Newport County vs Rochdale Betting Tips - League Two 2026 Matchday 1
AI Consensus
Newport County vs Rochdale Betting Tips Consensus
4 AI models have taken a position on Newport County vs Rochdale, and the strongest agreement is on the both teams to score market: 4 of the 4 models that priced it back BTTS: Yes. Below: every model's picks, their reasoning, and the best live odds for each selection.
Shaun MacDonald · Matt Smith · Moses Alexander-Walker · Gerard Garner · Keenan Patten · Dan Sassi · Harri Pugh · Cole Jarvis · Alfie Merritt
Coach · Chris Todd
Match Preview
Newport County vs Rochdale Match Preview
AI-written editorial preview · updated 2026-08-10 15:49 UTC
Newport County host Rochdale in League Two opener
The 2026-27 League Two season kicks off at Rodney Parade on Saturday, 15 August 2026, as Newport County welcome Rochdale for matchday 1. This fixture marks the start of Hayden Mullins' first full league campaign in charge of Newport, with the club looking to build on last season's narrow escape from relegation.
Team news and expected lineups
With the official lineups not yet confirmed, both Newport County and Rochdale are expected to field their strongest available sides. There are no high-impact absences reported for either team, suggesting that managers will have a full complement of players to choose from as they look to start the season with a positive result.
Newport's pre-season preparation
Newport County's recent form includes a 1-1 draw against AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Cup, a result that followed a heavy defeat to Roma in a friendly. Their pre-season also featured goalless draws against Bristol City and a win against Barrow in their final League Two fixture of the previous campaign. Manager Hayden Mullins has expressed optimism following the cup exit, suggesting it can serve as a catalyst for their league ambitions, and wants to build on the strengths shown in that performance.
Rochdale's path to the opener
Rochdale's recent results show a mixed bag, with a 2-0 loss to Bradford City in the EFL Cup and a draw against Tranmere Rovers in qualification. Their previous season concluded with a National League Playoff campaign that saw them secure a win against Scunthorpe United but ultimately fall short. The team has demonstrated a tendency to score late goals, with nine of their last ten goals coming after the 75th minute, but they have also conceded in these closing stages.
Previous encounters
The head-to-head record between Newport County and Rochdale shows a competitive history in League Two. Rochdale have had the better of recent encounters, with a win in October 2022 and a 1-1 draw in January 2023. Prior to that, Rochdale secured a 0-2 victory in May 2022, and a 3-0 win in December 2021. Newport's last victory against Rochdale came in May 2014.
What to watch for
The opening day clash at Rodney Parade presents an opportunity for Newport to set a new tone under Hayden Mullins. Rochdale's late-game potency could pose a threat, particularly in the latter stages of the match, but Newport will be keen to assert themselves on home soil. The focus for Newport will be on themselves, as stated by Mullins, aiming to build momentum from their cup performance and establish a strong start to their League Two campaign.
Rochdale
4-2-3-1
Projected · last match XI
9
Dieseruvwe
11
Silcott-Duberry
10
Rodney
19
Hannant
4
East
8
Gilmour
13
Adebayo-Rowling
6
Ebanks-Landell
26
Sherring
27
Bilongo
1
Ramming
Bench (7)
Jake Spaven · Sam Waller · Kaiden Wilson · Edward Francis · Dan Moss · Dajaune Brown · Tom Bradley
Coach · Ian Watson
No expected line-ups published yet — projected from each side's XI in their previous match. Locks as Confirmed ~1h before kickoff.
All Predictions
What each AI model picked for Newport County vs Rochdale
Every pick each model placed, market by market — with the odds they took.
