Gian Piero Gasperini was hoping for better after some poor pre-season results, throwing away a 3-0 lead to draw with Cannes, then losing 4-1 to Cardiff City.
There was added pressure today, as club owner Ryan Friedkin flew in and sat in the stands.
New signing Koulierakis was thrown straight into the starting XI for his debut, while Mario Hermoso was somewhat surprisingly moved into a midfield role to fill the gaps.
It was an aggressive start from the hosts, as Biggins attempted a lob that grazed Mile Svilar’s crossbar, then Doidge tested the goalkeeper after a mad scramble.
The deadlock was broken after 38 minutes when Bryan Cristante won it back in midfield, spread it to Santiago Castro down the left, and then let the return pass through with a dummy, allowing Hermoso to sweep in first-time from 12 yards.
Svilar had to make a tougher save on Biggins straight after the restart, while Castro just failed to connect with an inspired Dybala dinked pass.
Hermoso was tripped inside the penalty area and Castro stepped up to convert, doubling Roma’s lead.
runs with ball under pressure from Lee Jenkins of Newport County during the pre-season friendly match between Newport County and AS Roma at Rodney Parade on August 04, 2026 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
The third goal was a great way to mark his debut, as Roma had a well-worked short corner with Dybala’s cross nodded in by Koulierakis from close range.
A furious scuffle erupted on 65 minutes when Dybala was hacked down on the counter-attack by Cameron Evans, infuriating the Roma man’s teammates in what was after all a summer friendly.
Dybala responded with irritation moments later, as the two continued to argue off the ball.
Matias Soulé came off the bench and scored, bending a precise left-foot finish around the goalkeeper’s glove into the far bottom corner.
Gasperini’s side still failed to keep a clean sheet though, as late on Kyle Cameron’s glancing header on a free kick squirmed in at the back post.
Newport County 1-4 Roma
Hermoso 38 (R), Castro pen 54 (R), Koulierakis 59 (R), Soulé 81 (R), Cameron 85 (N)
Roma: Svilar (Gollini 75); Mancini, Ndicka (Ziolkowski 75), Koulierakis (Ghilardi 69); Rensch (Soulé 69), El Aynaoui, Hermoso, Wesley (Wesley 75); Dybala (Vaz 69), Cristante; Castro (Lulli 69)