the relegation zone and retained their League Status in dramatic style.

On 9th May 2017, Michael Flynn was named as the Club’s permanent Manager.  Not quite ready to hang up his playing boots, Flynn is ready to resume his playing role if the Club needs him.