Wednesday 19th February 2020.
Leasing Trophy, Semi-Final.
Newport County v Salford City.

As the history between both clubs is very slim, lets take a look back at matches County have played at Rodney Parade that were attractive to supporters compared to your average league game, taking into account that victory against Salford would give the club a fifth visit to Wembley in eight years.

2012 / 2013:
Sunday afternoon / evening.
Conference National play-off, 2nd leg:
Newport County 1-0 Grimsby Town.
After County won the first leg 1-0 at Blundell Park with a goal from Ismail Yakubu on eighty-nine minutes, the second leg took place four days later at Rodney Parade on a Sunday. The games only goal came from Christian Jolley on thirty-one minutes. Current manager Mike Flynn and Robbie Willmott were among the County squad. County headed to Wembley seven days later to face Wrexham for a place in League Two.
Attendance 6615.

2015 / 2016:
Monday evening.
FA Cup, Round Three.
Newport County 1-2 Blackburn Rovers.
The original match, scheduled for a Saturday some nine days before, was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Championship side Blackburn took the lead on eight minutes when Ben Marshall converted a penalty, conceded by Scott Barrow.  Shortly after, Blackburn had Chris Brown sent off for a challenge on Medy Elito who took no further part in the game due to injury. On the half hour mark, County were level with a tremendous shot from Mark Byrne which went in just below the crossbar. Blackburn regained the lead on seventy-five minutes with a header from Jordan Rhodes, a lead which they retained. County had goalkeeper Joe Day sent off during injury time for a foul on Craig Conway outside the box.
Attendance 5083.

2016 / 2017:
Wednesday evening.
FA Cup Round Two replay.
Newport County 0-1 Plymouth Argyle (AET).
A sell-out of Plymouth supporters.
An anxious evening for many at Rodney Parade in the knowledge that victory for County  would secure a first ever meeting against Liverpool in the next round, and at Anfield. Midfielder Finlay Wood made his senior debut for County. After a goalless ninety minutes which was even throughout, County's Jennison Myrie-Williams conceded a penalty during the first period of extra time for handball. Paul Garita took the kick instead of the usual Stuart Carey. His kick hit a post and was cleared. Into the second period of extra time and still goalless, Argyle were awarded a second penalty midway through. This time, it was Darren Jones for a hard tackle on David Goodwillie. Top scorer Stuart Carey scored which eventually gave Argyle a trip to Anfield.
Attendance 5121.

Saturday evening.
League Two.
Newport County 2-1 Notts County.
Come the final game of the season, victory over Notts County would avoid relegation to the National League as would also if they equal or better Hartlepool Utd's final result.
Shortly after the half hour, Lenell John-Lewis was tripped in the box by Notts defender Haydn Hollis. Penalty to County. Mickey Demetriou converted. More good news followed almost instantly that Doncaster  were one up at Hartlepool.  Notts were level on sixty-one minutes from Jorge Grant. Things became tense when Hartlepool leveled on seventy-four minutes. Worse came when Hartlepool took the lead on eighty-three minutes. As things stood, County were down with around ten minutes remaining, taking injury time into account.  A subdued crowd were ecstatic minutes later when a cross from David Pipe eventually fell to Mark O'Brien who chested the ball before booting it into the net. A minute or two remained plus five minutes injury time. County held out and retained Football League status to the dismay of Hartlepool FC.
Attendance 7326.

2017 / 2018:
Sunday afternoon, midday ko.
FA Cup Round Three.
Newport County 2-1 Leeds Utd.
Of the Leeds starting lineup, only two had been in their starting lineup of their previous match some six days prior. Leeds went ahead in the ninth minutes when Gaetano Berardi's long range shot passed several players before beating Joe Day in the left corner. County were level late on around seventy-six minutes from an OG after a cross from Frank Nouble deflected off Padraig Amond and then off Conor Shaughnessy  past his own goalkeeper. The match appeared to be heading for a replay until Shawn McCoulsky, who replaced Matt Dolan midway through the second half, rose high above the opposition, heading into the net superbly, securing a place in round four.
Attendance 6887.

