2014–15 Newport County A.F.C. season

The 2014–15 season was Newport County's second consecutive season in Football League Two, 62nd season in the Football League and 94th season of league football overall. They finished the season in 9th place, narrowly missing out on the play-offs.

Newport County
2014–15 season
ChairmanLes Scadding
ManagerJustin Edinburgh
(until 7 February 2015)
Jimmy Dack
(from 7 February 2015)
StadiumRodney Parade
League Two9th
FA CupFirst round
League CupFirst round
League TrophyFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Aaron O'Connor 11
All: Aaron O'Connor 12
Highest home attendance5,020 vs Plymouth Argyle (26 December 2014)
Lowest home attendance1,882 vs Swindon Town (23 September 2014) Football League Trophy round 1
Average home league attendance3,213

Season Review

League

The season started with three straight league defeats, including a 3–2 defeat at Morecambe where County were leading 2–0 at half time. However, with Newport lying just outside the relegation places they entered a run of form that saw them lose just two more games in the first half of the season. Highlights included home wins over Northampton Town, AFC Wimbledon, York City, Southend United, Stevenage and Plymouth Argyle; and away wins at Portsmouth, Dagenham & Redbridge, Bury, Carlisle United and Cheltenham Town. At the halfway point in the season County were in the play-off positions in 5th place, just three points from an automatic promotion spot.

In the new year, the good results kept coming: Home wins over Carlisle and Portsmouth put County in third place. However, there was speculation that County's success had led to interest in manager Justin Edinburgh from other clubs.[1] There had been approaches in the previous season: On 2 December 2013, County rejected an approach from Edinburgh's former club Portsmouth to be interviewed as a successor to Guy Whittingham as Portsmouth manager.[2] In January 2014 Edinburgh stated he had rebuffed an unofficial approach directly to himself to be considered as manager of Northampton Town[3] Following the win over Portsmouth, County had now lost three games in a row, as the speculation about Edinburgh's future grew. On 3 February Gillingham made an official approach, and on 7 February he was announced as the new Gills' boss. His departure was confirmed just two hours before kick-off at AFC Wimbledon and, under caretaker manager Jimmy Dack, County slipped to a fourth successive defeat.[4] County halted a run of four straight defeats with a 1–1 draw against Tranmere Rovers in Dack's first home game in charge. Despite the poor run of form Newport were still within the play-off positions, in 6th place.[5] However, with only five more wins in the remaining 16 games, County slipped out of the play-off places, eventually finishing 9th.

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
461811175052 −2659772923 +694102129 −8

Last updated: 2 May 2015.
Source: [1]

Results by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHAHHAAHAHAHHAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAH
ResultLLLDWDWDDWLWWWDDDWWWLWWWWLLLLDWLWLLDWDWDLLLLWL
Position2321222219191717161518139878987677543566666877998766789999
Updated to match(es) played on 2 May 2015. Source: bbc.co.uk
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
1Burton Albion (C, P)46281086939+3094Promotion to Football League One
2Shrewsbury Town (P)46278116731+3689
3Bury (P)46267136040+2085
4Wycombe Wanderers46231586745+2284Qualification for League Two play-offs[a]
5Southend United (O, P)462412105438+1684
6Stevenage462012146254+872
7Plymouth Argyle462011155537+1871
8Luton Town461911165444+1068
9Newport County461811175154−365
10Exeter City461713166165−464
11Morecambe461712175352+163
12Northampton Town46187216762+561
13Oxford United461516155049+161
14Dagenham & Redbridge46178215859−159
15AFC Wimbledon461416165460−658
16Portsmouth461415175254−257
17Accrington Stanley461511205877−1956
18York City461119164651−552
19Cambridge United461312216166−551
20Carlisle United46148245674−1850
21Mansfield Town46139243862−2448
22Hartlepool United46129253970−3145
23Cheltenham Town (R)46914234067−2741Relegation to the National League
24Tranmere Rovers (R)46912254567−2239
Updated to match(es) played on 23 May 2015. Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:

Squad statistics

Squad information

Caps and goals as at 10 May 2015 as per Soccerbase.

