Another late goal digs County out of a hole
Report from Mark Vickery at Rodney Parade
Newport County 1 (Amond 81)
Leyton Orient 1(Sotiriou 2)
Attendance: 4,447
Form:
Newport County DWWLWWLDLL
Leyton Orient LDLLLLDdWL
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Both sides are struggling for form and will want to put in performance to remember former manager Justin Edinburgh. County need to get back to basics and get their passing game working again.
CONDITIONS
Mild, bright sunny spells and calm. Pitch was erratic and bobbly in parts after recent holiday matches.
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Persistence and got reward with late goal but lacked killer instinct.
TURNING POINT
Bold changes County manager Mike Flynn made second half got them playing more on the front-foot.
THE MATCH
County made a welcome change with goalkeeper Tom King back in the side for the first time since early November replacing deputy Nick Townsend who was on the bench. Orient made the more assertive start on got their reward inside 2 minutes with County inviting pressure and some indecision by McNamara winning an aerial challenge with Marsh presented a free kick in a decent position left side of the area. Wright whipped in a decent delivery and some charitable defending allowed Sotiriou to ghost in to glance into the left corner from 10 yards beyond the grasp of King. County settled into their game despite the set back with positive play left side involving Haynes and Nurse but Orient were able to get the ball safe. On 5 minutes, Orient worked another decent move left side with Happe cutting back a cross too easily from a tight position and Angol hooked an effort over the bar from 12 yards. On 12 minutes, County created an efficient move on their right flank with Sheehan combining to find McNamara. He put in an early cross which was key pinpointing the late run into the area by Matt but his downward header from 10 yards was saved well low down by Sargeant. Orient were happy to by pass the midfield and look for direct balls into Angol who gave them an outlet to buy time and bring other players in. County managed the threat and combined well in transition with some darting runs forward with Matt and Abrahams both getting goalside but not given the rub of the green in decisions when pulled back. County kept plugging away coaxing Orient into several free kicks and had decent situation on 18 minutes near the “d” but Haynes curled an effort around the right side of the wall but again Sargeant remained alert saving low down. Then on 20 minutes, Nurse again showed his capability with crosses putting in decent delivery from the left flank which Matt met with a decent header from 10 yards but Sargeant was able to hold. On 23 minutes, County created a snappy move that initiated on the left side and Nurse cut back a quick ball into the middle which split Orient defensive pair Ekpiteta and Turley to find Abrahams. He turned goalside but was tugged back by Happe who booked for the indiscretion. From the resultant free kick, Sheehan whipped a decent effort from 30 yards just wide of the left post. Orient had dealt with a lot of the aerial play well especially from long throws but a change of tact nearly paid dividends for County on 30 minutes. From a short corner, Haynes put in a cross to the front post pinpointing Innis but his header was glanced wide of the right post. Orient continued to persist with balls into Angol with able support from Sotiriou left side and Maguire-Drew right side. On 35 minutes, County had a chance from a neat move on the right side involving Sheehan who threaded a low pass near the edge of the area for McNamara to latch onto. He cut back a decent cross near the byline into the six yard box which should have been buried but Orient scrambled the ball to safety. On 38 minutes, some decisive play by County saw them work a quick direct ball and Matt span off a challenge by Ekpiteta near the centre circle but held back and the centre back was booked. On 42 minutes, McNamara was again forward in advanced position supporting a move right side of the area after a County free kick had broken down. His deep cross was met well by Innis from 8 yards but the ball drifted agonisingly wide of the left post. Orient regained some composure in the run up to half time after giving away several free kicks throughout the half which County should have punished.
