Shrimps return home to face Newport County

28 November 2023

Newport County are Tuesday night’s visitors as we continue our Sky Bet League Two campaign.

After five successive away fixtures, the Shrimps return home to the Mazuma Mobile Stadium to face a second Welsh side in as many games.

Morecambe will be looking to bounce back from the weekend, where a trip to promotion contenders Wrexham resulted in a 6-0 defeat.

Following Monday’s announcement, Tuesday night’s game will be the first fixture for new First Team Manager Ged Brannan. The 51-year old has signed an 18-month contract at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium, having worked as the First Team Coach since September.

In their previous game, Newport faced league leaders Stockport County, finishing on the winning side of the 2-1 scoreline, and ending the leaders’ 12-game record-equalling winning streak in the process.

The Shrimps have come out on top during the last two meetings between the two sides. The most recent of these visits came in November 2021, where a 1-0 victory took Morecambe through to the second round of the FA Cup. However, Shrimps’ fans may better remember the previous meeting of the sides in the May of 2021, where an extra-time winner from Carlos Mendes Gomes saw Morecambe win the Sky Bet League Two play off final, and gain promotion to League One.

The Opposition

Following their victory at Stockport on Saturday, Newport County find themselves in 16^th position in the Sky Bet League Two table. Six wins, four draws, and nine losses mean the Exiles sit on 22 points, five below the Shrimps.

Saturday’s victory was an important one for Graham Coughlan’s men, who found themselves in 20^th position before the weekend, and they will be looking to continue to distance themselves from the drop zone.

49-year-old Coughlan has been in charge at Rodney Parade since the October of 2022, and guided the South Wales side to a 15^th place finish in Sky Bet League Two last season.

They will need to tighten up their defence if they hope to improve their chances this season; their 35 goals conceded being the third highest in the division.

Key Players

Forward Will Evans will undoubtably prove an important part of the Exiles campaign, the 26-year-old already netting 12 goals in all competitions this season. The number 7 has featured in all 19 outings for the side in League Two so far this season.

Joining Evans in attack is experienced striker Omar Bogle, who has scored six times in his 15 league appearances this season. The 6ft 3 centre-forward was Newport’s top scorer in their 22-23 campaign, with 19 goals in all competitions.

Familiar Faces

Shrimps fans will recognise several players from the Newport County squad-list on Tuesday evening. Defender Ryan Delaney, who featured for Morecambe during their two seasons in League One, has become a regular at Rodney Parade in the centre of defence.

Shane McLoughlin has also become an important part of Coughlan’s squad, the Irishman scoring four times so far this season, including the winner on Saturday.

Midfielder Aaron Wildig, who played just short of 250 games for the Shrimps, has made 18 appearances so far this season for Newport, although it is possible an injury may keep him off the pitch at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium.

The Man in the Middle

Ross Joyce will take charge of the match, in his 17^th fixture of the season. The official is no stranger to giving out bookings, with over 70 cards dished out in his previous 16 games.

It will be the second time Shrimps fans have seen Joyce this season, the last being at August’s visit to Harrogate Town, where the home side came out on top in a 2-0 victory.

Joyce will be flanked by Matthew Sowerby and Steven Rushton, with the help of fourth official John Mulligan.

Ged Brannan’s Pre-Match Thoughts

Ahead of our return home, new First Team Manager Ged Brannan spoke on the challenge ahead.

“We’re going to go into the game as a home team tomorrow, and play the way we want to play,” he said.

“Our best way of winning a game - with the team we’ve got now - is attacking the other team, getting at them, closing down, playing at a high tempo.

“We want to put things right tomorrow.

“I just want to win, I want the fans to be happy, I want the club to be going forward, and that’s all I care about.”

Team News

Stuart Moore and Donald Love will both miss out due to their respective injuries.

Watch Live

Supporters not making the journey to the Mazuma Mobile Stadium on Tuesday night can watch from home with an iFollow Shrimps video match pass.

Dave Salmon will be joined by goalkeeper Stu Moore for expert analysis.

To find out more, click the banner below.

