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

Notts County will hope their 2025-26 League Two campaign will yield a successful promotion charge, with their team set to face hosts Newport County on Saturday at Rodney Parade in their opening game.

The home side finished third last in 22nd place last term with 49 points - one spot above the relegation zone - while Notts County finished sixth with 72 points but failed to advance past AFC Wimbledon in the semi-finals of the playoffs.

Match preview

The upcoming campaign will be Newport's 13th consecutive season in the fourth tier, and they only qualified for the playoffs twice in that time.

Boss David Hughes has only been in charge since May 23 - he was appointed after the end of the season - and he took over from Nelson Jardim, who was sacked with the club in 20th place with two games remaining.

Hughes will be concerned by his side's display against Barnet in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, as while the Exiles advanced to the first round of the tournament, they were taken to penalties after they squandered a 2-0 lead when they conceded twice in second-half stoppage time.

When including their five friendly matches, the hosts have either won or progressed three times in six matches, with their two losses in that period coming in the two games prior to their shootout win against Barnet.

Newport's performances at home at the end of 2024-25 were subpar given they were winless in their final five outings at Rodney Parade, succumbing to defeat three times while failing to score on three occasions.

Notts County scored 68 times and conceded 49 goals in the league last term, the fifth-best offensive and seventh-best defensive records respectively, whereas Newport netted 52 goals and conceded 76 times.

The Magpies were one of the division's best creators having generated the most big chances (111) and produced the second most xG (73.3) of the 24 clubs in League Two.

Head coach Martin Paterson's side are undefeated in four outings against Newport, winning on three occasions, including when they won 2-0 in March 2025.

Notts County have struggled for wins in pre-season, drawing two and losing two of their five friendlies, and they were also beaten in each of their last three fixtures of 2024-25.

Paterson's team were the third-best side in League Two away from home having collected 37 points from 23 games, but it should be noted that they were defeated in nine of those matches.

Newport County form:

Notts County pre-season form:

Team News

Newport are likely to deploy their usual 3-5-2 formation on the weekend, with Lee Jenkins, James Clarke and Matthew Baker the most probable candidates to feature in a back three.

In the middle of the pitch, expect number six Matthew Smith to play between central midfielders Cameron Antwi and Ben Lloyd.

The trio could be asked to provide a platform from which strikers Courtney Baker-Richardson and Michael Reindorf can attack.

Meanwhile, Notts County goalkeeper Kelle Roos will hope that centre-backs Jacob Bedeau and Sonny Aljofreecan can protect him from shots.

Should Paterson select a midfield three, perhaps Kellan Gordon, Tom Iorpenda and Matt Palmer will start.

Newport County possible starting lineup:

Tzanev; Jenkins, Clarke, Baker; Thomas, Antwi, Smith, Lloyd, Davies; Baker-Richardson, Reindorf

Notts County possible starting lineup:

Roos; Cotter, Bedeau, Aljofree, Platt; Gordon, Iorpenda, Palmer; Jones, Dennis, Grant