The early stages of the second half were competitive with Orient doing more work off the ball to contain County and make the game ugly. County had a couple of decent situation from long throw ins either side of the area but Orient dealt with the threat well. County continued to work the left side most cohesively with Haynes and Nurse working well in tandem but the crosses eluded runs into the area by Abrahams and Matt. On 60 minutes, Orient made a rare foray forward when they flicked a ball in behind down the right channel but Demetriou was alive to the quell the situation clearing ahead of Maguire-Drew who caught him very late to earn a booking. There were concerns for his welfare but Demetriou but he recovered well which was big boost for the team. County made a much needed change on 65 minutes with Amond replacing Haynes with County reverting to 3–4–3. On 67 minutes, County had Orient pinned back deep inside their own area and a loose nervous clearance was met by Labadie who drove right side of the area only for his low effort to be well blocked by Turley. Orient had a decent chance on 68 minutes from a free kick right side which Maguire-Drew curled into towards the back post and Happe saw his header from 8 yards parried around the right post by the alert King. County kept sweeping forward and got some decent crosses into the area and were close again on 70 minutes when Orient struggled to clear from a long throw. Abrahams did well to set up Innis and his effort from 10 yards was blocked well by Ekpiteta and Abrahams in the follow up had his snapshot blocked from an acute angle by Judd. Orient made a change soon after to freshen up their midfield with Maguire-Drew replaced by Brophy. County remained in control forcing the issue final third with Sheehan and Amond linking play well. On 77 minutes, Sheehan carried a strong run down the right side of the area only to be checked by left back Clay on the edge of the area who was booked. From the resultant free kick Abrahams struck a rising effort over the bar when he should have worked the keeper. County made another change soon after with Poleon replacing Innis in a very offensive formation with 4 striker on the pitch. County got a deserved goal on 81 minutes when a cross right side by McNamara invited Abrahams to shoot only for another effort to be blocked by Turley. This time County were sharpest to rebound with Bennett caressing a pass wide left to Amond and he finished the move with a half volley into the right corner. County kept pressing for a winner with Orient struggling to find cohesion they were happy to run down the clock. On 85 minutes, McNamara and Sotiriou were booked for altercation when the Orient player appeared to delay the throw in and keep the ball. Sotiriou was replaced soon after by former Plymouth and Oxford striker Harrold. County had a couple of decent situations to snatch a win in the final minutes but were let down by some poor crosses either side of the area. On 88 minutes, County were close when Orient scrambled away another cross and Nurse made a great late run to rifle a low effort from 18 yards which Labadie deflected just past the top left corner and post and bar from 10 yards. In injury time, County had a half chance when a free kick from Sheehan was only half cleared to the edge of the area and Labadie thrashed a shot on the turn just over the bar. Orient then worked a decent move late in injury time from a free kick left side which caught County asleep and Clay struck a decent low effort which Bennett deflected wide of the left post. The game finished all square and a warm applause rang around the ground to celebrate the life of the late Edinburgh.
King (7) — safe with his hands, put under pressure with some pass back first half but got ball safe and settled down to distribute well. Made a key save to deny Happe early in the second half.
Haynes (6) — was a little unfortunate to be sacrificed as he made a lot happen in tandem with Nurse. Needs to do better on headers and not allow the ball to drop and take throw ins quicker.
McNamara (6) — should have won the challenge to mitigate opening goal but after being under early pressure, he grew into the game and made some good supporting runs second half and crossed well.
Demetriou (7) — did well dealing with Angol, read game well knowing when to go tight and drop off. Pushed on with ball at feet when invited, won some brave headers and shook off a couple of knocks
Inniss (7) — dominated the aerial duals and let little goalside. Distribution was erratic on times but arguably had the best chances from set pieces and needs to start burying the headers.
Bennett (7) — composed game, got tight and was combative keeping discipline well. Swept up and was generally neat and tidy with his passing setting up Amond goal well.
Nurse (8) — bold and persistent when he got ball at feet. had stamina fitness to keep working the left side and provide some decent crosses. Was unlucky with his one effort late not setting up goal.
Labadie (7) — much more in the game today, had strength to fend off challenges a did well to force pressure in and around the area. Had a couple of decent chances inside area but couldn’t keep ball down.
Sheehan (7) — timed his runs well to support final third and worked hard box to box. Provided some good ammunition today from free kicks which should have yielded more goals.
Matt (6) — quiet game, did a job across the line but well marshalled inside the area. Did his best work when turned off defenders with lower passes in body outside the area.
Abrahams (6) — when he held ball he was able to create openings but lost possession far too cheaply on times letting Orient defence off. Wasteful on some crosses but kept working defenders until the end.
SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — they worked hard to protect their lead, their crosses were accurate and they showed capability in the air on set pieces.
Weaknesses — gave away a lot of free kicks and went down cheaply on times looking for decisions. Never really used the midfield and defenders were anxious with clearances when pressed.
Opportunities — quite reserved set up with direct balls into Angol as an outlet but when that broke down they had few alternatives. Never really able to change tact.
Threats — the best cohesive moves went through Angol. Maguire-Drew set pieces were accurate and Sotiriou pace in behind.
OFFICIALS
L Swabey (7) — missed some of the pulling and holding off the ball but got the key decisions right allowing game to flow
MAN OF THE MATCH
George Nurse — incessant down the left side, got stronger and stronger as game progressed. Carried ball well at feet and put in fair quota of crosses.
IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
This was a decent response after the Exeter game and County built on their sharpness with intelligent use of the ball after the early setback and should have won this match. The work ethic was good but County left it late again to get some reward from the game. However, they need to show more killer instinct earlier in games if they harbour ambitions of climbing back towards the top reaches of the table. Matt and Abrahams had relatively passive game and need to show their teeth more because when they made the ball stick it gave County platform to bring in other players. County raised the bar and momentum later in the game with the midfield orchestrating some slicker moves final third. County can improve on their set piece delivery and some of the free kick were wasted from pretty decent positions. The long throws were often too predictable with Orient comfortable in dealing with the high ball and it was when County worked the ball low they really opened them up. Next up is Cheltenham Town who play 3–5–2 and it will be a similar puzzle for County to crack with former player Ben Tozer playing a sweeping calming role but they do a vulnerability to sides which carry pace and pass the ball low and sharp. They will be missing the pace and key outlet to give a breather up top with striker Addai suspended but County will need to be careful not underestimate the energy and craft from Newport born Ryan Broom who has deputised as a striker in recent weeks.