No.NamePositionNationalityPlace of birthDate of birth (Age)Club caps
all competitions
Club goals
all competitions
Previous clubDate signedFeeContract end
Goalkeepers
1Lenny PidgeleyGK Twickenham (1984-02-07) 7 February 1984 (age 40)740Exeter City1 August 2012Free2015
22Simon ThomasGK Victoria, British Columbia (1990-04-12) 12 April 1990 (age 34)00Vancouver Whitecaps8 August 2014Free2014
25Jamie StephensGK Wotton-under-Edge (1993-08-24) 24 August 1993 (age 30)130Liverpool10 July 2013Free2015
30Joe DayGK Brighton (1990-08-13) 13 August 1990 (age 33)380Peterborough United29 December 2014Undisclosed2017
Defenders
2Ryan JacksonRB Streatham (1990-07-31) 31 July 1990 (age 33)730Macclesfield Town24 July 2013Compensation2015
3Kevin FeelyCB Kildare (1992-08-30) 30 August 1992 (age 31)341Charlton Athletic30 May 2014Free2016
5Darren JonesCB Newport (1983-08-26) 26 August 1983 (age 40)454AFC Wimbledon20 May 2014Free2016
6Ismail YakubuCB Kano (1985-04-08) 8 April 1985 (age 39)13116AFC Wimbledon1 July 2011Free2015
13Andy SandellLB Calne (1983-09-08) 8 September 1983 (age 40)12114Chippenham Town1 January 2012Free2015
15Scott TancockCB Swansea (1993-12-29) 29 December 1993 (age 30)40Swansea City26 September 2014Loan2014
16Andrew HughesLB Cardiff (1992-06-05) 5 June 1992 (age 31)1234Youth system1 July 2009Trainee2015
21Curtis ObengRB Stretford (1989-02-14) 14 February 1989 (age 35)60Swansea City24 October 2014Loan2014
26Regan PooleCB Cardiff (1998-06-18) 18 June 1998 (age 25)120Youth system15 September 2014Trainee2015
27David TutondaCB (1995-10-11) 11 October 1995 (age 28)122Cardiff City13 February 2015Loan2015
31Kieran ParselleDF Portishead00Youth system21 March 2015Trainee2015
Byron AnthonyCB Newport (1984-09-20) 20 September 1984 (age 39)323Hereford United16 Nov 2012Free2014
Midfielders
4Max PorterCM Hornchurch (1987-06-29) 29 June 1987 (age 36)884AFC Wimbledon1 July 2012Free2015
7Adam ChapmanCM Doncaster (1989-11-29) 29 November 1989 (age 34)896Oxford United1 July 2013Undisclosed2015
8Lee MinshullCM Chatham (1985-11-11) 11 November 1985 (age 38)13514AFC Wimbledon1 July 2012Free2015
12Robbie WillmottMF Harlow (1990-05-16) 16 May 1990 (age 34)9213Cambridge United10 January 2013Free2015
17Michael FlynnCM Newport (1980-10-12) 12 October 1980 (age 43)945Bradford City26 July 2012Free2015
18Yan KlukowskiCM Chippenham (1987-01-01) 1 January 1987 (age 37)416Forest Green Rovers20 May 2014Free2016
19Kyle PattenMF (1994-07-21) 21 July 1994 (age 29)10Youth system23 August 2014Trainee2015
22Tom Owen-EvansMF (1997-03-18) 18 March 1997 (age 27)10Youth system15 September 2014Trainee2015
33Mark ByrneCM Dublin (1988-11-09) 9 November 1988 (age 35)444Barnet14 July 2014Free2015
Forwards
9Rene HoweCF Bedford (1986-10-22) 22 October 1986 (age 37)303Burton Albion9 January 2014Free2015
10Aaron O'ConnorFW Nottingham (1983-08-09) 9 August 1983 (age 40)8731Luton Town24 July 2012Free2015
11Chris ZebroskiFW Swindon (1986-10-26) 26 October 1986 (age 37)7720Eastleigh1 July 2013Free2015
14Shaun JeffersFW Bedford (1992-04-14) 14 April 1992 (age 32)353Peterborough United28 January 2014Free2015
20James LoveridgeFW Llanelli (1994-05-16) 16 May 1994 (age 30)80Swansea City3 October 2014Loan2014
20Miles StoreyFW West Bromwich (1994-01-04) 4 January 1994 (age 30)182Swindon Town30 January 2015Loan2015
23Christian JolleyFW Fleet (1988-05-12) 12 May 1988 (age 36)7217AFC Wimbledon11 January 2013Undisclosed2015
24Joe ParkerFW (1995-03-11) 11 March 1995 (age 29)40Gloucester City19 November 2013Free2015
28Danny CrowCF Great Yarmouth (1986-01-26) 26 January 1986 (age 38)658Luton Town1 July 2012Free2015
39Aaron CollinsFW Newport (1997-05-27) 27 May 1997 (age 27)30Youth system15 September 2014Trainee2015
45Joe PigottFW Maidstone (1993-11-24) 24 November 1993 (age 30)113Charlton Athletic11 September 2014Loan2014

