The 2020–21 Newport County A.F.C. season was the club's eight consecutive season in the EFL League Two. It was Newport's 68th season in the Football League and 100th season of league football overall. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom fans were not permitted to attend matches until the League 2 Playoff semi-finals and final.
On 22 September 2020 Newport County beat Championship club Watford 3–1 at home in the third round of the EFL Cup to reach the fourth round for the first time in the club's history.Newport beat Watford Newport were drawn at home to Premier League club Newcastle United in the fourth round and after drawing 1–1 in normal time Newcastle won the penalty shoot-out.Newcastle beat Newport Newport again reached the third round of the FA Cup to face Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion at home on 10 January 2021.Newport v Brighton Newport lost to Brighton on penalties having drawn 1–1 after extra time.Brighton beat Newport On 19 January 2021 goalkeeper Tom King scored the first goal of his career with a wind-assisted goal kick in the 12th minute of Newport's 1–1 League Two draw at Cheltenham Town. On 21 January 2021, his goal was confirmed to have broken the Guinness World Record for longest football goal, with a distance of 96.01 metres (105 yards), a record previously held by Asmir Begović. In March 2020 Newport were permitted by the EFL to move two home matches to Cardiff City Stadium due to the poor condition of the Rodney Parade pitch.Newport matches switched to Cardiff Newport finished the 2020–21 season in 5th place in League Two and qualified for the play-offs.Newport reach League 2 play-offs Newport beat Forest Green Rovers 5–4 on aggregate to reach the play-off final for the second time in three seasons.League Two play-offs: Forest Green 4–3 Newport (4–5 agg) In the League Two playoff final at Wembley Stadium on 31 May 2021 Newport lost to Morecambe, 1–0 after a controversial 107th-minute penalty.Morecambe beat Newport
Transfers Transfers in Date from Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 4 August 2020 CB Scot Bennett Free agent Free transfer Bennett rejoins Newport 20 August 2020 CB David Longe-King St Albans City Free transfer 20 August 2020 CF Ryan Taylor Plymouth Argyle Free transfer 2 September 2020 RB Liam Shephard Forest Green Rovers Free transfer 4 September 2020 LW Kevin Ellison Morecambe Free transfer 8 January 2020 CM Jack Evans Swansea City Free transfer 28 January 2021 CF Dom Telford Plymouth Argyle Undisclosed 29 January 2021 CB Priestley Farquharson Connah's Quay Nomads Undisclosed 18 March 2021 CM Joe Ledley Newcastle Jets Free transfer
Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date until Ref. 28 August 2020 CF Saikou Janneh Bristol City 2 January 2021 3 September 2020 CF Scott Twine Swindon Town 2 January 2021 7 September 2020 CB Brandon Cooper Swansea City 5 January 2021 18 September 2020 CB Bradley Webb Bristol City 2 January 2021 16 October 2020 RB Aaron Lewis Lincoln City 2 January 2021 16 October 2020 AM Jamie Devitt Blackpool 17 January 2021 16 October 2020 CF Jamie Proctor Rotherham United 17 January 2021 5 January 2021 CF Owen Windsor West Bromwich Albion 1 February 2021 8 January 2021 CF Jake Scrimshaw AFC Bournemouth End of season 20 January 2021 AM Luke Gambin Colchester United End of season 25 January 2021 CM Anthony Hartigan AFC Wimbledon End of season 2 February 2021 CF Nicky Maynard Mansfield Town End of season
Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date until Ref. 20 August 2020 FW Corey Whitely Boreham Wood End of season Whitely loan to Boreham Wood 28 August 2020 CB Marvel Ekpiteta Ebbsfleet United 8 September 2020 4 September 2020 RB Daniel Leadbitter Yeovil Town 18 January 2021 21 January 2021 CB Kyle Howkins Solihull Moors End of season 1 February 2021 CF Tristan Abrahams Leyton Orient End of season 1 February 2021 RM Robbie Willmott Exeter City End of season 2 February 2021 RB Daniel Leadbitter Gloucester City End of season
