Earning a penalty is usually cause for celebration in football, but for Newport County, anticipation has turned entirely to apprehension. While approximately three-quarters of spot-kicks are converted on average across the sport, the Exiles have endured a dreadful run, finding the net with just two of their past nine penalties in all competitions over the last two seasons. In League Two, that record falls to a solitary success from six attempts, giving County a 16.7 percent conversion rate that stands as the worst in the entire English Football League (EFL)—a glaring issue for a side sitting just two points adrift of the play-offs.
Three different managers and multiple takers have attempted to fix the problem, but the struggles have persisted. Harrison Biggins appeared to offer hope when he scored from 12 yards during October's draw at Rotherham, yet just four days later, the midfielder chose the identical side against Cheltenham Town and saw his effort saved in a 1-0 defeat. A predictable trend has emerged, with six of Newport's last nine penalties aimed to the right, allowing goalkeepers to guess correctly each time to deny Cameron Antwi, Nathaniel Opoku, Bobby Kamwa, and Shaquille Gwengwe. Attempts elsewhere have brought little joy either: Ged Garner was stopped to the left against Swindon Town, while Yahya Bamba had a top-corner strike disallowed for a double touch before converting his retake.
Manager Hayden Mullins, who frequently stepped up during his own playing days with Crystal Palace, West Ham, and Portsmouth, has refused to blame his squad. "We never lay any blame on anyone who steps up to take a penalty," said the 47-year-old, describing the high-pressure situation as "a game of cat and mouse really between you and the goalkeeper." Drawing on his own past technique of waiting for the keeper to commit, Mullins added: "You don't know what the goalkeeper is thinking, all you can do is pick a side and execute it with aggression."
The current slump is in stark contrast to the period between 2023 and 2025, when forwards Omar Bogle and Will Evans combined to convert 10 out of 13 penalties. Mullins prefers giving the responsibility solely to his central striker and now has six-goal forward Shaquille Gwengwe back following a three-match suspension, during which County missed twice more from the spot. While Mullins confirmed Gwengwe practices spot-kicks for extended periods after training, the manager will not dwell on the record, citing factors like fatigue and mindset: "We'll be ready for the next time we take it and hopefully it goes our way."