Transfers

In

DatePos.NameFromFeeRef.
20 May 2014DF Darren Jones AFC WimbledonFree[6]
20 May 2014MF Yan Klukowski Forest Green RoversFree[6]
30 May 2014DF Kevin Feely Charlton AthleticFree[7]
14 July 2014MF Mark Byrne BarnetFree[8]
8 August 2014GK Simon Thomas Vancouver WhitecapsFree
29 December 2014GK Joe Day Peterborough UnitedUndisclosed record[9]

Out

DatePos.NameToFeeRef.
1 September 2014GK Simon ThomasReleased
15 January 2015FW Danny CrowReleased[10][11]
21 January 2015FW Christian JolleyReleased[12]
25 March 2015FW Rene HoweReleased[12]
17 April 2015FW Chris ZebroskiReleased[12]
12 May 2015MF Mike FlynnReleased[12]
12 May 2015FW Shaun JeffersReleased[12]
12 May 2015FW Aaron O'ConnorReleased[12]
12 May 2015MF Lee MinshullReleased[12]
12 May 2015MF Kyle PattenReleased[12]
12 May 2015GK Lenny PidgeleyReleased[12]
12 May 2015GK Jamie StephensReleased[12]
12 May 2015MF Max PorterReleased[12]
12 May 2015FW Joe ParkerReleased[12]
12 May 2015DF Andy SandellReleased[12]
12 May 2015FW Robbie WillmottReleased[12]
12 May 2015DF Ismail YakubuReleased[12]
15 May 2015MF Adam ChapmanMansfield Townfree[13]
15 May 2015DF Darren JonesForest Greenfree[14]
26 May 2015DF Ryan JacksonGillinghamfree[15]

Loans in

DatePos.NameFromExpiry
28 August 2014GK Joe Day Peterborough United28 November 2014
11 September 2014FW Joe Pigott Charlton Athletic22 November 2014[16]
26 September 2014DF Scott Tancock Swansea City21 November 2014[17][18]
2 October 2014FW James Loveridge Swansea City31 November 2014[19]
23 October 2014DF Curtis Obeng Swansea City18 December 2014[18][20]
30 January 2015FW Miles Storey Swindon TownEnd of season
13 February 2015DF David Tutonda Cardiff CityEnd of season[21][22]

Loans out

DatePos.NameToExpiry
12 September 2014MF Kyle Patten Bath City12 October 2014
18 September 2014FW Joe Parker Gloucester City18 November 2014
19 September 2014FW Shaun Jeffers Brackley Town19 November 2014
25 September 2014FW Christian Jolley Forest Green Rovers25 November 2014
17 October 2014GK Jamie Stephens Gloucester City17 November 2014
10 December 2014FW Joe Parker Gloucester City10 January 2015
8 January 2015MF Kyle Patten Merthyr Town12 April 2015
8 January 2015FW Aaron Collins Merthyr Town8 March 2015
2 February 2015GK Lenny Pidgeley Mansfield TownEnd of Season

