- Full Time
- F. Cavegn90 + 9'
- 90 + 6'K. Patten on for H. Biggins
- 90 + 1'C. Jarvis
- E. Harrison on for T. Leigh87'
- 85'C. Jarvis on for Y. Bamba
- R. Smallwood on for T. James85'
- R. Russell-Denny on for S. Forde85'
- J. Aitchison on for B. Kamwa79'
- 76'C. Brennan
- B. Kamwa75'
- 74'D. Sassi on for C. Doidge
- 74'A. Merritt on for T. Davies
- 74'M. Smith on for C. Evans
- B. Kamwa74'
- 61'S. Gwengwe
- L. Jenkins (OG)57'
- F. Cavegn53'
- Half Time
- B. Purrington45 + 1'
- C. Mola8'
- 1'H. Biggins
- Kick Off
-
1
Fabrizio Cavegn2 - 2Bobby Kamwa1
- 3
Harrison Biggins1
- 1Fabrizio Cavegn6
- 2Bobby Kamwa4
- 3Shaq Forde4
- 1Ciarán Brennan3
- 2Kyle Cameron2
- 3Cameron Evans1
- 1Christian Doidge2
- 2Reiss-Alexander Russell-Denny1
- 3Tom James1
- 1Tommy Leigh4
- 2Kofi Balmer3
- 3Shaq Forde2
- 1Tommy Leigh32
- 2Clinton Mola26
- 3Kofi Balmer24
- 1Bobby Kamwa3
- 2Fabrizio Cavegn2
- 3Shaquille Gwengwe2
- 1Keenan Gough2
- 2Ciarán Brennan1
- 3Shaq Forde1
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County gets the League Two season going at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday at 12.30pm, with the hosts strong favourites despite an opening-day defeat.
Rovers were beaten on their travels while Newport made a flying start, but the market still favours the home side. Andy Francis has the best bets, a score prediction and the head-to-head record below.
Premium Tips
Andy makes the hosts a confident selection, expecting Bristol Rovers to put things right in front of their own fans.
| Premium Tip | Odds | Why we’re backing it |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol Rovers to win and over 2.5 goals | 6/4 | Both sides opened the season looking anything but tight at the back. Rovers went toe-to-toe with newly-promoted York, scoring twice through Clinton Mola and a Tommy Leigh penalty but still shipping three, while Newport’s back line will have taken confidence from a clean sheet against Rochdale that owed as much to their own attacking dominance as defensive solidity. At the Mem, with home advantage and an attack already looking sharp in Cavegn and Forde, Rovers look well placed to get the win. Given the porous nature of both defences on opening day, goals at both ends make over 2.5 a logical follow-up. |
| Fabrizio Cavegn to score anytime, Shaq Forde and Christian Doidge over 0.5 shots on target | 8/1 | Cavegn remains the focal point of the Rovers attack after a 2025/26 campaign that included a hat-trick and a string of goal contributions, and he was straight back involved on the opening day, laying the ball into the path of Mola for Rovers’ opener at York with a clever flick from a long ball. Forde has started the season as a regular fixture in the Rovers front line, playing 90 minutes in the EFL Cup and 84 in the league opener, and his willingness to dribble and drive at defenders naturally creates shooting opportunities of his own. On the other side, Doidge marked his Newport debut by forcing a good save from the Rochdale goalkeeper, underlining that the experienced frontman is still getting into dangerous positions early doors. |
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware — gambleaware.org · Odds correct at time of publishing.
How Bristol Rovers go into the game
Bristol Rovers were edged out 3-2 at York in a breathless opener, a result that will have frustrated a side with real promotion hopes. The Memorial Stadium is a tough venue and they will expect to bounce straight back.
There are goals in this team, even if the defence looked shaky on the opening day. Against lower-fancied opposition, their quality should shine through at home.
How Newport County go into the game
Newport made a superb start, thrashing Rochdale 3-0 at Rodney Parade to signal their intent. Confidence will be sky-high after such an emphatic opening-day display.
The trip to a promotion-chasing Rovers side is a very different examination, however. Newport will need to defend far better than the hosts managed last week to spring a surprise.
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County head-to-head
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31/01/26 | Bristol Rovers | 3-0 | Newport |
| 06/09/25 | Newport | 2-3 | Bristol Rovers |
| 05/03/22 | Newport | 1-0 | Bristol Rovers |
| 23/10/21 | Bristol Rovers | 1-3 | Newport |
Honours are even across the last four meetings, with two wins apiece.
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Rovers to win | 4/7 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Promotion fancies, strong at home. |
| Over 1.5 goals | 2/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Goals in both sides’ openers. |
| Bristol Rovers or draw (Double Chance) | 2/9 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Banker-style cover on the Gas. |
| Over 2.5 goals | 4/5 | ⭐⭐ | Neither kept it tight last weekend. |
| Bristol Rovers to win 2-1 | 8/1 | ⭐⭐ | Our headline scoreline. |
Bristol Rovers vs Newport County score prediction
Newport arrive on a high but Bristol Rovers have far more firepower and the backing of a big home crowd. Expect the Gas to make their class count, even if Newport find the net. Score prediction: Bristol Rovers 2-1 Newport County.
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