Get the best Bristol Rovers vs Newport County prediction, betting tips, lineups, and odds. Explore key stats and bet builder picks for this clash.
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County Match Summary
Competition | English League Two |
|---|---|
Match Date | Saturday 22 August 2026 |
Match Time | 12:30 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Bristol, Memorial Stadium |
Bristol Rovers welcome Newport County to the Memorial Stadium on Saturday lunchtime, with two sides who began this League Two campaign in wildly different moods.
Steve Evans' Rovers are still favourites at home, but they are searching for a first win after a testing opening to the new season. The table already has them playing catch-up.
Newport, meanwhile, arrive full of confidence under Hayden Mullins, who was appointed permanent manager at the end of July following the summer departure of Christian Fuchs.
Rovers have won their last three meetings with Newport in all competitions, so the visitors have a stubborn recent record here to overturn if they are to spoil the party.
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County Form
Rovers could not carry the end of last season into this one. Steve Evans' side followed a Carabao Cup defeat to Peterborough United with a messy 3-2 loss away to York City on the opening weekend, Clinton Mola and Tommy Leigh on the scoresheet. The hosts have scored at least twice in five of their last six League Two matches, and over 2.5 goals have featured in that same run, so goals are rarely far away.
Newport were the story of the weekend, easing to a 3-0 home win over Rochdale as Kyle Cameron, Shaquille Gwengwe and Yahya Bamba all found the net. The Exiles have won each of their last three League Two outings, scored at least twice in their last three, and the over 2.5 goals line has landed in the vast majority of their recent divisional games. Cameron looks a shrewd summer signing.
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
Bristol Rovers: Ryan Howley (Injured/out), Promise Omochere (Injured/out), Alfie Kilgour (Injured/doubtful)
Newport County: James Crole (Injured/out)
Bristol Rovers
Steve Evans could shake up his engine room, with Tommy Leigh pushing to replace Richard Smallwood in midfield. Alfie Kilgour made the bench against York but Ellis Harrison remains doubtful, while Ryan Howley and Promise Omochere have both been ruled out of this one.
Newport County
Newport look close to full strength, with only one likely change to the team that beat Rochdale. Matt Smith is expected to return to the midfield pivot in place of Cameron Evans, and striker James Crole is the visitors' only injury concern for Saturday.
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County Predicted Lineup
Bristol Rovers
Formation: 3-4-1-2
Predicted Starting Lineup: Young; Harbottle, Balmer, Gough; Sparkes, Mola, Leigh, Southam-Hales; Forde; Cavegn, Quigley
Newport County
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Starting Lineup: Wright; Davies, Cameron, Jenkins, Norman; Brennan, Smith; Gwengwe, Biggins, Bamba; Doidge
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County Key Stats & Match Facts
Bristol Rovers have won their last three matches against Newport in all competitions.
Bristol Rovers have seen over 2.5 goals in their last four home matches against Newport in all competitions.
Newport have won each of their last three matches in League Two.
Clinton Mola scored Bristol Rovers' first league goal of the 2026-27 season in the opening-day defeat at York City.
Summer signings Kyle Cameron and Shaquille Gwengwe both scored on their competitive Newport debuts in the 3-0 win over Rochdale.
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: Home advantage and a strong recent head-to-head record make Rovers the favourites, priced at 7/10 with Bet365 to win. The numbers point to a high-scoring, open contest rather than a comfortable stroll, and a 2-2 draw is well within range given how both sides are shipping and scoring goals. On balance, Rovers should edge it, but there should be plenty of action either way.
Best Bets
Both teams to score in Bristol Rovers vs Newport County. The projected 1.65-1.01 scoreline points to a two-way game, with better than an even implied probability that both sides find the net. Newport's attack has clicked early, and Rovers rarely keep it tight.
Over 2.5 goals scored in the match. Around 2.66 total goals are forecast here, and that tallies with the goal-heavy form both sides have shown across their recent League Two outings. Goals have been the theme of this fixture, so back the trend to continue.
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County Bet Builder
Our four-leg bet builder backs a Bristol Rovers win, Fabrizio Cavegn to score anytime and both teams to find the net, all in a fixture that promises goals at both ends.
Rovers are favourites on home soil and have won their last three meetings with Newport in all competitions, so a home win is the natural anchor for the slip.
Cavegn to score anytime is backed by Rovers' scoring output, with the hosts netting at least twice in the majority of their recent League Two outings.
Both teams to score looks sound too, with Newport having found the net at least twice in each of their last three League Two outings.
Over 2.5 goals rounds it off, with the over line landing in five of the last six League Two games for each side, so the goals should keep coming.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 21/4 and is as short as 17/4 elsewhere. That's a difference in potential winnings of £14 from best to worst price.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County Talking Points
This is a clash of contrasting starts. Newport manager Hayden Mullins wants his squad to lay down an early-season marker and build momentum after that 3-0 win over Rochdale, and his side arrive full of belief. Bristol Rovers, by contrast, have questions to answer at the back after Steve Evans criticised his defence following the 3-2 opening-day loss at York City and called for tighter discipline. Rovers still hold the edge in this fixture, having won the last three meetings, and their goal threat should carry them, but a leaky backline against an in-form visiting attack is exactly the sort of combination that keeps this an open, high-scoring afternoon.
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County Predictions FAQs
When is Bristol Rovers vs Newport County?
The English League Two match between Bristol Rovers and Newport County takes place on Saturday, 22 August 2026, kicking off at 12:30 UK time.
Where is Bristol Rovers vs Newport County being played?
The match will be played at Memorial Stadium in Bristol.
What is the prediction for Bristol Rovers vs Newport County?
Check the main prediction section of this match preview for our full analysis, model forecasts, and bet builder selections.
Where can I find the predicted lineups for Bristol Rovers vs Newport County?
Probable starting XIs and team news updates are detailed in the lineups section of this preview.
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