2025-26 Carabao Cup: Preliminary Round – Barnet vs Newport

Barnet host Newport County in a preliminary round tie in the 2025-26 Carabao Cup. 

Victory would see Barnet or Newport play host to Millwall in the opening proper round of the competition on 12 August.

 

Team News

Barnet will hand competitive debuts to several new signings, with Manchester United loanee, Joe Hugill expected to lead the line.

Owen Evans, Romoney Crichlow, Ryan Galvin, Ollie Kensdale, Adam Senior, Kane Smith, Dennis Adeniran, Nnamdi Ofoborh, Emmanuel Osadebe, Scott High and Oliver Hawkins could also make their first competitive appearances for the Bees.

Newport could hand loan signing, Ben Lloyd his competitive debut whilst Habeeb Ogunneye, Lee Jenkins, Matthew Smith, Ged Garner and Michael Reindorf could make their club debuts.

Nik Tzanev and Jordan Wright are battling for the first-choice goalkeeper role so it is unclear who will get the nod despite Tzanev having the no.1 shirt, whilst Jacob Carney could get the nod for this game ahead of his two fellow goalkeepers.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Barnet host Newport at The Hive on Tuesday 29 July at 7:30pm BST, live on Sky Sports+ in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Barnet’s first meeting against Newport in this competition under its various guises.
• Newport have won two of three previous visits to Barnet in all cup competitions (W2, L1), which all came in the FA Cup – including a 4-1 victory in December 2023 in a Second Round replay.
• Barnet have lost each of their two previous League Cup ties played at home this century (L2)
• Including penalty shootouts, Newport have won three of their last five League Cup ties played away from home (W3, L2)

 

Prediction

After an initial bright start to pre-season, Barnet have won just one of their last six friendlies so a huge improvement is needed in what will be a tricky test of their early EFL credentials.

Newport on the other hand lost their last nine matches of last season but have enjoyed a decent pre season under new manager, David Hughes even though results have often been decided by single-goal margins which feels like a positive given their defensive issues prior to the off-season.

This clash though doesn’t feel like it will be exciting on pure instinct but given Newport’s away form at Barnet, I can see them nicking this if there is a winner without a penalty shootout.

Prediction: Barnet 1-2 Newport County