Newport County vs Walsall: recent meetings favour the visitors

Recent meetings set the tone

Walsall have won three of the last five meetings with Newport County, while Newport have won once and the other game ended in a draw. That record gives the visitors a clear historical edge ahead of this FA Cup first-round tie at Rodney Parade.

The most recent meeting, in March 2026 in League Two, ended 2-1 to Walsall. The previous encounter, at Newport in November 2025, was even more open: Walsall won 4-2. Yet the series has not always produced goals, with two of the five meetings finishing with two goals or fewer, including a goalless draw at Newport in April 2025.

League positions underline the task

Both teams compete in League Two, but they arrive from different places in the table. Walsall are third with 22 points after 13 matches, while Newport County sit 14th on 18 points after 14 games. Those standings give the visitors the stronger league position, though a cup tie brings a different test.

Recent league form is even

There is little between the teams in their last five league matches: each has recorded two wins, two draws and one defeat, and both come into this tie after a victory. That shared recent record offers Newport encouragement, even as the head-to-head results and table position point towards Walsall.

A chance to change the pattern

For Newport, home advantage offers an opportunity to disrupt a recent run of results against Walsall. Their 2-4 defeat in the last meeting at Rodney Parade will be a reminder of the visitors’ attacking threat, while the 0-0 draw from April 2025 shows Newport can also make this matchup much tighter.

Walsall, meanwhile, can draw confidence from the latest 2-1 win and their three victories across the last five meetings. The visitors will look to make that recent advantage count in a knockout setting.

Our prediction

The close balance in recent league form suggests Newport can compete, but Walsall’s higher league standing and edge in recent head-to-head meetings make them the slight favourites. PreviaXI’s model also leans towards an away win, with a narrow scoreline reflecting the prospect of a tight cup contest.

Newport County 0-1 Walsall