Exiles have 'easier game' as five clubs fight for survival

Iwan Roberts says Newport County have the kindest fixture of all the sides in the League Two relegation scrap as they prepare for Saturday's season-defining trip to Barrow (15:00 BST).

The Exiles are one of five teams fighting to stay up heading into the last weekend of a difficult campaign.

They take on bottom-club Barrow, who are three points adrift of Harrogate - who are 23rd - and Crawley - in 22nd - and realistically look all but down because of their inferior goal difference.

Newport, in 21st, and 20th-placed Tranmere are a point better off than Harrogate and Crawley.

And former Wales striker Roberts says Christian Fuchs' men have an "easier game" than their relegation rivals.

"Crawley have got to go Salford, who are fourth and one point off automatic promotion," Roberts told this week's Feast of Football podcast.

"Barnet go to Harrogate. Barnet are ninth. They are three points off the play-offs and have a better goal difference than Chesterfield [in seventh]. Barnet have won 19 points from their last seven games.

"Tranmere are not out of it. They host Grimsby - you have got the worst defence [in the division] in Tranmere against the second top scorers in Grimsby. Grimsby are sixth and not guaranteed a play-off place, so they have everything to play for.

"Barrow are on 36 points and 12 goals worse off than Crawley in goal difference. They are not getting out of it. So Newport have got the easier game, but the pressure is still on them."

Victory at Barrow would guarantee Newport's survival, though they might not need to win - or even draw - if other results go their way.

The Welsh club claimed a second victory in their past three games as they overcame Oldham Athletic in dramatic fashion last weekend, but they have not managed back-to-back league wins in 2025-26.

"What a good time to do it [this would be]," Roberts added.