Newport County vs Oldham - League Two

Newport County prepare to host Oldham at the home ground on April 25, 2026, with both sides eager to assert their credentials and claim a result that could define their League Two season. Anderson was pointing out that City had held the whip hand in this fixture "for as long as I've known", which isn't exactly inaccurate but will also fan the flames ahead of Sunday's Old Trafford showdown.

Both Newport County and Oldham will be eager to build momentum when they meet in League Two. Newport County are in the midst of a difficult spell, DLLDL in their last five summing up a win rate of 16.67%. Oldham have struggled to string results together away from home, LLDWL over their last five with a win rate of 33.33%. Their respective approaches this season have differed noticeably, and the tactical contrast could prove telling. Teams are more likely to allow a defender to bring the ball up the pitch than a winger playing in a far more advanced position.

Wing play is likely to be central to the contest. Newport County will look to stretch the pitch and isolate their wide attackers, while Oldham must find a way to compress the space and choke the supply lines. Schalke had only 17 per cent of the possession but, having visited the club to interview their charismatic coach Miron Muslic, that is hardly a surprise.

Neither side is short on individuals capable of tilting the balance, and the duel between the two squads' chief creators could prove particularly pivotal. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. The biggest move of the window will be the increasingly likely departure of Rodri, assuming Barcelona are able to match the asking price for the midfielder who wants to move to the La Liga giants.

The fixture has the feel of a coin-flip, and picking a winner with any conviction would require a braver pundit than most. Expect a tight, competitive affair that could easily end all square at 2-2. Whatever the outcome, the League Two fixture promises a meaningful contest with real implications for both clubs. In terms of outgoings, Perri seems closest to an exit, but that will likely have to wait until Trafford's mandated holiday after the World Cup is over or a No 2 arrives.