Match Reports

Shrimps defeated by Exiles

28 November 2023

Our unbeaten run at the Mazuma Mobile Stadium came to an end with a defeat to Newport County AFC.

An end-to end first half saw two sides level at the break, with goals from Michael Mellon and Will Evans the highlights in an entertaining 45 minutes of football at the Mazuma.

A more subdued second half saw the visitors take their opportunity, heading home from a set-piece to ensure all three points were heading back to South Wales.

The opening period was not without controversy as the Shrimps saw no fewer than three penalty appeals waved away by referee Ross Joyce.

JJ McKiernan appeared to be bundled to the floor twice inside the Newport penalty box, as the 20-year-old terrorised the Ironsides backline.

The breakthrough came in the 13^th minute. McKiernan did well to maintain possession under duress, releasing Mayor down the left-hand side. He found Mellon in the area, who turned superbly under pressure and fired low beyond the outstretched Townsend for his ninth league goal of the season.

A half-chance for the visitors saw Will Evans lash his effort well over from 12-yards, before making amends just four minutes later. A goalmouth scramble saw several attempts on Smith’s goal repelled, before Evans fired home from close range.

The Shrimps were unlucky not to be level at the break, with McKiernan going agonisingly close from a corner, but the midfielder saw his header cannon off the woodwork and fly behind.

Half-time: Morecambe 1 Newport County 1

There was cause for concern for Ged Brannan’s men just five minutes into the second period as Michael Mellon went down clutching his neck, but after receiving on-field treatment, the Shrimps leading goal scorer was deemed fit to continue.

The home side had a golden opportunity to take the lead soon after, as Bloxham did excellently to break free on the right, flashing the ball across goal towards Mayor, who was just inches from turning the ball home.

It was the visitors, though, who would score the third of the match. Their aeriel pressure paid dividends, as an in-swinging delivery was nodded back across Smith’s goal and met by a diving Palmer-Houlden, who duly headed home.

Chances were few and far between as the encounter entered it’s latter stages, and neither XI were able to capitalise on their final opportunities, with the referee calling time on a narrow defeat for the Shrimps.

Full-time: Morecambe 1 Newport County 2

Morecambe: Smith, Tutonda (Melbourne, 79'), Bedeau, Rawson ©, Songo’o (Taylor, 79'), Bloxham, King, Mellon, McKiernan, Mayor, Senior.

Subs not used: Pedley, Slew, Stokes, Davenport, Walker.

Goals: Mellon (12').

Bookings: Mayor.

Red cards: None.

Newport County: Townsend, Payne, Delaney ©, Clarke, Evans (Charsley, 83'), Morris, Bogle, Bennett, Mcloughlin, Baker, Palmer-Houlden (Kiban Rai, 70’).

Subs not used: Waite, Wood, Maxted, Bondswell, Sanca.

Goals: Evans (28'), Palmer-Houlden (57').

Bookings: Bennett.

Red cards: None.

Attendance: 2,982 (83 away).

Ticket News

Back the lads in our Mazuma return against Newport County!

14 November 2023

Tickets are now on sale for our Sky Bet League Two return to the Mazuma Mobile Stadium with Newport County the visitors.

The Shrimps look to extend our unbeaten home record when Newport County travel to the Mazuma on Tuesday 28 November.

Ticket Prices

	Standing	Seating
Adult	£20	£25
Concession	£15	£20
Young Adult 18-22	£10	£15
Junior 14-17	£5	£7
Child 2-13*	£3	£5

*All children 2-13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult (over 18).

Morecambe FC do not permit children under the age of two, or prams/pushchairs, into the stadium bowl.

Tickets remain on sale until kick-off on matchday (19:45) with refunds available up until 17:00 on Monday 27 November.

We look forward to a strong home support once more, which we’ve become accustomed to, so we strongly advise attendees to buy tickets in advance to avoid queues and delays on matchday.

Tickets are available online by clicking here, by calling 01524 411797 (option 3) or purchasing directly from the Club Shop which is open Monday to Friday, 10:00 until 17:00.

Your continued support means the world to Derek Adams and the players, so get down to the Mazuma and make your voices heard!