OUT-OF-FORM Newport head to the Gnoll in Neath tonight (kick-off 7.30pm) desperate for a win to kick-start a season that is still to get off the ground.

Black and Ambers head coach Craig Warlow watched his side lose for the sixth time in seven Principality Premiership outings on Saturday when Bridgend triumphed 19-7 at Rodney Parade.

One of the few positives to come out of the game for Newport was that they didn’t pick up any more injuries to add to a list including Garin Harris, Will Evans, Dan Partridge, Brendan Lampitt, Tom Pascoe, Owen Williams, Haydn Palmer and Elliot Frewen.

While Neath also lost at the weekend, they emerged from their 45-30 reverse to Pontypridd with a huge amount of credit having been the team on top for large portions.

Ex-Newport full-back Ed Howley put in a man-of-the-match performance for the Welsh All Blacks but a strong finish from the hosts left the visitors without even so much as a losing bonus point.

“We really should have come away with something from Pontypridd,” said Neath coach Gareth Llewellyn.

“Luckily we have an early chance to put things right against Newport who will be smarting themselves after losing at home to Bridgend.

“We are playing well and not getting the win. We have worked hard to put things right – our scrum is strong, our lineout is efficient and Ponty were shocked by our pace behind.

“But we need to win – one more win will shift us up towards the middle of the table.”

Llewellyn makes four changes to his starting XV for tonight, including at scrum-half where Josh Guy replaces Chris Morgans.

Elsewhere, Gavin Evans moves to outside centre to accommodate Keiran Williams inside – Matthew Pearce is the man to miss out – and there are two changes in the front row.

Tight-head Geraint James and hooker Aled Morris are given starts ahead of Ryan Thomas and Sion Crocker respectively.

Meanwhile, Newport, whose only win this term was at Llanelli on September 25, have made half-a-dozen alterations to their line-up for this evening’s clash.

Arwel Robson takes over from Llywarch Ap Myrddin at full-back and Ryan James gets the nod at scrum-half as Owen Davies drops to the bench.

In the pack, youngster Chris Coleman, impressive as a replacement at the weekend, replaces Tom Piper at tight-head and Evan Whitson is Warlow’s choice at hooker rather than Henry Palmer.

Fit again Rhodri Jones returns to the second row and Kyle Tayler features alongside Reuben Tucker and Rhys Jenkins in the back row.

After seven fixtures, Newport sit one point above bottom club Swansea in the Premiership table, two places and four points below Neath.

Newport: A Robson; W Cunliffe, T Riley, C Smith, J Morris; M O’Brien, R James; J Lavender, E Whitson, C Coleman, A Brown (capt), R Jones, R Tucker, K Tayler, R Jenkins. Reps: He Palmer, M Prosser, T Piper, D Mock, C Attwell, O Davies, L Ap Myrddin, G O’Driscoll.