Fleetwood Town

Eleeza Khan
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Newport County midfielder Ciaran Brennan expects a "tough" test against Fleetwood Town as the Exiles aim to preserve their unbeaten home record.

Fleetwood arrive in south Wales unbeaten in their opening five League Two matches and buoyed by their 2-0 win over Shrewsbury Town.

While the Cods are bidding for consecutive league wins, Newport will be looking to recover from last Saturday's late 1-0 loss at Northampton Town.

But Brennan believes home advantage could prove decisive for The Exiles.

"At home you can see it, we feed off the fans and the crowd," said Brennan.

After failing to score at Northampton, the Irishman also highlighted the club's need to be more effective at both ends of the pitch.

Newport have had less than 50% possession in five of their six League Two matches this season, and Brennan admits spending long periods without the ball can be demanding.

While boss Hayden Mullins has stressed the importance of making possession count, Brennan feels there are times when County could ease pressure by keeping hold of the ball for longer.

"There's no point in having possession just to pass around the back. Fans don't pay to see that," he added.

"When I was a kid, I didn't want to watch that. You want to see chances, crosses and shots on goal.

"But there are times when we've defended for five or six minutes, won the ball back and then given it away again.

"Whereas if we have a little spell on the ball it doesn't have to be around the back it can be wherever it just relieves pressure."

Brennan has started alongside Cameron Evans in all but one of Newport's games so far this season and feels the pair are building a strong partnership.

"Cameron's a great lad, he's one of my closest pals here so it works really well.

"We're just two honest lads, we'll run and run and run until we can't anymore.

"But we just need to be a bit more patient when we get the ball back. I think there's times where we can't be 100 miles an hour all the time and we can just have a spell on the ball"

Despite three games without a win, Brennan says morale remains high ahead of Newport's return to Rodney Parade.

"We will be looking to get right after them (Fleetwood) as always, get the crowd behind us and, see where it takes us."

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Gateshead have signed defender Harrison Holgate and forward Jordy Hiwula in deals until the end of the season.

Holgate, 26, was a free agent after leaving League Two Fleetwood Town where he had spent his entire career, playing more than a century of games for them.

Much-travelled Hiwula, 31, was last at fellow National League side Boston United, for whom he scored seven goals in 39 appearances last season.

The pair are both eligible for Gateshead's fixture at home to Solihull Moors on Saturday (15:00 BST).

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Fleetwood Town have signed Brighton midfielder Josh Robertson on loan until 5 January.

The 20-year-old joined the Seagulls from Sunderland in February 2024 but is yet to make his senior debut for the Premier League side.

He has scored one goal in two appearances for Brighton's under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

Robertson could feature for the Cods in Saturday's home match against Shrewsbury in League Two.

Image source, Getty Images

Transfer deadline day is upon us and today is the final chance for your EFL club to finalise any business until January.

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Fleetwood Town have signed Bristol City midfielder Adam Murphy on a six-month loan deal.

Murphy, 21, made five appearances during a loan spell with Swindon Town last season.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international could make his Cod Army debut against Gillingham on Saturday.

"Once I spoke to the gaffer and he outlined what he wanted me to do and how he wants us to play, I felt it aligned with the strengths I can bring," he told the club website.

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Fleetwood Town's Kane Thompson-Sommers faces up to four months on the sidelines following surgery.

Thompson-Sommers, 25, was forced off injured on only his second appearance for Fleetwood in Saturday's victory at Chesterfield and had an operation on Tuesday.

Head coach Matt Lawlor told the club website:, external "Kane will be out for months, not weeks. He'll be back in three to four months, which is disappointing for us and also for Kane.

"I thought he started really, really well, and I was so pleased to get him in. So we wish nothing but the best for him while he's recovering."

Former Tottenham youngster Thompson-Sommers moved from MK Dons for an undisclosed fee in the summer and his injury has prompted Lawlor to target another midfielder before the transfer window closes.

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Fleetwood Town have signed Fulham forward Aaron Loupalo-Bi on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old had previous loan spells with Dagenham & Redbridge and Walsall.

Loupalo-Bi made 16 League Two appearances for the Saddlers after joining them in the January transfer window.

He also featured regularly for Fulham's Under-21s last season, representing the club in the EFL Trophy, and has won three England Under-18 caps.

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