Saturday late afternoon / early  evening.
FA Cup Round Four.
Newport County 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur.
Temporary seating was put on both the north and south terraces to accommodate the demand of tickets.
This was the fifth occasion both clubs competed against each other in competitive matches. The first two of these matches were Division Two, season 1946 / 1947, the only season to date that County have been higher than the third tier. Among the Spurs team was Bill Nicholson who made over three hundred appearances for the club. Back to this FA Cup match, a strong Spurs team were very poor during the first half. Frank Nouble missed a great chance with only the goalkeeper to beat to the left but shot way over the crossbar. Padraig Amond opened the scoring, heading County in front on thirty-eight minutes. Spurs were much improved throughout the second half but it took a late tap in by Harry Kane from a corner that earned them a replay on eighty-two minutes. He appeared offside only for David Pipe being near the right post. A well earned draw by County to the cheering supporters and a trip to Wembley it was.
Attendance 9836.

2018 / 2019:
Sunday late afternoon / early  evening.
FA Cup Round Three.
Newport County 2-1 Leicester City.
Leicester made seven changes from their previous match. A cross from the right by Robbie Willmott was headed into the net by Jamille Matt at the far post. Both sides had chances to score but, as with Spurs last season, Leicester didn't find the net until eighty-two minutes when Rachid Ghezzai scored a screamer. Shortly after, Vashon Neufville, possibly all he'll be remembered for during his short spell with County, crossed the ball towards goal which struck the left arm of Marc Albrighton, conceding a penalty. Padraig Amond scored from the spot on eighty-five minutes. County held on and were in round four for the first time since facing Colchester Utd in 1978 / 1979.
Attendance 6705.

Tuesday evening.
FA Cup Round Four replay.
Newport County 2-0 Middlesbrough.
A very wet evening at Rodney Parade with both clubs knowing that victory would give them home advantage in round five over Premier League champions Manchester City.
A goalless first half that saw chances both ends, moreso to County. County were dominant and that was rewarded very early in the second half when Robbie Willmott's run from midway and shot from twenty yards found the net to the right of goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos. The second goal came midway through the half when Padraig Amond brilliantly scored from Robbie Willmott's corner.
Attendance 6552.

Saturday early evening.
FA Cup Round Five.
Newport County 1-4 Manchester City.
Temporary seating was put on both the north and south terraces to accommodate the demand of tickets. For only the second time in Newport County's history, County were competing in the fifth round of the FA Cup. The only previous occasion came in 1948 / 1949 against Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Pompey were of Division One while County were of the Third Division South. 1-0 to Pompey after three minutes. County hit back and were 2-1 ahead at the break. Pompey leveled on fifty-seven minutes. Still 2-2 at full time, Pompey missed a penalty in extra time but got what proved to be the winner in the second half of extra time with five minutes remaining. Had County retained the lead, it would have been Pompey's first defeat at Fratton Park that season. Pompey had been tipped to win the Football League and FA Cup double that season. They were league champions but missed out in the semi's of the FA Cup. Back to the Manchester City match, City rarely threatened throughout the first half with their best effort coming on thirty-five minutes when Leroy Sane hit the bar. County held out and the teams were level at the break. City were ahead on fifty-one minutes from Leroy Sane. Phil Foden doubled City's lead with a run from the halfway line before scoring low to Joe Days left on around seventy-five minutes. Padraig Amond reduced the deficit to a single goal with around three minutes plus injury time remaining. Within a minute, City regained a two goal lead with Phil Foden scoring a beauty. There was still time for a fourth which came from Riyad Mahrez well into injury. A great effort by County.
Attendance 9680.

