Newport County suffer third loss on spin as Barrow go top

The Exiles produced an improved display after their humiliation at Swindon seven days earlier but were unable to stun the Bluebirds in Cumbria.

Elliot Newby’s first Barrow goal broke the deadlock in the first half and then Theo Vassell secured the spoils late on.

County frustrated their hosts to stay in contention until the second but failed to seriously threaten with just eight shots and none on target.

Nelson Jardim’s men now have a week to prepare for a home game with Crewe as they attempt to get back on track after a promising start has been followed by a disappointing September.

CLEARED: Kian Spence gets rid of the ball for Barrow against County (Image: Magi Haroun/Huw Evans Agency)

County made four changes to the side that started at Swindon with Kyle Jameson back from suspension in defence.

That allowed captain Bryn Morris to move forward in the absence of usual skipper Aaron Wildig through concussion.

Bobby Kamwa and Kiban Rai got opportunities out wide, as they had in Tuesday's EFL Trophy win over West Ham Under-21s, while there were two up top.

Towering Kyle Hudlin formed a partnership with Courtney Baker-Richardson, the pair also tasked with adding to the defensive duties in County's box.

Midfielders Cameron Antwi and Noah Mawene plus forward Oliver Greaves dropped down to the bench, which also included out-of-favour defender Josh Seberry.

The Bluebirds threatened early on as Sam Foley’s volley against his former side was kept out by Newport goalkeeper Nick Townsend.

But the pressure told in the 27th minute as the recalled Katia Kouyate provided a pin-point cross for Newby to poke home on the slide, the scorer getting in at the far post ahead of Anthony Glennon.

Townsend produced a fine save to keep out Dean Campbell on the stroke of half-time and after the break Ged Garner nodded a Ben Jackson corner wide for the hosts.

Townsend tipped a Vassell header over after he got on the end of another dangerous Jackson delivery.

But there was nothing he could do from the resulting corner as the duo combined once more with Vassell this time finding the back of the net.

 Jardim said: “We knew it would be a difficult game, a difficult challenge for us.

“Barrow are where they are in the league for a reason. They’re a very good side and Stephen Clemence has got them playing really good football. They’ve got some really good quality in the squad.

“On another day maybe we’re able to nick something. But once they got the second there was no coming back.

“It’s obviously a long way for us to come. We came here with a game plan and I thought we stuck to it pretty well.

“We didn’t create loads of chances but we kept ourselves in the game for long periods.”

County beat Doncaster, Accrington and Morecambe in their encouraging first block and now have a chance to boost morale with quickfire home fixtures against Crewe and Salford.

“We now have to go back to the drawing board and address what we need to do,” said Jardim.

“We look forward to making sure that the home games are massive for us. We have two games now that hopefully we can get some points in.

“Home games are massive for us, I think I said that when we beat Doncaster at home earlier in the season. We all agree those games are massive for us and we have to make sure we win them. 

“Again, coming away and trying our best to play to win, I think everyone can see we are putting everything we’ve got into everything we do.”

Barrow scorers: Newby, Vassell.

County: Townsend, C Evans, Baker, Jameson, Glennon, Kamwa, Morris (captain), K Evans (Greaves 75), Rai (Antwi 58), Baker-Richardson (Jephcott 57), Hudlin.

Substitutes not used: Carney, Seberry, Sanca, Mawene.

Yellow: C Evans, Glennon, K Evans, Antwi.

Referee: Elliot Bell.

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