Managerial statistics

Only competitive games from the 2014–15 season are included.
NameNat.FromToRecordHonours
PLDWDLGFGAGDW%
Justin Edinburgh 7 February 201531137114040+0041.9
Jimmy Dack 7 February 2015185491521−6027.8

Match details

Pre-season friendlies

[23][24]

DateOpponentsVenueResultScorersAttendanceReports
Tuesday 8 July 2014Evesham UnitedSpiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium4–2Byrne 32', Howe 40', Klukowski 61', Zebroski 81'Report
Saturday 12 July 2014Cirencester TownCorinium Stadium5–0O'Connor 37', Howe 50', 58', Parker 69', Flynn 82'Report
Tuesday 15 July 2014Weston-super-MareWoodspring Stadium2–0O'Connor 46', Jolley 81'Report
Saturday 19 July 2014Gloucester CityCauseway Ground2–0Howe 73', 86'Report
Tuesday 22 July 2014Basingstoke TownThe Camrose1–1O'Connor 30'Report
Saturday 26 July 2014 Carl Zeiss JenaNewport Stadium1–0Jones 63'2,630Report
Tuesday 29 July 2014Coventry CityNewport Stadium1–0Yakubu 20'828Report
Saturday 2 August 2014West Ham United U-21Little Heath Sports Ground3–0Klukowski 28', Zebroski 64', Howe 67'Report

