Newport, under new manager Hayden Mullins, began their League Two campaign with a convincing 3‑0 home victory over newly‑promoted Rochdale at Rodney Parade.

First‑half goals came from summer signings Kyle Cameron and Shaquille Gwengwe, giving the Exiles a comfortable early lead. The hosts opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Cameron curled a close‑range finish after a Harrison Biggins corner. Gwengwe added a second in the 35th, capitalising on a cross and beating the Rochdale keeper. The visitors’ fightback was halted by a second yellow to left‑back Bryant Bilongo in the 66th minute, after he tackled Cameron Norman. With the opposition down a man, Yahya Bamba sealed the result with a stoppage‑time strike, completing the triumph for the Exiles.

The win also boosts Newport's confidence ahead of their next fixtures, where they will look to build on this momentum. Rochdale, meanwhile, must regroup after a return that fell short of expectations, with the loss highlighting gaps that need addressing before the next campaign.