It was a night to remember at Moor Lane as League Two’s bottom club, Newport County, stunned promotion-chasing Salford City with a spirited 3-1 victory on February 17, 2026. The Exiles, who had been languishing at the foot of the table and desperately searching for a lifeline, delivered a performance that could just be the spark they need to ignite their survival bid.
Coming into the match, few gave Newport much hope. The odds stacked heavily against them—bet365 had Salford as strong favorites at 19/50, with Newport seen as long shots at 7/1. The Ammies, managed by Karl Robinson, were fresh off a respectable 2-0 defeat to Premier League giants Manchester City in the FA Cup, and expectations were high that they would bounce back against the struggling Welsh side. Robinson, who recently signed a new contract to stay at the Peninsula Stadium, had voiced his ambition: “We have to get out of League Two. We believe we have a good enough team to do that.”
Salford’s campaign had been characterized by promise and frustration in equal measure. Sitting sixth in the league and boasting at least two games in hand on their promotion rivals, the Ammies knew that a win over Newport could keep them firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion. The last time these sides met, Salford edged out Newport 1-0 at Rodney Parade, and with the home crowd behind them, the stage seemed set for another routine win.
But football, as ever, had other ideas. Newport, under the stewardship of Christian Fuchs, had endured a torrid run, failing to win in their previous five games and not tasting away victory since a 3-0 triumph at Harrogate Town back in October 2025. Their most recent outing, a narrow 1-0 loss to high-flying MK Dons, had left morale low. Fuchs was candid after that defeat: “We make a crucial mistake in the first or second minute and that costs us. Then we don’t take our chances. When you play away against teams high in the table with momentum, you have to take the 10 per cent of chances you create.”
Those words would prove prophetic, but in a way Fuchs might not have expected. Newport wasted no time in making their mark. In the 13th minute, January signing Ryan Delaney, back at the club for his second spell, rose highest to meet Tom Davies’ corner and powered a header past Salford keeper Matthew Young. It was Delaney’s first goal since rejoining Newport and, remarkably, the Exiles’ first shot on target in over seven hours of football. The away end erupted—could this be the turning point?
Salford, perhaps rattled by the early setback, struggled to impose themselves on the contest. Despite their attacking talents, it took them until the 38th minute to register a shot on target, a statistic that will have frustrated Robinson and the home support alike. The Ammies’ usual fluency was missing, and Newport’s defense—often criticized for being the leakiest in League Two—stood firm, repelling wave after wave of attacks.
After the interval, Newport’s belief grew. Just before the hour mark, Ben Lloyd latched onto a through ball, rounded Young, and coolly slotted home to double the visitors’ lead. The celebrations had barely died down when the Exiles struck again—Lloyd’s initial effort was parried, but Nathaniel Opoku reacted quickest to tap in his fifth goal of the season. Suddenly, Newport were 3-0 up, and the home crowd was left in stunned silence.
Salford did rally late on, with Wales international Ben Woodburn volleying home a consolation in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late. The final whistle brought scenes of jubilation among the Newport players and traveling fans—this was their first win in six matches, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
For Salford, the defeat marked their first back-to-back losses in League Two since November. While they remain in the play-off conversation, having narrowly missed out last season by a single point, this result will sting. Robinson was blunt in his assessment, describing it as “the worst result since I’ve been here.” The Ammies must regroup quickly if they are to keep their promotion dreams alive.
Newport, meanwhile, have given themselves a fighting chance. The three points keep them within touching distance—just three points—from escaping the relegation zone. With a crucial home fixture against Cambridge United, a side that has won eight of their last ten league matches, looming on the horizon, there is still plenty of work to do. But momentum is a powerful force in football, and the Exiles will hope this victory can serve as a launchpad for a dramatic escape.
Broadcast live on Sky Sports+ and streamed via Sky Go and NOW, the match drew plenty of attention from fans unable to make the trip. Those who tuned in witnessed a classic example of the unpredictability that makes League Two so compelling. The underdog story unfolded in real-time, with Newport defying both form and expectation to claim a win that could prove pivotal in their season.
Looking back, the game’s key moments were defined by Newport’s newfound clinical edge. Delaney’s opener was a textbook set-piece goal, Lloyd’s composure for the second showed maturity beyond his years, and Opoku’s poacher’s instinct for the third underlined a team playing with renewed confidence. For a side that had struggled to find the net, scoring three away from home against a promotion contender is no mean feat.
Salford will rue their slow start and inability to break down Newport’s defense until it was too late. The Ammies’ attacking stars were largely kept quiet, and while Woodburn’s late goal added a veneer of respectability to the scoreline, it could not mask a disappointing display.
As the dust settles, both teams face defining periods in their respective campaigns. Newport’s fight for survival continues, but with belief restored and a crucial win secured, the mood around Rodney Parade has lifted. Salford, still in the hunt for promotion, must rediscover their spark and respond quickly if they are to fulfill Robinson’s ambitions.
With the League Two season entering its final stretch, every point counts. Newport’s unlikely triumph at Moor Lane serves as a timely reminder: in football, hope can spring from the most unexpected places.