County break Salford hoodoo

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 3 (Hudlin 10, Wildig 26, Spellman 67)

Salford City 1 (Stockton 81)

Attendance: 3,552

Match Rating: ****

Form:

Newport County LWWWLLLWLW

Salford City LdLDLWLWLd

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Salford are in patchy form and struggled for goals this season but been defensively solid. Expecting them to be more positive and direct so key County keep defensive focus and pick gaps to punish.

CONDITIONS

Mild, cloudy and keen wind. Pitch in decent condition but slippery again in parts with unnecessary watering before

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Effervescent, enterprising taking chances well and resilient in key moments

TURNING POINT

Never looked back after opening goal.

THE MATCH

County made some changes sacrificing two players to the bench, with Hudlin replacing Baker-Richardson up front and Mawene slotting into midfield for Antwi. County started well with some intricate purposeful moves built through the middle. On 3 minutes, County won a free kick in decent position following a smart move left side with Kamwa threading a pass inside to find Mawene who was checked by Fornah near the left corner of the box. Glennon took the dead ball but squandered the chance curling his effort high and wide of the right post and bar. The game was played at a fast pace with both sides bold but County looked the more threatening final third. On 9 minutes, Salford had McAleny booked for a clumsy challenge tacking from behind on Wildig. County kept pressing left side and won a corner on 10 minutes after some good work by Kamwa. Glennon took the corner and his teasing delivery invited Hudlin to rise front post and he expertly glanced his header into the top right corner. Salford made efforts to assert their game with some direct play using Kouassi as an outlet but County stifled the threat well. Salford created some measure moves right side to test County and turn them back on their heels but they recovered well cleat the danger effectively. On 22 minutes, there was another warning for Salford when County worked a neat move initiated by Cameron Evans who played a direct ball to Hudlin. He caressed the ball into the path off Kieran Evans but his snapshot right corner of the area went well wide of the right post. County gained confidence creating some cohesive moves and were close again on 23 minutes with Kamwa pulling the string. He burst outside Mnoga left side of the area and cut back a decent cross into area which Mawene read well but his header from 8 yards was saved in the right corner. County extended their lead on 26 minutes with a decisive low move right side involving Kieran Evans who picked out Hudlin inside the area and he had the awareness to flick the ball back to Wildig who calmly slotted home from 8 yards. Salford responded with some direct play and raised energy bars and flirted with goal on 32 minutes when Kouassi laid a pass back to N’Mai edge of the area but his snapshot went well over the bar. County absorbed pressure well and were menacing on the break with Wildig and Morris snapping up possession well. On 40 minutes, County created an efficient move left side with Kamwa curling back a useful cross from near the byline towards Hudlin with his back to goal. He showed good feet caress a short pass to Wildig and his first time effort from 20 yards was deflected over the bar. Salford upped their efforts again with Fornah conducting some moves from deep. On 45+2 minutes, a move from deep caught County sleeping and N’Mai was invited to shoot left side of the area but Baker blocked the shot.

The early stages of the second half saw Salford press hard off the ball in an attempt to unsettle County but they continued to work the ball box to box. Salford enjoyed some possession for a time but overplayed several passes rushing their game with County retaining a good shape. Salford made a double substitution on 53 minutes with Luamba coming on for McAleny to go up front and Woodburn replaced Austerfield with Salford switching from 4–5–1 to 4–3–3. County remained a threat in transition when they got their passes to feet and were close again on 55 minutes when Kamwa forced his way past Mnoga near the left byline and cut back a pass to Kieron Evans but his first time shot from 12 yards was inches wide of the left post. County made their first change soon after with Wildig replacing by Antwi. County developed some intricate moves well with Kieron Evans and Cameron Evans combing well right side. They manufactured a decent chance on 57 minutes finding Hudlin right side of the area and despite Hudlin being blocked by Tilt, Kieran Evans picked up the debris and his low shot from 20 yards was saved well in the right corner by Jones. Tilt was booked by the referee and N’Mai soon followed for a crude obstruction on Kieran Evans as County began to run riot. Salford made another change on 63 minutes with Okoronkwo replaced by Stockton who went to a conventional number 9 and Luamba drifted to wing. Salford settled into a better spell of cohesion with some better accuracy and patience switching play from left to right to use the pace of Luamba. County responded introducing Spellman for Kamwa soon after and the game was killed on 67 minutes when a slick move through the middle saw Kieran Evans slice the defence and Spellman ghosted in to slot low into the right corner from 12 yards. With Salford imploding County had a chance of fourth goal on 70 minutes when a bright move right side saw Kieran Evans pick out Hudlin and he showed good vision to find Antwi who blasted a rising shot well over from 25 yards. Salford had another player in the book on 77 minutes when Woodburn tangled in a challenge with Cameron Evans. Salford made further changes son after with Kouassi sacrificed for Taylor up top and centre back Negru not recovering after a knock and he was replaced by Ashley. Salford adjusted again going 3–4–3 and Garbutt getting a licence to push on left side. On 80 minutes, Salford issued a warning when Garbutt delivered an early cross from a deep position and Woodburn stole in to poke an effort from 10 yards which Townsend claimed well. Salford kept plugging away and got a goal back moments later when a cohesive move saw Garbutt find Stockton edge of the area. He was given some freedom to turn and strike a low shot from inside “d” beyond the grasp of Townsend. County then had Spellman booked on 83 minutes for disrupting a break from deep by Salford as they upped the pace of the game again. County made a double substitution on 85 minutes with Kieran Evans replaced by Greaves and Baker-Richardson came on for Hudlin. On 90 minutes, County caught Salford napping when Garbutt had pushed on left side but a move broke down and a long ball from Morris pinpointed Baker-Richardson in space right side of the area. His pass back invited Antwi to shoot from 20 yards was saved low in the right corner by Jones. There were six minutes of injury time and Salford huffed and puffed forcing County deep but they were in no mood for any more charity and held out strongly clearing their lines well under pressure.

