League Two: Newport County hammer Tranmere 3-1

The Exiles brushed off the absence of key men Priestley Farquharson and Aaron Lewis to lead 2-0 at the break thanks to a quickfire double at Prenton Park.

Recalled midfielder Aaron Wildig fired them in front after 24 minutes and that was swiftly followed by a predatory strike from Charlie McNeill, the promising Manchester United forward’s first senior goal.

Injury-hit Tranmere have endured an underwhelming campaign because of their struggles in front of goal and were challenged to chase.

A comeback never looked likely as County stayed switched on to ensure no heroics were needed from goalkeeper Joe Day, then they sealed the win in the 82nd minute thanks to Calum Kavanagh’s calm finish.

Manager Graham Coughlan would have been thrilled with the third with the only disappointment a scrappy goal for Rovers in added time through Regan Hendry.

County have thrived on the road since Coughlan was appointed in mid-October and it’s now a league record of played 12, won four, drawn six and lost two for 18 points from a possible 36.

This was the pick of the bunch under the current boss, a controlling success to rival the 4-0 hammering of Harrogate way back in August.

It was a professional job to earn three points towards being properly safe from the drop, even if we know they are probably already assured of League Two football in 2023/24.

County were without two of their recent star performers in central defender Farquharson and versatile Lewis, who had been operating at left wing-back.

That led to recalls for James Clarke at the back and forward Will Evans in the wide role that he started the season in.

Coughlan freshened up his midfield by bringing in Wildig for Nathan Moriah-Welsh, the 30-year-old getting his first start in two months after a campaign disrupted by injuries.

County were stretched with their bench featuring academy prospects Evan Cadwallader and Kiban Rai along with Sam Bowen, Moriah-Welsh, James Waite and Calum Kavanagh, varying degrees of Football League novices.

The Exiles snapped into their hosts in midfield from the off, keen to get the crowd on their backs after Rovers’ frustrating season.

Tranmere piled on the pressure from set pieces – six corners and a free-kick inside 13 minutes – but the visitors concentrated, did their individual jobs and emerged unscathed.

The solid base allowed them to take control of the game with their quickfire double before the half hour.

First Wildig was on hand to fire in from close to the penalty spot after some head tennis led was followed by Harry Charsley being played into the box in the 25th minute.

McNeill then wasted a chance on the counter attack before getting his first senior goal in the 29th minute.

The young striker should have been celebrating a Cameron Norman goal after Wildig’s free-kick found the right-back at the far post.

The defender fired against the legs of goalkeeper Joe Murphy from close range but McNeill reacted sharply and finished emphatically to be an ecstatic Manc on Merseyside.

Suddenly County were playing with real confidence and Omar Bogle fired a yard wide from a tight angle after a neat turn down the left.

Tranmere had scored just four goals in their last eight fixtures and hadn’t scored twice in that streak.

They were given the task of ending that barren run to even claim a point after heading into the break 2-0 down, with good covering by Norman preserving the lead after a dangerous ball from the right in added time.

Tranmere needed to find a way back into the game yet didn’t get the early pick-me-up they wanted with defender Tom Davies’ hooked effort simple for Joe Day to gather then Jake Burton fired wastefully wide from distance after sloppiness in midfield by Wildig.

County made it to the hour with their two-goal advantage intact and the only concern was a yellow card for Scot Bennett after a late sliding challenge.

It could, perhaps should, have been 3-0 after 67 when McNeill went on a super run from the left flank to the box but he got carried away and tried to conjure a shooting opportunity when Bogle was unmarked to his right.

Tranmere, after turning to their bench for impact, had a couple of half-chances but didn’t stress Day.

Coughlan freshened up his side by bringing on Moriah-Welsh for Charsley and Calum Kavanagh for McNeill after 74 minutes.

County looked the more threatening and duly sealed the win with 81 on the clock, Wildig playing in Kavanagh for the Middlesbrough forward to open up his body and curl in from inside the box.

Hendry got a consolation for Tranmere in added time after squeezing past Demetriou but that didn’t take the shine off a wonderful away display.

County: Day, Norman, Baker, Clarke, Demetriou (captain), Evans, Bennett, Wildig (Rai 88), Charsley (Moriah-Welsh 74), Bogle (Waite 88), McNeill (Kavanagh 74).
Substitutes not used: Townsend, Cadwallader, Bowen, Waite, Rai.
Goals: Wildig, McNeill, Kavanagh.
Yellow: Bennett.

Referee: Darren Drysdale.
Attendance: 5,496