Salop host Newport County for the first time in over a decade this weekend in what is a crunch encounter for both teams.

Here’s everything you need to know about today's opponents.

Key Players 

Newport have struggled to deliver much quality in the first few months of the campaign. Kai Whitmore has been the Exiles’ stand-out player so far this season, bagging three in 12 appearances. Unfortunately for Saturday’s visitors, he is set to miss the game after picking up a fifth yellow of the season last weekend.

Leicester loanee Sammy Braybrooke has been a bright spark for County in the middle of the park, while defender Lee Jenkins, signed from Haverfordwest in the summer, has been their strongest asset at the back.  

Up front, the Exiles team will look to experienced striker Courtney Baker-Richardson for goals. Baker-Richardson, in his second spell at Rodney Parade, has scored twice so far this season after a disappointing season last year.  

The Manager 

Former Salop defender David Hughes will be the man on the touchline for the Exiles this weekend. Hughes joined County this summer following the departure of Nelson Jardim at the end of last season.  

It is Hughes’ first full-time job in management, and it is fair to say, he has been thrown in at the deep end. Newport are operating with one of the smallest budgets in the league, and this is reflected in their current league position. Hughes has managed just three wins in Newport’s first 15 league matches and is yet to win a league game at Rodney Parade. 

Form  

Newport are currently sitting at the bottom of League Two on 11 points from their first 15 games, and three points from safety. In an unusual turn, the Exiles have found much more success on the road than they have at home, with 10 of their 11 points this season coming on their travels. They have won their last two away games, beating Accrington 1-0 at the Wham Stadium before beating Harrogate 3-0 a fortnight ago.  

Head-to-Head Record  

We have a long history with Newport County, including many classic Welsh Cup showdowns. Our record against the Exiles is positive, having won 15 of our 28 competitive encounters and lost just seven. Eight games have ended in a draw. Newport have not beaten us in a league fixture since 1962, though encounters have been few and far between, with us only sharing a division twice in that time period.