Townsend (7) — solid game, had few shots to save but handling was good when tested. Distributed well when under pressure and initiated some good moves from deep.

C Evans (7) — made several dynamic runs forward, defended well, timed tackles, letting little goalside and took care with his distribution.

Glennon (8) — best game in a County shirt, did much damage first half instigating some neat moves and set up first goal. was asked questions from some switches of play but kept focus tackling well

Jameson (8) — dominated the aerial duals and kept concentration well to sweeping up danger well in behind. Forced deeper second half but was trusted with his clearances under pressure.

Baker (7) — steady game, robust in the air and marked tightly and mopped up threat quickly, letting little goalside and cleared effectively

Morris (7) — was prominent first half, winning key challenges and used ball effectively varying passes. sat deeper second half but still picked out some good passes.

K Evans (8) — excellent game, showed a good understanding with Cameron Evans creating clever low moves and went close several times with shots from distance. Unlucky not to get his first goal

Wildig (8) — had a decent hour, saw the ball early and was intelligent with his movement. Competed well to win and unsettle doing a lot dirty work and took chance well before fading.

Mawene (7) — mobile did some important work box to box and was quick with his passing. Quieter second half forced deeper but tracked danger well to stifle threats.

Kamwa (7) — got at the right back first half with some driving runs. Can improve on final ball overplaying some crosses but was generous setting up some decent chances when he could have shot.

Hudlin (8) — took up some good positions and was always a problem with his aerial prowess and awareness with clever touches. Took his chance well and with better supply may have added to it.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Salford City)

Strengths — effective in transition and were mobile getting forward. Showed capability with crosses which came out later in the game.

Weaknesses — both full backs left gaps in behind and struggled to recover. tried to play fast but overplayed several passes and lacked cutting edge. Team lacked height overall.

Opportunities — changed formation several times and went more direct later in game to test County.

Threats — Kouassi was robust and unsettled, Stockton link play and eye for a shot, Garbutt crosses late on were accurate.

OFFICIALS

S Jackson (8) — decent game, issued booking when necessary but rarely noticed him and let game flow well

MAN OF THE MATCH

Kyle Hudlin — bruised Salford defenders with some towering headers but deceptively good with his feet as well linking play intelligently.

IF YOU WERE NELSON JARDIM WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County set an early precedence mixing up their game well and the opening goal settled them into a nice rhythm. County were effective in getting their full backs influence the game and punished Salford with some decisive breaks to exploit gaps. They also built on the previous game offering more cohesion and had spells where they raised the bar with the tempo and energy which Salford found hard to match. County used the height of Hudlin well today with Salford having a vulnerability in the air in the squad with lack of height. County were also bold making changes early to rest players at key times and they were resilient again when Salford had a better spell for a time later in the second half. Next up is Bradford City away on Monday and a chance to refresh and reasses after two testing games. County have shone at home this season, but now need to improve their mental toughness away from home. Bradford have been stretched at the back and have recently switched to 4–4–2 with several defenders missing. They have signed veteran centre back Paul Huntington this week to cover so may revert back to 3–5–2 as players return. County need to force them back in wide areas and exploit any rustiness using their pace to get in final third