Shaquille Gwengwe is among several Newport players to miss from the penalty spot
By
Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales
- Published13 minutes ago
While fans would normally celebrate their team earning a penalty, Newport County supporters could be forgiven for putting their heads in their hands.
With three-quarters of penalties successfully converted, on average, earning a spot kick would normally be reason to celebrate.
Not so for Newport where anticipation has been replaced by apprehension.
Across the past two seasons, they have converted just two of nine penalties in all competitions - and only one of six in League Two.
Their 16.7% conversion rate is the worst in the entire English Football League (EFL).
And for a team just two points off the play-offs, missed penalties could prove costly.
Three different managers and several players have tried to find the formula, but the outcome has remained remarkably similar.
There was hope Harrison Biggins had ended the slump when he netted from the spot in adraw at Rotherhamin October.
Four days later, that optimism evaporated.
The midfielder stepped up against Cheltenham Town but, having chosen the same side, saw his effort saved in the1-0 defeat.
Manager Hayden Mullins refused to blame Biggins after his miss at Cheltenham and, having done the job himself as a player, has sympathy.
"We never lay any blame on anyone who steps up to take a penalty," said the 47-year-old.
"Penalties are always tough. Harrison scored the game before [but] it's a game of cat and mouse really between you and the goalkeeper.
"You don't know what the goalkeeper is thinking, all you can do is pick a side and execute it with aggression."
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While a player may not be able to predict a goalkeeper's thought process, recent penalties may have handed Stanway a clue.
Six ofNewport'slast nine penalties have been aimed to the right and - on each occasion - the keeper has guessed correctly with Cameron Antwi, Nathaniel Opoku, Bobby Kamwa and Shaquille Gwengwe all denied. Only Biggins' effort at Rotherham found the net.
Even whenNewportaltered their approach, the result was often no different.
Ged Garner was denied to the left against Swindon Town and Yahya Bamba - aiming for the top corner - saw his effort ruled out for a double touch.
Bamba converted the retake by waiting for the goalkeeper to move, a method similar to manager Mullins' own approach during his midfield days with Crystal Palace, West Ham and Portsmouth.
"I know how hard it is. Everyone's got their own technique," said Mullins.
"I would run up, have one eye on the goalkeeper and whichever way he went, I would go the other way, but it's brave."
Newport County have the worst conversion rate from the spot in the entire EFL
It begs the question whether or notNewportpractice penalties.
They have not always struggled from the spot and between 2023 and 2025, scored 10 of 13 between forwards Will Evans and Omar Bogle.
Mullins prefers to hand sole responsibility to to his centre-forward but has been without Shaquille Gwenge through suspension for the past three games - during which Newport have missed two penalties - since missing from the spot himself.
Gwenge isavailable againand Mullins insisted the striker - with six goals already this season - practices penalties "for a long time" after training.
But the County boss says he would "never spend too much energy" worrying about the miserable success rate.
"Penalties are down to a lot of things - fatigue, mindset, where you are, who you're taking it in front of, how you feel at that time and who you're up against," 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."
