LAST season Newport County AFC did a League Two double over Doncaster but most would settle for a nerve-settling point at Rodney Parade this weekend.

Through no fault of head coach Nelson Jardim, the Exiles head into their first home game of the campaign on a horrendous streak.

The new boss has been at the helm for two of 10 straight losses going back to the mid-March win at AFC Wimbledon that put County in the mix for the play-offs.

A nightmare run-in was followed by the summer exit of manager Graham Coughlan and then a frustrating start to 2024/25.

County should have stopped the rot on opening weekend only to concede in the 96th minute in a 3-2 loss at Cheltenham.

They were poor on Tuesday, well beaten 4-1 by League One Leyton Orient in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

An early exit from a competition that isn’t financially lucrative isn’t the end of the world – and the O’s reward for victory is an away tie at Championship Millwall – but the performance was disappointing.

Here are some pressing issues ahead of the game against Doncaster…

PRESSURE: Kyle Jameson will hope for a chance to put in a solid display in the County defencePRESSURE: Kyle Jameson will hope for a chance to put in a solid display in the County defence (Image: Juan Gasparini/Huw Evans Agency)

CONCENTRATION

Let’s not pretend that County have suddenly turned porous – last season under former central defender Graham Coughlan they shipped 88 goals in 57 games in all competitions (76 in League Two to be ranked 17th) and kept 10 clean sheets.

The Exiles have gone from three central defenders and wing-backs to a flat four but Jardim was quick to stress that it wasn’t the formation that was the issue at Whaddon Road and Brisbane Road.

“Sometimes it's not about the shape of the team, it's getting the basics right,” said the head coach.

“I saw in the boys in the dressing room that they are willing to improve, come back in the next few days to get our game sorted.”

It’s the left side of County’s defence that is copping the early flak - five of the seven goals have come down that flank - with a section of the support on social media having centre-back Kyle Jameson and full-back Antony Glennon in their sights.

Jardim could opt to pair Matt Baker with James Clarke at the heart of the defence but Glennon deserves some patience.

His attacking qualities are clear and he was arguably the pick of the new boys in pre-season, so hold fire before making any assessments on the Merseysider.

LIVELY: County new boy Bobby KamwaLIVELY: County new boy Bobby Kamwa (Image: Gareth Everett)

WIDE BOYS

Bobby Kamwa has made an eye-catching start to life in Newport and has been the Exiles’ main attacking threat.

The left winger had three shots in 77 minutes at Cheltenham, was denied by a superb block, had a cross that was destined for the far corner clawed out and won the penalty that got County back in it.

Kamwa added energy off the bench at Brisbane Road and caused panic with one dribble down the left and should have at least hit the target at the death with a big chance.

Adding end product with assists and goals is the challenge for the 24-year-old.

With Courtney Baker-Richardson leading the line, who lines up on the right is yet to be seen after Oliver Greaves, who scored the leveller on opening afternoon, was not fit for Orient.

His fellow summer signing Michael Spellman has also been sidelined and if that means a chance for Kiban Rai, Nathan Wood or Luke Jephcott then they need to take it after failing to really shine in London.

DANGEROUS: Doncaster's Luke Molyneux is a serious threatDANGEROUS: Doncaster's Luke Molyneux is a serious threat (Image: Richard Sellers)

DIFFERENT DONNY

County doubled Rovers last season but this promises to be a much sterner test.

Grant McCann’s side were a shambles when they headed to Rodney Parade last August – the Exiles won 4-0 and were three up after just 21 minutes.

Donny probably felt aggrieved at being beaten in Yorkshire in January when Nick Townsend heroics allowed Seb Palmer-Houlden to turn one point into three at the death.

Doncaster were looking over their shoulders when 19th after that loss yet remarkably ended the season in fifth.

Rovers have won 13 of their last 15 in all competitions – crucially, their solitary defeat was a shock home loss to Crewe in the play-off semi-finals – and they will be favourites this weekend.

With the attacking threats of Luke Molyneux and Jordan Gibson plus the goalscoring instincts of evergreen Billy Sharp, County will need to up their game in defence.