Another insipid 2nd half as County buckle

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 1 (Hudlin 12)

Swindon Town 2 (Smith 15, Westley 75)

Attendance: 5,244

Match Rating: ***

Form:

Newport County LddDdWLLLL

Swindon Town WWLWDDWLdL

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

County need to adjust defensively with both Brennan and Jameson unavailable. Expect Swindon to get ball forward quickly so key County absorb direct threat and use ball efficiently to work chances

CONDITIONS

Partly cloudy and cool with keen breeze. Pitch looked in excellent condition

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Lacked quality final third inside the box to punish and second half was impaired by poor retention

TURNING POINT

Half time team chat

THE MATCH

County were forced into a couple of defensive changes with Ciaran Brennan injured and Kyle Jameson suspended. County introduced James Clarke who captained the side and new signing Tom Davies at left back with Shane McLoughlin slotting into central midfield in place of Cameron Antwi who was on the bench. There was another change in goal with Nick Townsend returning after injury in place of Jacob Carney who was not in the squad but new signing Lewis Webb was on the bench. County made another change at top with Oliver Greaves unfortunate to be sacrificed to the bench with Kyle Hudlin starting. Swindon made their intention clear with some direct moves early on using Smith as an outlet with Drinan chasing down the debris in behind. On 5 minutes, County broke out of their shell with a move right side with Cameron Evans threading a low pass right side of the area for McLoughlin to latch onto. He drove to the byline and cut back a decent cross into the area pinpointing Hudlin but he lacked awareness to pounce allowing Wright to recover and intercept to clear the danger. Swindon constructed some decent moves left side putting Evans under pressure and won a series of corners which were thrown into the six yard box but cleared effectively. The game was interrupted by several crude fouls in midfield and was stop start with little quality through the middle of the pitch. Swindon persisted with direct moves from deep with keeper Bycroft joining the party with some telegraphed balls forward and Smith continued to cause a nuisance with aerial prowess but County mopped up the ball in behind well. County took the lead in their first real constructive move on 12 minutes with Cameron Evans doing well to get the ball to the feet of David Ajiboye quickly. He jinked forward with a piercing run inside and blasted a low shot right corner of the box. Bycroft found the shot too hot to handle and Hudlin did well to anticipate and turn home the rebound from inside the 6 yard box. On 14 minutes, Swindon responded with a move right side arrowing the ball towards Smith and the ball was allowed to drop dangerously right side of the area. Drinan was quick to seize the loose ball and dink a quick cross into the area which Clarke met with header from 12 yards but Townsend read it to claim well. Swindon were back on level terms on 14 minutes when they worked a move through the middle and some lax defending by County allowed Smith to drive forward and as the ball sat up invitingly he thrashed a volley from inside the “d” low into the right corner. County responded with some promise attacking the left channel using Kamwa as an outlet but were continually let down by poor decisions and erratic first touch allowing Swindon to recover. On 20 minutes, County lost the ball cheaply left side allowing Swindon to counter with Nicholls finding the run of Drinan right side of the box but his lobbed cross come shot was wide of the left post. County had a better spell as half time approached working some decent low moves but struggled to find the killer pass or quality with crosses to trouble Swindon. On 36 minutes, a move that typified County first half saw Kamwa and Davies work well in tandem left side of the area. Davies cut back a cross into the area towards the back post but the ball eluded runs into the box by Ajiboye and Hudlin. The match had been littered with fouls with the referee encouraging indiscretion and the game degenerated as half time approached. On 45 minutes, there was an altercation when Whitmore made a firm tackle on Kilkenny near the left touchline. Smith and Hudlin become involved in dispute around the challenge and both were booked by the referee.

Swindon came out sharper in the early stages of the second half and County had Kieron Evans booked on 47 minutes for a tackle from behind on Clarke. With Swindon pressing up higher, County struggled for momentum and were reliant on some direct balls towards Hudlin which were not sticking. On 50 minutes, Swindon broke from deep when a poor disjointed County move broke down and Clarke attacked space left right side. His cross into the area pinpointed Smith but his header from 12 yards drifted wide of the left post with Baker doing enough to put him off. Swindon worked hard off the ball suffocating County and were close again on 53 minutes when Drinan forged into space right side. His cross field pass found Ofoborh who adjusted well to drill in a low shot from 20 yards which Townsend parried away well and Smith had his shot from an acute angle well blocked by Davies. On 57 minutes, Whitmore was booked somewhat harshly when he mistimed a challenge on Kilkenny near the right flank. County made a double substitution on the hour with Whitmore replaced by new signing from Notts County Josh Martin and Baker-Richardson making a well return after injury replacing Hudlin. On 62 minutes, County flirted with goal when they won a free kick across the face of the area. Cameron Evans took the free kick but the effort was well marshalled by Bycroft who held the ball well. Swindon made a change soon after with Westley replacing Nichols up front. On 66 minutes, County worked a decent move on the break attacking decisively left side and despite the cross by Kamwa dropping deep McLoughlin did well to retrieve the ball. He cut back a low pass to the edge of the area inviting Cameron Evans to shoot but his first time effort was well over the bar. Swindon made another change on 72 minutes with Cotterill replacing Ofoborh. On 75 minutes, County were punished severely when they had the ball down the left flank in a promising position but allowed Swindon to pickpocket the ball. With both Kamwa and Martin leaving the ball to one another, Swindon were quick to pounce on the indecision and break right side with Drinan cutting back a precise low cross to pick out the late run of Westley who slotted low into the right corner from 10 yards. On 80 minutes, County were on the front foot when a strong header from Baker found Ajiboye. He took control of the ball and cut inside but his low powerful effort from inside the “d” was intercepted. The rebound was seized upon by Cameron Evans but he was unable to keep his first time effort from 25 yards down. On 85 minutes, County were close when a move right side saw McLoughlin chip back a decent cross into the area which Baker-Richardson was alert to but the glancing header was wide of left post. County made another change soon after with Ajiboye was replaced by Spellman who went left side with Kamwa switching to the left side. Swindon had some further chances to make the game safe in injury time and were close on 90+2 minutes when a strong run right side by Kilkenny opened up play. With County ball watching Cotterill dragged a low shot from 12 yards narrowly past left post. Swindon held out comfortably for a deserved win despite 6 minutes injury time with County struggling to apply any sustained pressure and them reliant on some hopeful long balls.

