Morris penalty saved as Newport County draw with Fleetwood

The Exiles picked up their first point under head coach Nelson Jardim to make it a strong week after the midweek 2-0 win at Gillingham.

It ended a 38-game streak without a draw that stretched back to the FA Cup tie against Eastleigh on January 6, shortly after they had been pegged back at Sutton to start 2024.

It was probably a fair result but County will lament a failure to score from the spot while Fleetwood will rue big chances going begging at the end of both halves.

County missed a golden chance to hit the front in the 25th minute when midfielder Bryn Morris had his penalty saved by the legs of goalkeeper David Harrington.

It was goalless at the break with the Exiles glad of that after the Cod Army finished strongly to hit the post and bar, then miss two other good chances.

County almost went in front with quarter of an hour to go through an own goal only for the ball to be scrambled off the line then, like the first half, finished nervously with Fleetwood going close to a smash and grab.

In the end the Exiles should be content with a point as they have a break from the bread and butter with an FA Cup tie against Peterborough in Newport next up.

County's Jamie Miley goes up for the ball (Image: Annabel Lee-Ellis/Huw Evans Agency)

County, unsurprisingly after the win in Kent, named an unchanged side for the first time this season in League Two and the same seven were named on the bench.

The Exiles made a steady start – a relief after the disastrous first minute against Chesterfield – with striker Kyle Hudlin to the fore.

Neither side was able to seriously test the keepers with shots but Nick Townsend had to be alert to punch away from under his bar after an in-swinging corner from the right in the 16th minute.

His opposite number Harrington also made no mistake when claiming a looping Hudlin header under pressure after a neat County move worked a cross for Anthony Glennon in the 20th minute.

That was swiftly followed by Mark Helm slotting for the Cod Army but the cheers from the travelling contingent were cut short by the offside flag after the Exiles held a good line.

The officials had another call to make in the 24th minute when Wildig was brought down by Harrington after a Hudlin flick-on and referee David Rock, after taking his time to make his judgement, pointed to the spot.

With Courtney Baker-Richardson on the bench, Morris had responsibility but sadly the midfielder suffered the same fate as against Brentford in the League Cup shootout last season when having his penalty saved by the legs of the ‘keeper.

County had the edge in terms of possession, territory and pressure with another patient move ending with a Wildig shot from distance that was central and well held by Harrington.

Yet for all that good work they had three lucky escapes as Fleetwood finished the half strongly.

First Helm struck the outside of Townsend’s right post with the goal-bound shot taking a deflection off a teammate and then Mackenzie Hunt curled a free-kick against the bar.

County were having a rocky period and it should have been 1-0 after the defence was opened up but Helm drilled his shot wide from the right.

There were seven minutes of added time courtesy of an injury to linesman Daniel Flynn and deep into that there was a fourth chance for the Lancashire side, but Matty Virtue had a shot well blocked by Anthony Glennon and then fired over.

HEADER: Kyle Hudlin (Image: Annabel Lee-Ellis/Huw Evans Agency)

County started the second half well and Morris found Cameron Evans on the edge of the area with a lovely pass but the defender – who won League Two goal of the month for September – couldn’t keep his powerful effort down.

The game passed the hour with both defences looking solid and Jardim made an attacking substitution on 67 minutes, bringing on Kieron Evans for Cameron Evans and pushing Glennon back to left-back.

That was promptly followed by a chance but Wildig had a shot deflected behind after Hudlin nodded a cross down in the box.

County went close again with quarter of an hour to go when Harrington flapped at a Glennon corner but the ball was scrambled off the line when it looked like the deadlock would be broken by an own goal.

Jardim made a triple change to chase the win with winger Michael Spellman, midfielder Kai Whitmore and striker Baker-Richardson introduced.

County were on the front foot and tested Fleetwood with set pieces before Spellman hit the side-netting with a half-chance from a Kieron Evans ball into the box in the 84th minute.

They were almost hit with a sucker punch with four to go when Townsend failed to claim a cross from the left but Tom Lonergan couldn’t produce a finish at the far post.

The ‘keeper then produced a smart reaction save to deny Carl Johnston’s powerful drive as the Exiles started to look nervous.

That continued into added time with Townsend superbly saving from Johnston with his right leg in a one-on-one, then Liam Shaw glanced the resulting corner over.

Thankfully County’s hard work wasn’t undone at the death.

County: Townsend, Baker, Brennan, Jameson, C Evans (K Evans 67), Morris, Miley, Kamwa (Spellman 76), Wildig (captain, Whitmore 76), Glennon, Hudlin (Baker-Richardson 76).

Substitutes not used: Carney, Clarke, Antwi.

Yellow: Miley.

Referee: David Rock.

Attendance: 4,244 (126 Fleetwood)