Newport suffer damaging defeat away at Cheltenham

George Miller scored a late winner as Cheltenham recorded a narrow 1-0 League Two victory at home to relegation-threatened Newport.

Barrow’s defeat at home to Walsall earlier in the day keeps Newport a point above the drop zone with two games left to play.

Christian Fuchs’ side very nearly opened the scoring at Whaddon Road, hitting the woodwork twice before Miller’s winner.

Matt Baker saw a header rebound off the crossbar two minutes before half-time with ex-Newport goalkeeper Joe Day a spectator.

Day then made a superb save to deny James Crole in first-half stoppage-time, with Nathan Opoku and Sven Spangler also seeing efforts blocked in the box.

Harrison Biggins also hit the crossbar for the Exiles after Ben Lloyd’s pass in the 60th minute, with Crole’s follow-up caught by Day.

The deadlock was broken by Cheltenham in the 82nd minute when half-time substitute Mo Faal brought down Luke Young’s delivery in the box and supplied Miller, who finished neatly for his fifth of the season.

It sealed a third victory in succession for Steve Cotterill’s Cheltenham, who move up to 17th.