Transfers out Date from Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. 8 September 2020 CB Marvel Ekpiteta Macclesfield Town Free 14 September 2020 CF Ade Azeez Dover Athletic Released 23 October 2020 MF Evander Grubb Huddersfield Town Undisclosed 30 June 2021 CF Tristan Abrahams Carlisle United Free Abrahams joins Carlisle 30 June 2021 RB Ash Baker The New Saints Released 30 June 2021 CM Jack Evans Penybont Released 30 June 2021 CB Kyle Howkins Free agent Released 30 June 2021 GK Tom King Salford City Released 30 June 2021 CM Joss Labadie Walsall Free 30 June 2021 RB Daniel Leadbitter Gloucester City Released 30 June 2021 CM Joe Ledley Free agent Released 30 June 2021 CB David Longe-King Grimsby Town Released 30 June 2021 CM Josh Sheehan Bolton Wanderers Free BWFC: "Wanderers Land Wales International Midfielder" 30 June 2021 RB Liam Shephard Salford City Free 30 June 2021 CF Ryan Taylor Grimsby Town Released 30 June 2021 SS Corey Whitely Bromley Released
Pre-season
Competitions
League Two
League table
Result summary
Results by matchday
Matches
The 2020–21 season fixtures were released on 21 August.
Play-offs
FA Cup
The draw for the first round was made on Monday 26 October. The second round draw was revealed on Monday 9 November by Danny Cowley. The third round draw was made on 30 November, with Premier League and EFL Championship clubs all entering the competition.
EFL Cup
The first round draw was made on 18 August, live on Sky Sports, by Paul Merson. The draw for both the second and third round were confirmed on 6 September, live on Sky Sports by Phil Babb. The draw was conducted on 17 September 2020 by Laura Woods and Lee Hendrie live on Sky Sports.
EFL Trophy
The regional group stage draw was confirmed on 18 August 2020.
Welsh League Cup
The draw for the Welsh League Cup sponsored by Nathaniel MG was made on 2 December 2020 with Newport County and Cardiff City invited as wildcard entries.Nathaniel MG Cup draw The fixture was postponed and the competition was subsequently cancelled by the Football Association of Wales due to the Coronavirus pandemic.2020–21 Welsh League Cup cancelled
Squad statistics Source:
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with squad numbers struck through and marked left the club during the playing season. Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Newport County. Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes. Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
!colspan=14|Players who left the club::
Goals record
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League Two FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total19 CFPádraig Amond 5111811CFTristan Abrahams 40408319CFScott Twine 6010748 CMMatt Dolan 30003610CMJosh Sheehan 2000214CMJamie Devitt 1100216RWLuke Gambin 2000218CFJamie Proctor 1100220CFSaikou Janneh 1100229CFRyan Taylor 20002111 GKTom King 100012 RBAsh Baker 010013 LBRyan Haynes 100014 CMJoss Labadie 001016 CBBrandon Cooper 1000117CBScot Bennett 1000118CFNicky Maynard 1000122LWKevin Ellison 1000127CFJake Scrimshaw 1000128CBMickey Demetriou 1000132RBLiam Shephard 10001Own Goals 01001Total 3367147
Disciplinary record
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League Two FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total 14 CMJoss Labadie 501000200000701217CBScot Bennett 40110010000060136 CBBrandon Cooper 4000000000004007 RMRobbie Willmott 20000000020040032RBLiam Shephard 301000000000301610CMJosh Sheehan 20100000000020173 LBRyan Haynes 20000000000020028CBMickey Demetriou 20000000000020033RBJoe Woodiwiss 000000000200200102 RBAsh Baker 0000000001001005 CBKyle Howkins 1000000000001009 CFPádraig Amond 00000010000010011CFTristan Abrahams 10000000000010018CFJamie Proctor 00010000000010119CFScott Twine 10000000000010022LWKevin Ellison 00000000010010024RBAaron Lewis 100000000000100Total 27042004006001004004
References