Reuben Reid's second half header handed Cheltenham Town their second 1-0 cup victory on the road in four days.
It wasn't a classic, and there wasn't much between the two sides on the night but Reid made his chance count to secure the narrow win.
This was a much tighter than the fixture in this competition last term when the two sides shared 11 goals in a topsy-turvey affair at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.
Michael Duff was pleased with his side's application at Rodney Parade, praising his players for the way they went about this EFL Cup tie.
"I thought it was a good game tonight," said Duff.
"We asked the boys to play with the same intensity as we did on Saturday and I'm really pleased with how they went about the game.
"There are lots and lots of positives in how we've performed in these two games because that's what I was looking for. The results will look after themselves."
Next up, the visit of Morecambe as the league campaign finally gets underway.
Duff rang the changes, making nine in total from the Carabao Cup success in Peterborough four days ago. Only Josh Griffiths and Lewis Freestone were retained from Saturday's victory.
Reid had one disallowed and went close with another during an evenly contested first half which lacked chances, although Tom Chamberlain's long ranger wasn't a million miles away.
The hosts forged two great chances to open the scoring seconds either side of the break. Brandon Cooper was presented with the best chance of the opening 45 minutes, but his downward header dropped wide of the target. And within a moment of the restart, Padraig Amond had a great chance of his own but Will Boyle got back and was able to hook it clear of danger.
At the other end Reid called Tom King into his first meaningful save, a low one with a forceful effort from an angle down the right.
The Robins went on to cause more problems through George Lloyd and Alex Addai, while Chris Clements – a half-time replacement for Matty Blair – almost caught out the Newport goalkeeper with an inswinging corner from the right.
Fifteen-year old Sonny Lewis spent the afternoon at school and went close to a goal on his debut with an effort from a tight angle, but it flew across the face goal.
Moments later the Robins that made the breakthrough with 21 minutes left to play after a smart move down the left.
Lloyd was deputising at wing back and picked up play down the left and cut it into the path of Boyle, who lifted a ball to the far post where Reid had arrived to head home his first goal of the campaign.
There was a late chance for Lewis Collins, who cut inside Lloyd to open up a shooting chance from a great position 12 yards out but he skied his effort, which summed up his side's finishing on the night.
NEWPORT COUNTY (4-4-2): King; Baker, Cooper, Woodiwiss, Haynes (Twamley 83); Lewis, Janneh, Willmott, Taylor, Amond (c), Lewis (Shepherd 69). Subs not used: Brain, Dolan, Abrahams, Twine, Hillier.
CHELTENHAM TOWN (3-4-3): Griffiths; Horton, Bowry, Boyle (c); Blair (Clements 46), Bonds (Azaz 64) Chamberlain, Freestone (Tozer 64); Lloyd, Reid, Addai. Subs not used: Harris (Gk), Campbell, Ebanks, Skurek.
REFEREE: J Adcock