Preview: Barnet vs Newport County - prediction, team news, lineups

Barnet and Newport County will lock horns in the preliminary round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday night, with the winner advancing to the first round, where Millwall are waiting.

Newport County only just survived relegation from League Two last season, finishing in 22nd spot in the table, while Barnet won the National League last term to secure a return to the Football League.

Match preview

Barnet enjoyed an excellent 2024-25 campaign, picking up 102 points in the National League to finish at the summit, and the club have therefore returned to the Football League for the 2025-26 season.

The Bees have played five friendlies this summer, including a 1-1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers last time out, and this game will actually come just four days before their League Two opener with Fleetwood Town.

Barnet have entered the EFL Cup in the preliminary round due to a change of format, and their reward for beating Newport County would be a clash with Millwall in the first round.

Dean Brennan's side have had an incredibly busy summer transfer window, with Scott High, Dennis Adeniran and Kane Smith among those to arrive, while there have also been a host of exits on free transfers, including Ben Coker.

Barnet have faced Newport County on 10 previous occasions in competitive matches, winning five of those fixtures, but the Welsh outfit recorded a 4-1 victory in their last fixture in December 2023.

Newport County will also again play in League Two next season, but they only just avoided relegation last term, finishing down in 22nd spot in the table, seven points ahead of 23rd-placed Carlisle United.

The Exiles will open their League Two campaign against Notts County next weekend, and they will enter this match off the back of successive friendly defeats to Torquay and Bristol City.

David Hughes's side have also been busy during this summer's market, bringing in a number of players on free transfers, including Matt Smith and Gerard Garner, while two loan signings have been secured, including Habeeb Ogunneye from Manchester United.

Newport County's main focus for this season will be to push up the League Two table, but they will still be determined to avoid what would be a hugely disappointing defeat in the preliminary round of the EFL Cup.

Barnet pre-season form:

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Newport County pre-season form:

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Team News

There will be a whole host of debutants for both sides in this match, as the two managers will also have their eyes on their opening games of the new League Two campaign next weekend.

Joe Hugill has made the move to Barnet on loan from Manchester United, and he is expected to lead the line, while Idris Kanu and Rhys Browne could also feature in the final third of the field.

There will also be a spot in the middle of the defence for the captain Danny Collinge.

As for Newport County, the visitors should also have an on-loan Man United player in their side, with Ogunneye in line to feature on the right side of the defence.

Gerard Garner is set to lead the line for the Welsh outfit in this EFL Cup fixture, while there is also expected to be a spot in the final third of the field for Michael Spellman.

Barnet possible starting lineup:

Evans; Smith, Collinge, Okimo, Galvin; Hugh, Hartigan, Adeniran; Browne, Hugill, Kanu

Newport County possible starting lineup:

Carney; Ogunneye, Warner, Evans, Davies; Smith, Antwi, Whitmore; Patten, Garner, Spellman

We say: Barnet 2-1 Newport County

This is a very tough match to call, and we are expecting it to be close in terms of the scoreline. However, home advantage could be key, and we are backing Barnet to progress to the first round of the competition.