League Two

16 August 2014 2 Morecambe 3–2 Newport County Morecambe
15:00 BST (UTC+1)Ellison 58', 63'
Mullin 84'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Chapman 27'
O'Connor 29'
Stadium: Globe Arena
Attendance: 1,506
Referee: Seb Stockbridge
19 August 2014 3 Mansfield Town 1–0 Newport County Mansfield
19:45 BST (UTC+1)Clements 2'Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 2,448
Referee: Darren Bond
30 August 2014 5 Portsmouth 0–1 Newport County Portsmouth
15:00 BST (UTC+1)Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Sandell 84'Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 16,191
Referee: Lee Collins
13 September 2014 7 Newport County 3–2 Northampton Town Newport
15:00 BST (UTC+1)Zebroski 18'
Jones 33'
Minshull 53'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
D'Ath 76'
Richards 85'
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 2,875
Referee: Chris Sarginson
16 September 2014 8 Tranmere Rovers 0–0 Newport County Tranmere
19:45 BST (UTC+1)Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 3,948
Referee: Paul Tierney
20 September 2014 9 Shrewsbury Town 0–0 Newport County Shrewsbury
15:00 BST (UTC+1)Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: New Meadow
Attendance: 4,904
Referee: Darren Handley
27 September 2014 10 Newport County 4–1 AFC Wimbledon Newport
15:00 BST (UTC+1)Yakubu 18'
Pigott 46', 65'
O'Connor 91'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Akinfenwa 78'Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 2,804
Referee: Darren Deadman
4 October 2014 11 Oxford United 1–0 Newport County Oxford
15:00 BST (UTC+1)Collins 40'Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: Kassam Stadium
Attendance: 5,072
Referee: Darren Sheldrake
11 October 2014 12 Newport County 3–1 York City Newport
15:00 BST (UTC+1)Hughes 51'
Zebroski 65'
Jones 72'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
De Girolamo 7'Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 2,822
Referee: Carl Berry
21 October 2014 14 Newport County 1–0 Southend United Newport
19:45 BST (UTC+1)Byrne 74'Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 2,558
Referee: Keith Hill
16 November 2014 17 Newport County 2–2 Exeter City Newport
15:00 UTCKlukowski 49'
Porter 51'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Nichols 22' (pen.)
Cummins 40'
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,070
Referee: Scott Mathieson
22 November 2014 18 Bury 1–3 Newport County Bury
15:00 UTCRose 61'Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
O'Connor 3', 43', 93'Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 3,166
Referee: Carl Boyeson
29 November 2014 19 Carlisle United 2–3 Newport County Carlisle
15:00 UTCPotts 52'
Amoo 90+8'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Klukowski 9'
Yakubu 47'
Jeffers 90+2'
Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 3,642
Referee: Peter Bankes
13 December 2014 20 Newport County 2–0 Stevenage Newport
15:00 UTCO'Connor 26'
Jones 45'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 2,976
Referee: Brendan Malone
20 December 2014 21 Luton Town 3–0 Newport County Luton
15:00 UTCWilkinson 4'
Rooney 51'
Howells 90+3'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 8,383
Referee: Darren Drysdale replaced by Dave Bushell
26 December 2014 22 Newport County 2–0 Plymouth Argyle Newport
15:00 UTCZebroski 8'
Byrne 82'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 5,020
Referee: Stephen Martin
28 December 2014 23 Cheltenham Town 0–1 Newport County Cheltenham
15:00 UTCReport
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Zebroski 11'Stadium: Whaddon Road
Attendance: 3,417
Referee: Iain Williamson
3 January 2015 24 Newport County 2–1 Carlisle United Newport
15:00 UTCChapman 45' (pen.)
Minshull 70'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Meppen-Walter 11'Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 3,273
Referee: Darren Sheldrake
10 January 2015 25 Newport County 1–0 Portsmouth Newport
15:00 UTCByrne 68'Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,575
Referee: Michael Bull
31 January 2015 28 Newport County 0–1 Shrewsbury Town Newport
15:00 UTCReport
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Akpa Akpro 77'Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 3,706
Referee: James Linington
7 February 2015 29 AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Newport County Kingston upon Thames
15:00 UTCAkinfenwa 11', 72'Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: Kingsmeadow
Attendance: 3,817
Referee: Dean Whitestone
10 February 2015 30 Newport County 1–1 Tranmere Rovers Newport
19:45 UTCByrne 83'Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Donnelly 45'Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 2,327
Referee: Robert Lewis
7 March 2015 35 Stevenage 2–1 Newport County Stevenage
15:00 UTCLee 31'
Dembélé 67'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Chapman 88'Stadium: Broadhall Way
Attendance: 2,941
Referee: Graham Salisbury
13 March 2015 36 Newport County 1–1 Cheltenham Town Newport
19:45 UTCStorey 38'Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Burns 13'Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 2,951
Referee: Wayne Barratt
17 March 2015 37 Newport County 1–0 Luton Town Newport
19:45 UTCO'Connor 21'Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 2,536
Referee: Brendan Malone
21 March 2015 38 Plymouth Argyle 0–0 Newport County Plymouth
15:00 UTCReport
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 6,847
Referee: Charles Breakspear
6 April 2015 41 Exeter City 2–0 Newport County Exeter
13:00 BST (UTC+1)Wheeler 77'
Harley 90+1' (pen.)
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 4,478
Referee: Gavin Ward
11 April 2015 42 Newport County 0–2 Bury Newport
15:00 BST (UTC+1)Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Lowe 21'
Nardiello 88'
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 3,123
Referee: Oliver Langford
14 April 2015 43 Southend United 2–0 Newport County Southend-on-Sea
19:45 BST (UTC+1)Bolger 45'
McLaughlin 51'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 5,480
Referee: Robert Lewis
25 April 2015 45 York City 0–2 Newport County York
15:00 BST (UTC+1)Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Tutonda 49'
Minshull 75'
Stadium: Bootham Crescent
Attendance: 3,459
Referee: Darren Deadman
2 May 2015 46 Newport County 0–1 Oxford United Newport
15:00 BST (UTC+1)Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Roofe 30'Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 4,295
Referee: Mark Heywood

Football League Cup

12 August 2014 Round 1 Reading 3–1 Newport County Reading
20:00 BST (UTC+1)Pogrebnyak 20'
Blackman 87'
Tanner 90'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Jeffers 90'Stadium: Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 6,459
Referee: James Linington

Football League Trophy

23 September 2014 Round 1 Newport County 1–2 Swindon Town Newport
19:45 BST (UTC+1)Klukowski 88'Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Obika 44'
Williams 62'
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 1,822
Referee: Patrick Miller

FA Cup

8 November 2014 Round 1 Luton Town 4–2 Newport County Luton
15:00 UTCGuttridge 40'
Benson 58'
Miller 77'
Howells 86'
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Report
Klukowski 51'
O'Connor 64'
Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 3,656
Referee: Chris Sarginson

External links

References