Four games, four managers
Gillingham v Newport County preview: the Exiles return to Priestfield still searching for stability after five years of decline and reconstruction
Originally published in Gills Journal by David Tickner.
When Cameron Antwi joined Gillingham at the end of January, he did so with an apology. The previous weekend, he had come off the Newport County bench at Priestfield, scored from the edge of the box in the 84th minute to make it 2-1 to the visitors and celebrated in front of the Rainham End. Interviewed after arriving at Priestfield six days later, he issued a message to Gills’ fans: ‘Sorry for the celebration’.
As it turned out, the celebration had proven premature as Gillingham had the final say. Armani Little’s penalty followed by an even later winner from Garath McCleary completed a dramatic 3-2 turnaround.
Having joined Newport from Cardiff City in July 2024, Antwi made 71 appearances for The Exiles, scoring six goals and supplying four assists before leaving for Gillingham. He became an unusually persistent character in recent fixtures between the two sides.
In the 3-1 Gillingham win at Newport in September 2025, Antwi won a penalty that he then stepped up to take. Glenn Morris saved his low effort and Antwi put the rebound wide of the post.
In November’s first round FA Cup tie at Rodney Parade, Antwi scored in extra time to put Newport 2-1 ahead. Seb Palmer-Houlden equalised for Gillingham against his former club. Newport eventually won the penalty shoot-out 4-3 with Antwi’s penalty initially saved by Jake Turner who was ruled to have moved off his line. Antwi then scored the re-take.
Whether Antwi gets the opportunity to add another chapter on Saturday is less certain. Since joining Gillingham, injury has limited his involvement to just one start and seven substitute appearances. In that solitary start, at Barrow last season, he suffered a serious ankle injury after 32 minutes. This season, he has made just three substitute appearances in the draws with Fleetwood, Northampton and Chesterfield and returned to the matchday squad as an unused substitute at York last weekend.
Four games, four managers
The chaos of recent fixtures between the two sides has been mirrored in the Newport dugout. Hayden Mullins will be the fourth different Newport manager in four successive league meetings between the clubs. He was appointed from Fulham’s Under 21 set-up at the end of July.
From Wembley to survival
The Rodney Parade managerial revolving door also reflects Newport’s five-year slide. In 2020/21, Newport reached the League Two play-off final losing 1-0 after extra-time to Morecambe and a controversial, late penalty. It was Newport’s second League Two play-off final defeat in three seasons.
Since that latest Wembley afternoon, Newport's League Two finishes have traced an almost uninterrupted downward line: 11th, 15th, 18th, 22nd and last season, 20th.
On the final day of last season, they went to Barrow with League survival in the balance. They fell behind, had Jordan Wright save a penalty and then turned the game around through Tom Davies and Bobby Kamwa to win 2-1. They finished on 43 points, only four above relegated Harrogate. The previous season hadn’t quite been so last gasp, but they had finished 22nd on 49 points.
Following an ownership change in January 2024, when Huw Jenkins acquired a 52% controlling interest, Newport appear to be undergoing a prolonged period of reconstruction. That process has been reflected in a succession of managerial changes: Graham Coughlan's departure in pursuit of a different footballing direction; the transitional appointment of Nelson Jardim; the results-driven dismissal of David Hughes; and the unexpected resignation of Christian Fuchs. Now, under Mullins, Newport are making another attempt to establish stability and continuity.
Signs of life under Mullins
So far, the picture is mixed after eight league matches. Newport are 17th in League Two with nine points from two wins, three draws, and three defeats with 12 goals scored and 12 conceded. Gillingham are eighth with 12 points.
Newport remain unbeaten at home but are yet to win away in League Two this season.
They travel to Priestfield on the back of a 2-1 home victory over previously unbeaten Grimsby Town last weekend. The win also appears to have lifted expectations. ‘We’re four games unbeaten now and there’s loads to build on,’ said Mullins afterwards, arguing that Newport's direction from here is in their own hands. That confidence carried into his pre-match assessment of this Saturday’s game, with Mullins portraying the trip as a difficult test but also an opportunity to extend the momentum Newport have begun to establish.
Goals from Christian Doidge and Shaquille Gwengwe secured the points against Grimsby before a late own goal reduced the deficit. Despite having just 32.6% possession, Newport still produced five shots on target and seven corners, underlining a pragmatic and direct approach under Mullins that will pose a different challenge to the possession-based style Gills succumbed to at York last weekend.
Patience required with Eaves
Could Saturday bring an immediate second Gillingham debut for Tom Eaves? Possibly, although Gareth Ainsworth has been careful to temper expectations. The returning striker has kept himself fit while training with the PFA, but Ainsworth stressed that there is a difference between being fit and being match fit and indicated that Eaves will need to be introduced patiently.
Lamin Sillah is expected to return after completing the concussion protocol following his training-ground head injury, while Ronan Hale appears to have come through his painful afternoon at York better than initially feared.
The picture elsewhere is less encouraging. Eli King will miss Saturday after twisting the knee on which he previously underwent ACL reconstruction. Scans are still required to determine the extent of the damage, although Ainsworth said the injury does not appear as serious as first feared.
Will Goodwin will also not be ready after suffering another setback at York shortly after returning to action, while Armani Little is nearing a comeback, but Ainsworth intends to give him another week or so rather than risk another hamstring problem.
Gillingham will also be without Zane Albarus through suspension and Conor McManus remains away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland Under 21s.
The threats Ainsworth has identified
Ainsworth has singled out Doidge, Gwengwe and Harrison Biggins among the players Gillingham will need to handle.
Gwengwe (shirt #9) looks the principal attacking threat and reached five league goals after scoring against Grimsby last weekend.
Doidge (#27), now 34, is a Newport-born striker finally representing his hometown club. He has scored in successive recent home games.
Central midfielder Biggins (#10) is another important figure. He initially joined Newport on loan last January and played a significant role in last season’s survival run before returning to the club permanently during the summer.
Watford loanee Michael Adu-Poku (#23) is another to note after being named Newport's player of the match against Grimsby.
A fixture that has turned
Newport have historically had the better of the fixture overall. There have been 91 meetings, 42 Newport wins, 30 Gillingham wins and 19 draws. From November 2022 until March 2025, Newport won six consecutive league games against The Gills. Then the sequence flipped last season with Gills winning both League games either side of the FA Cup tie won on penalties by Newport.
Verdict
The overall and recent League Two tables point towards a home win, but York's emphatic exposure of Gillingham last weekend and Newport's defeat of previously unbeaten Grimsby introduce rather more doubt than there might have been seven days ago. Much may depend on what Ainsworth can assemble from his depleted squad. He insists there have been lessons for players and manager alike from York – ‘Hopefully we'll be better for it’ - and says he wants to maintain Priestfield as ‘a good hunting ground’. If Gills can shake off York and rediscover the intensity of their previous three league wins, they should still have enough.
Prediction: Gillingham 2-1 Newport County
David Tickner writes regularly about Gillingham Football Club on Substack. You can read, follow or subscribe for free at Gills Journal | David Tickner | Substack
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