Bristol Rovers Dominate Newport County In Crucial Derby Clash

Two sides desperate for points at the wrong end of League Two collided at the Memorial Stadium on January 31, 2026, as Bristol Rovers hosted Newport County in a high-stakes Severnside Derby. With both teams languishing near the bottom of the table, and the specter of relegation looming ever larger, this match carried the weight of a true six-pointer. Bristol Rovers, reeling from a dire run of form, had only managed four points from their previous 17 league fixtures, a stretch that left them 22nd, just one point and one place above Newport County. The Exiles, meanwhile, sat 23rd, hoping to continue their modest resurgence under new boss Christian Fuchs.

As the teams took to the pitch, the tension was palpable. The stakes? Survival in the English Football League. For the Gas, the home crowd’s patience was wearing thin after eight consecutive league defeats at the Mem. Steve Evans, Rovers’ manager, knew the importance of the occasion: a win would not only halt the rot but also give his side a four-point cushion over their Welsh rivals. For Newport, Fuchs was keen to instill belief, brushing aside talk of a relegation battle and focusing on his squad’s recent improvements.

Speaking just days before the match, Newport’s Sam Vokes offered a measured optimism. “When you get to this stage of the season, you are where you are for a reason. There’s no hiding away from that,” Vokes told the Feast of Football podcast. “He hasn’t got them to this place, so he’s come in and tried to rejuvenate them. We’ve talked about their performances and almost looking like they’ve turned a corner. It was a passionate interview, and it looks like it shows that he’s got that belief in his players, which is a positive. I think from looking at that bottom six, the way he’s got them playing and the way they look, they’ve got more than enough to stay up. But as I said before, there’s no hiding away, they’re there for a reason.”

Christian Fuchs, who took charge following Dave Hughes’ tenure, had made an immediate impact. After a 2-1 win against Chesterfield earlier in January, he famously dismissed suggestions of a relegation scrap: “What relegation battle? There are 20 games left, no? Who’s talking about a relegation battle?” Those words, brimming with confidence, set the tone for Newport’s approach to this crucial fixture. But as former Wales international Iwan Roberts pointed out, “They’ve got an absolutely massive game on Saturday – I don’t care if he (Fuchs) doesn’t think his team’s in a relegation battle. That is a massive relegation six-pointer against Bristol Rovers. I don’t think he’s kidding anybody by saying they’re not in a relegation battle.”

Both teams came into the match with selection headaches. Newport’s joint top scorer Nathaniel Opoku was suspended after a red card in their 4-1 home defeat against Accrington Stanley, leaving Fuchs to reshuffle his attacking options. Bristol Rovers, under Steve Evans, had seen a slight uptick in results but were still searching for consistency. The home faithful, desperate for something to cheer, had endured a miserable run at the Mem, watching their side lose eight straight league games on home turf.

From the opening whistle, Bristol Rovers looked determined to seize the initiative. The Gas pressed high, snapping into tackles and winning the midfield battle. Their efforts were rewarded midway through the first half when Yusuf Akhamrich struck twice in quick succession, sending the home crowd into raptures. The young forward’s first goal came after a slick passing move, while his second showcased his poacher’s instinct, pouncing on a loose ball in the box to double the advantage.

Newport tried to respond, with Kamwa emerging as their main threat down the left flank. He cut inside and unleashed a shot that sailed just over the bar, but the Exiles struggled to break down a resolute Rovers backline. Kamwa’s evening took a turn for the worse when he appeared to pull his hamstring while chasing a long ball, further hampering Newport’s attacking options.

As the second half began, the pattern of play remained much the same. Newport enjoyed a brief spell of possession, winning a corner on the right wing. Peter Jamieson’s low shot from the set piece was blocked, and the Gas quickly regained control. Rovers’ midfield, marshaled by Mola and Forde, worked tirelessly to break up Newport’s attacks and launch counters of their own.

With time ticking away and Newport pushing forward, Bristol Rovers delivered the knockout blow in the 88th minute. Mees Rijks won the ball back in midfield, found Forde, who then slipped a pass to Fabrizio Cavegn. The substitute cut inside on his right foot and fired a low shot past Wright to make it 3-0, sealing a crucial victory for the hosts. The home fans erupted, singing “Goodnight Irene” as the final whistle approached.

Steve Evans, jubilant at full time, celebrated with his trademark fist pumps in front of the Thatchers End. He was quick to praise his team’s effort and hinted at possible squad changes in the coming days. “It was a really committed display from the Gas, but there’s still two minutes and plenty of added time to go,” Evans remarked during the closing stages, emphasizing the focus and determination his side showed throughout.

For Newport County, it was a sobering defeat. Despite recent improvements and the belief instilled by Fuchs, the Exiles found themselves four points adrift of safety. The absence of Opoku was keenly felt, and Kamwa’s injury only added to their woes. Still, with 19 matches remaining, there’s time for Fuchs’ men to regroup and fight their way out of trouble.

The result leaves Bristol Rovers with a precious four-point buffer over Newport County and provides a much-needed boost to morale at the Mem. For the Exiles, the path to survival just got steeper, but as Vokes and Fuchs have both insisted, belief and hard work remain their best weapons in the fight to stay in League Two.

With the relegation battle heating up and plenty of twists yet to come, all eyes will be on these two sides as they navigate the final months of a grueling League Two campaign. The Gas have given themselves breathing room – but for Newport, the fight is far from over.