Newport County beat Rochdale 3-0 in their League Two Regular Season opener on 15 August 2026. The hosts took control early, with K. Cameron firing past the goalkeeper in the eighteenth minute. S. Gwengwe added a second just before half-time, and Y. Bamba confirmed the result in stoppage time.
What happened next sealed matters. Bilongo picked up a second yellow in the sixty-sixth minute and was shown a red card. By then Rochdale had already failed to test Newport's keeper, recording zero shots on target all game. The visitors had possession — 68 per cent — but could not find the final ball.
Statistics told the story. Newport managed six shots on target from 74 attacks, while Rochdale produced 83 attacks yet registered nothing. The hosts converted their chances; the visitors bottled it. Three yellow cards for Rochdale, two for Newport, and one dismissal that changed the complexion of the afternoon.
Both sides come off five-game runs. Newport lost three, drew one, won one — including a 2-1 victory over Yeovil Town. Rochdale's record is worse: one win, four defeats. This result moves them further apart in the table, where Newport sit 20th with four points and Rochdale remain 22nd on three.