Thursday evening.
League Two play-off semi, first leg:
Newport County 1-1 Mansfield Town.
Mansfield dominated the first half. County's Mark O'Brien was somewhat fortunate not to be sent off very early on in the fifth minute. The Stags were deservedly ahead at the break with CJ Hamilton slamming the ball into the net on twelve minutes. The equalizer came with around eight minutes remaining. In-form Stags goalie Conrad Logan conceded a debatable penalty after it appeared he'd brought down Ade Azeez. Logan saved Padraig Amond's penalty but Amond poked in the rebound.
Attendance 6035.

Attendances for the above matches in descending order:
Tottenham 9836 (1) a chance to compete in Round Five of the FA Cup for only the second time (2) Wembley at stake should a replay be required.
Manchester City 9680 (a chance to compete in the Quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time).
Notts County 7326 (Football League status at stake).
Leeds 6887.
Leicester 6705.
Grimsby 6615 (Wembley at stake).
Middlesbrough 6552 (1) Man City at Rodney Parade at stake in Round Five (2) a chance to compete in Round Five of the FA Cup for only the second time.
Mansfield 6035.
Plymouth 5121 (Anfield at stake).
Blackburn 5083.

Salford 2900++ (Wembley at stake).
By 16:00 Tuesday 18th February, 2900+ tickets had been sold.

Regarding players past / present who've had connections with both Newport County and Salford City, only one player comes to mind. Goalkeeper Kyle Letheren, who is currently with Salford City, had a very short spell with County during 2005 / 2006 whilst on loan from Swansea City.

That's a great trip down memory lane. Like many others, I went to all of those matches. I also saw Kyle Letheran play in a disastrous defeat at Salisbury. Was it his only appearance?
One minor point. If we are successful tonight it will be a fifth Wembley appearance in NINE years. Worth a note that it would be in five different competitions.

You've got it correct in one sense Excessbee in that it'd be five Wembley appearances in ''nine seasons'' but it'd be five Wembley appearances in eight years from May 2012 up to April 2020.

Do we think the game will be on more heavy rain forecast later may have a look this afternoon I see 2900 tickets sold up until last night

Again, a great write up. Good read, and a top summary of some of our huge games, gathered together in one place... Really, really enjoyed reading that.

newgroundrodney wrote:Again, a great write up. Good read, and a top summary of some of our huge games, gathered together in one place... Really, really enjoyed reading that.

I agree another great write up. The only thing I'd add is that the win over Leicester City was the County's first victory against a Premier League club, and their first against a top tier side since 1964.

Excellent write up Jeff. Nice touch to remember Bill Nicholson, a great player, coach, manager and a proper gent. Such a shame the Spurs CEO let him down at the end.

Yes, great write-up and pre-match read. Excellent as always, thanks for all your time taken with these.

Am I right in thinking there is no extra time tonight, just penalties if it's a draw after 90mins? I know the final has ET and pens.

Irrelevant really as we'll win 2-0 tonight.

DeePeeNCAFC wrote:Am I right in thinking there is no extra time tonight, just penalties if it's a draw after 90mins? I know the final has ET and pens.

Irrelevant really as we'll win 2-0 tonight.

Correct straight to penalties

Salford were training at Thornwell earlier today (the part of Chepstow which sits under the old Severn Bridge).

That has to be one of the muddiest pitches in the county, and that's on a good summer's day! Clearly doing their preparation right.

They got told off. There’s a video of it on Twitter. Funny.

Good Evening!

Well, I think that for us to be in this position is a surprise to most of us. Whatever you might think of the competition itself, it’s a great achievement to be one game from Wembley. The conditions are likely to be awful, and as the cliche goes, a great leveller, but is there anything to level out? Not much between the two teams really , despite the recent victory for Salford at Rodney Parade.
Bookies have it fairly close, penalties might decide in the end.. BUT if we can actually get a goal, then I can see the confidence coming back into the whole team, and fans alike, and so I predict we will scrape home by four goals without reply!

Phil in Northampton

The Argus are hearing Sheehan and Haynes back in the line up

Very strong team