Headline: Newport County Struggles with Penalty Conversions, Ranking Lowest in EFL
Newport County supporters face a unique challenge when it comes to celebrating penalties. Despite an average success rate of three-quarters for converted spot kicks in football, fans of Newport County might be more inclined to worry than rejoice.
In the past two seasons, Newport has only managed to convert two out of nine penalties in all competitions, with the grim statistic of just one successful penalty from six attempts in League Two. This results in a dismal conversion rate of 16.7%, placing them at the bottom of the English Football League (EFL) rankings for penalty success.
Missed penalties could prove detrimental for Newport, who sit just two points off the play-offs. Over the last two years, the effort to rectify this issue has involved three different managers and numerous players, yet none have changed the narrative significantly.
Harrison Biggins offered a glimmer of hope when he converted a penalty in a draw against Rotherham in October. However, just four days later, his silver lining turned gray as his penalty attempt against Cheltenham Town was saved during a 1-0 loss.
Manager Hayden Mullins expressed understanding of the pressure associated with taking penalties and refused to lay blame on Biggins for the miss. “We never lay any blame on anyone who steps up to take a penalty,” stated the 47-year-old, who has first-hand experience in handling such situations. He emphasized the uncertainty involved in penalty taking, likening it to a game of cat and mouse between the taker and the goalkeeper.
Recent penalty attempts for Newport suggest a pattern that could aid opposing goalkeepers. Six out of their last nine penalties, aimed to the right, have all been correctly guessed by the opposing keepers, negating efforts from players including Cameron Antwi, Nathaniel Opoku, Bobby Kamwa, and Shaquille Gwengwe. It was only Biggins’ penalty against Rotherham that found the back of the net.
Even when Newport altered their strategy, the outcomes remained frustratingly familiar. Ged Garner’s attempt against Swindon Town failed to convert to the left, and Yahya Bamba saw a goal ruled out for a double touch. Bamba did convert a retake, employing a technique reminiscent of Mullins’ own experiences as a player.
The question arises as to whether Newport practices penalties adequately. Historically, between 2023 and 2025, the team saw a much higher success rate, with forwards Will Evans and Omar Bogle scoring 10 out of 13 attempts during that period.
Currently, Mullins has focused on assigning the responsibility primarily to his centre-forward, though with Shaquille Gwengwe suspended for the last three games—where Newport missed two penalties—this has complicated matters. Gwengwe has recently become available once again, and Mullins mentioned that he practices penalties extensively after training.
Despite these ongoing struggles, Mullins remains reluctant to dwell on the disappointing success rate. He pointed out that numerous factors impact penalty outcomes, including fatigue, mindset, and situational pressure.
“There are a lot of variables involved,” he said. “We can look at it and practice as much as we can. We’ll be ready for the next time we take it and hopefully it goes our way.”
