PREVIEW: Coventry City v Newport County - Sky Blues welcome the Exiles to the Ricoh

Mark Robins side look to maintain their winning start to their League Two campaign...

17 August 2017

Venue: Ricoh Arena

Competition: Sky Bet League Two

Date: Saturday, August 19th

Kick-off: 3pm

The Sky Blues are flying high at the top of Sky Bet League Two after impressive back-to-back wins against Notts County and Grimsby Town.

Coventry are yet to concede and thanks to Jodi Jones’ opening day hat-trick along with goals for Marc McNulty and Jack Grimmer, they have carved themselves an early two-point lead in the league standings.

Next up for City, are Newport County who sit 16^th in the division after a 1-1 draw with Crewe Alexandra and an opening day clash against Stevenage that saw the Exiles come from two goals behind to snatch a late point in a thriller at the Lamex Stadium.

Only taking over in March, gaffer Mike Flynn is fairly new to the management scene since making the jump from a player to a manager at Rodney Parade last season. Despite managing Undy Athletic in 2015, in his first Football League role he has excelled, taking charge of the club 24^th in League Two and dragging them to safety with seven wins in his last 13 matches.

The Opponents

Former Sky Blue Frank Nouble, has scored in both of Newport’s opening league fixtures, poaching both goals from inside the six-yard box. Nouble scored 6 goals during his time at the Ricoh Arena with his most famous being the club’s first goal back in Coventry sealing a 1-0 win against Gillingham.

Upfront with Nouble is likely to be Shawn McCoulsky. The striker is on loan from Bristol City and attracted his parent club’s attention after scoring 9 goals in his first 13 games for Dulwich Hamlet as a 17-year old.

David Pipe is another who may be familiar to City fans. Pipe made 21 appearances between 2001 and 2004 after graduating from the academy. The Welsh international has since made over 250 league appearances as well as featuring in non-league for Eastleigh and Forest Green Rovers.

Memorable Meetings

The last time the Sky Blues met Newport was in a pre-season friendly last season. The game was played at Spytty Park, not the sides home stadium Rodney Parade. George Thomas gave City the lead just before half-time after a dummy from Marcus Tudgay.

Jordan Willis was on hand to grab the winner just short of the hour mark. Andy Rose’s header came back off the bar and fell to Willis to smash home but it was Marvin Sordell’s hard work that created the opportunity.

Last Four Meetings

Newport County 1-2 Coventry City – Division Three – 23^rd December 1961

Coventry City 3-0 Newport County – Division Three – 25^th August 1961

Newport County 3-3 Coventry City – Division Three – 20^th March 1961

Coventry City 4-1 Newport County – Division Three – 27^th August 1960

Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT: Coventry City 0-1 Newport County - Sky Blues suffer defeat against the Exiles

A solitary strike from Reece Cole enough to earn the visitors the three points...

19 August 2017

The Sky Blues have suffered their first League defeat of the season at the hands of Newport County at the Ricoh Arena.

Reece Cole’s speculative effort from range was the difference between the two sides in a closely fought contest in Sky Bet League Two.

Tony Andreu was given his home debut and came close to levelling in the second half but could not do enough to turn the game back in Coventry’s favour.

The first half was certainly a game of few chances. Jodi Jones’ burst into the area would be the most notable of the early period but the 19-year-old could not get his shot away.

It took 25 minutes for either side to come close to opening the scoring. Mark O’Brien broke free down the right-hand side and fired an effort low into the six-yard box but Liam O’Brien was on hand to hook it away with his feet.

The Sky Blues ended what a was a sloppy first half the stronger. Jack Grimmer’s drive into the area won City a corner that resulted in a Peter Vincenti chance at the far post but the former Rochdale man could only head down into the ground and wide.

There was little change to the games tempo after the break, before Newport snatched the opener unexpectedly. A speculative Reece Cole effort from range bobbled over O'Brien and into the empty net. The visitors had pulled a surprise lead.

Tony Andreu was given his home debut just after the hour mark and would have made an instant impact in Sky Blue if it wasn’t for a stunning reflex save from Joe Day. The Frenchman chopped back inside his defender and curled his shot through a crowd, heading for the far corner but Day was able to get a strong right hand behind it and keep it out.

Exiles ‘keeper Day was called upon again late on to keep the ball out of the Newport. Jones twisted and turned before his deflected cross looped up and over everyone in the area except for Day who palmed it over the ball.

Attendance: 8,745 (908)

Yellow: Reynolds, White.

Teams:

Coventry City XI: O'Brien (GK), Grimmer, Willis (Biamou 78'), McDonald, Stokes, Doyle (C), Kelly (Stevenson 60'), Vincenti, McNulty, Jones, Beavon (Andreu 60').

Coventry City Subs: Burge (GK), Hyam, Pearson, Nazon.

Newport County XI: Day (GK), Pipe, Labadie (C), White, Willmott, Dolan, Nouble, Cole (Bennett 68'), O'Brien, Demetriou, Quigley (Reynolds 68').

Newport County Subs: Bittner (GK), Butler, Tozer, McCoulsky, Martin.

Match Reports

Standings