Newport County fight back for 3-1 win over Sutton in League Two

The Exiles dug deep after falling behind to the physical Londoners to back up their 3-0 win on the road at Forest Green Rovers.

After cruising against Doncaster last time out at Rodney Parade, County had to show their character and tenacity against Sutton’s industry.

The visitors hit the front in the 54th minute when summer signing Omari Patrick, a Wembley winner with Carlisle last season, slammed in from close range.

County levelled in the 70th minute when Adam Lewis fizzed in a cross from the left that was glanced in by visiting defender Joe Kizzi then a ball from the other flank by Shane McLoughlin led to Harry Charsley headed in in the 77th minute.

The win was secured with four minutes to go when red-hot Will Evans headed in to score for the fifth game on the spin.

County had turned a perilous looking position trailing to a well-organised side into three well-deserved points, showing a side of their game that will be needed throughout a long campaign.

TUSSLE: Newport County defender Ryan Delaney battles for possession (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Manager Graham Coughlan stuck with the same XI that romped to a 3-0 victory at Forest Green but there was a boost on the bench with the return of striker Omar Bogle.

Last season’s top scorer, who struck 19 times in his first campaign in Newport, was back from a leg niggle to provide Coughlan with a senior option to add energy up top at the expense of teenager Kiban Rai.

Bogle was a shoo-in last season but had watched on while Will Evans and Seb Palmer-Houlden formed an impressive burgeoning partnership that mixed graft with goals.

Evans was fresh from a double in Gloucestershire when he had scored after just 13 seconds but the wait for drama was longer at Rodney Parade.

It was an intense and physical contest in which both defences had to be on their guard when dealing with balls into the box while nobody was being given time on the ball.

It took 22 minutes for the first half-chance when County defender James Clarke won his battle from an Aaron Wildig corner but couldn’t head on target.

There was a double County effort in the 28th minute when Wildig had a shot blocked in the box and the ball bounced out to Adam Lewis who failed to hit the target with his powerful effort.

DENIED: Will Evans went close for County in the first half (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

The Exiles had to concentrate to cope with Sutton corners before their best moment after 36 when Evans latched onto a long ball.

He fired off a shot that was well saved by Jack Rose, who got up swiftly to also block from Palmer-Houlden (with some appeals for a penalty for contact on the Bristol City loanee).

That was the last noteworthy opportunity of the half, although Scot Bennett and Sutton’s Josh Coley and Lee Angol were shown yellow.

It was Sutton that had the first chances after the resumption with a Harry Beautyman shot deflected wide and the resulting corner was flicked just past the far post.

County hadn’t got going and were chasing the game after 53 minutes when Patrick reacted quickly after a block in the six-yard box to slam past Nick Townsend.

The Exiles looked for a rapid response and came close when Palmer-Houlden headed back into the box, Ryan Delaney challenged and the ball came off a Sutton man only for ‘keeper Rose to save on the line.

There were further chances either side of the hour with Wildig denied by a block in the box before Bryn Morris curled just over after a poor punch.

County were chasing and turned to Bogle with 25 minutes to go, the striker coming on for midfielder Bennett to make it a three-man frontline.

The leveller soon came with Bogle and Evans combining to put Lewis in down the left and his fizzed cross was headed in by Kizzi.

County kept on the front foot and got their noses in front when McLoughlin chipped in a cross from the right that was headed in by Charsley, who had found a yard in the box.

The Exiles were braced for a Sutton assault but had breathing space in the 87th minute when Evans headed in from the right to keep his incredible streak going.

It should have been four in the second minute of seven added when Bogle broke clear but, being a striker fresh back from injury, opted to go alone rather than square to Lewis and was denied by Rose in a one-on-one.

Thankfully on this occasion it didn’t prove to be costly as County bagged three more precious and hard-earned points.

County: Townsend, McLoughlin, Clarke, Delaney, Lewis, Bennett (Bogle 65), Morris, Charsley, Wildig (Seberry 88), Evans, Palmer-Houlden (Waite 88).

Substitutes not used: Maxted, Payne, Bondswell, Wood.

Yellow: Bennett.

Goals: Kizzi (own goal), Charsley, Evans.

Sutton scorers: Patrick.

Referee: Matt Corlett.