Townsend (6) — well beaten on opening goal. Kicked wide but struggled with some kicks which drifted out and momentum was lost. Made a couple of smart saves from distance

Baker (6) — competed well in the aerial duals limiting aerial threat from Smith. Allowed some ball to drop in behind but was good was his feet and build up play

C Evans (6) — put under some pressure in first half but made some good contributions to instigate moves right side and passed well. had a couple of shots in around the box.

McLoughlin (6) — picked holes well first half seeing ball early and competed well. struggled to make same impact after half time and forced deeper

Clarke (6) — contained threat from direct play well and had strength to fend off challenges and clear effectively under pressure.

Davies (6) — untroubled first half and distributed passes efficiently to link with Kamwa. Got forced back second half and put under pressure by strong runs from Drinan.

Whitmore (7) — best player in the midfield pack, worked hard box to box, competed well and momentum was lost when he was replaced early second half.

K Evans (6) — coordinated some good moves from deep but found space hard to find and got caught in possession several times. Best moves went through him but faded early second half.

Kamwa (5) — angled runs left side and needs to demand an earlier pass to settle ball before momentum lost. Struggled for impact second half and was at fault with the second goal dithering on ball.

Hudlin (6) — when he limited touches first half to move ball he was effective and took goal well. let down by poor in retention and lazy off the ball on times.

Ajiboye (5) — set up the first goal but ended up running into too many dead ends. Drifted into too narrow on times when width was needed hiding from the ball.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Swindon Town)

Strengths — they were functional and worked hard collectively upping their work rate after half time. worked some good combinations and kept defensive focus.

Weaknesses — full backs were indecisive first half and second half never looked convincing timing their press. Goalkeeper got rushed into some clearances and handling on goal was questionable.

Opportunities — sat back passively first half but did enough to spin game by pushing up more aggressively and win their first contact. Changed to 3–5–2 which nullified County’s wide play and went more direct second half to force County deeper.

Threats — Smith aerial threat and link play. Drinan runs in behind and Wright directed some good measured passes from deep.

OFFICIALS

B Speedie (6) — let pretty much everything go and failed to punish persistent fouling off the ball ignoring several blatant fouls.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Aaron Drinan — showed glimpses first half with crosses, but in a poor game offered the moments of quality with his vision and movement.

IF YOU WERE NELSON JARDIM WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

It is not clear what direction is coming from the dressing room at half time but after a positive first half, they sat back with Hudlin drifting deeper and deeper and retention waivered. County lacked teeth second half and allowed unconvincing Swindon keeper to kick the ball long uncontested. County had edged the first half and just needed to maintain their drive and add some quality final third to punish Swindon. However, they sat back far too passively, losing the momentum they built in a whimper. Whilst they continue to be impaired by poor second half performances and bitty performances they will continue to drift towards danger and this needs addressing. It was enough for a functional Swindon side to collectively work harder off the ball second half with County unable to get their wide men on the ball. Despite the second goal not coming until the last quarter of the game, the writing was well on the wall with County lightweight and not winning enough of the first contacts. Both Kamwa and Ajiboye struggled to impact in this game and Kamwa should have been replaced after poor decision making that lead up to second Swindon goal right in front of the County dugout. Instead poor choices with changes taking Whitmore off far too early effectively conceded the game and County were unable to lay a glove on the Swindon goalkeeper. With the January window closing, County need add some physicality down the spine of the team so they can get their ball players like Kieran Evans hurting sides top end of the pitch instead of firefighting. Next up is Salford City away where County have an atrocious record. Salford have picked up in form recently but have some central defenders injured and there is an opportunity for County to exploit this if they are bold. Salford are likely to play an aggressive attacking 3–4–3 formation with Stockton a key outlet for retention and build up play up front with McAleny supporting runs behind but they do have vulnerability defending pace in the turnover.