2010–11 Newport County A.F.C. season

The 2010–11 season was Newport County's first season back in the Conference National since the club was expelled mid-season in 1989. County confirmed promotion on 15 March the previous season — the first team in senior football in Britain to do so. The club finished the season in 9th place.

Season review

League

2010

The season began with the second-longest trip of the season and County's first visit to since the 2–0 victory in May 1988. This time however the home side came away with a 1–0 win, with home 'keeper Sam Russell putting in a man-of-the-match performance. The first home game against was drawn 1–1 with Craig Reid scoring the first Conference National point with a 71st-minute penalty. In the following home game with , County looked on course to record their first victory, with the scoreline 2–0 within the first 18 minutes. However the visitors got back into the game, with the score 2–1 at half time and the equaliser coming in the second half, the game was drawn. The next game was County's first visit to the Kenilworth Road home of since the 1–1 draw in January 1968. Despite former Luton youth player Charlie Henry firing Newport into the lead that game too was drawn 1–1 and County were still without a win in the new campaign. That win eventually came with the 3–0 defeat of visitors and County then embarked on an unbeaten run culminating with the club going second in the table following the 3–1 home win against . County's first visit to 's Blundell Park ground since December 1978 resulted in only the second defeat of the season, but County had slipped to sixth. However, following the December 28 away 3–2 victory at Kidderminster, County were back in second place, beating top-of-the-table along the way.

2011

The new year began with optimism that County could cement themselves in the play-off positions, but instead began with a run of 12 games without a win and the loss of their manager, slipping down to 11th place in the process. The home game with on new year's day was lost 2–1 thanks to an injury-time winner by the visitors. County were leading AFC Wimbledon 3–2 in the following home game, in front of a season's best crowd but they conceded an equaliser in the 82nd minute, eventually drawing 3–3. County were again winning away at Southport until an 87th minute equaliser and a penalty in the sixth minute of injury time, losing 2–1 seconds later. On the morning of the away match with it had been announced that manager Dean Holdsworth had left to take up the managers post at , but he would manage the County game later in the day. Newport were leading 2–1 until a 76th minute equaliser and another 90th minute penalty meant Holdsworth's last game in charge would end in a 3–2 defeat. Former County boss and latterly Director of Football Tim Harris took over as caretaker manager but the bad run continued. At home to when trailing 1–2 Danny Rose missed an 88th minute penalty which would have gained County a point. To make matters worse the visitors scored again in the 89th minute leaving the final score 1–3. In the next game away to Craig Reid missed a 83rd minute penalty leaving the final score 0–0. Away to County were two up within two minutes. With the score 3–0 by 28 minutes this looked like the end of the win-less run, but after the sending off of Chris Todd and resultant penalty in the 33rd minute the score was only 3–2 in County's favour. Almost inevitably the equaliser came and the game ended 3–3. The next game at home to was heading for a 1–1 draw until the visitors' 84th and 90th minute goals resulted in yet another last-gasp loss. The bad luck finally came to an end at home to . Finding themselves 1–0 behind after only 46 seconds, County finally won the game 2–1. The then coach Anthony Hudson was announced as new manager on April 1. His appointment coincided with a revival in form where revenge victories were exacted over , and , culminating in the season's best 7–1 victory away at . County finished the season 9th in the table.

Results summary

Results by round

Squad statistics

(Substitute appearances in brackets)

Most-used starting eleven

Transfers

In

Out

Loans in

Loans out

Managerial statistics

Only competitive games from the 2010–11 season are included.

Fixtures and results

Pre-season friendlies

Conference National

FA Cup

FA Trophy

League table

See also

• List of Newport County A.F.C. seasons