County defending like statues

Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Brisbane Road

Leyton Orient 4 (Agyei 1, Jaiyesimi 45, Cooper 51, Kelman 74)
Newport County 1 (Clarke 61)


Attendance: 2,141
Match Rating: ***

Form:
Newport County L
Leyton Orient L


PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
County gone with fringe players against a strong looking Orient team. Need to offer more resilience and concentration to get anything from this game.

CONDITIONS
Warm, partly cloudy and light breeze. Pitch in excellent condition and quick on top

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Too passive lacked defensive resolve and physically bullied all over the pitch


TURNING POINT
Conceding early goal didn’t help but conceding fourth straight after Mamwa chance blocked was a blow


THE MATCH
County made several changes with former Sunderland academy player Jacob Carney making his debut in place of Townsend. There was another change at centre back with Baker replacing Clarke who was the bench. There was a change in central midfield with Antwi sacrificed for Whitmore. County retained their 4231 formation but freshened the pack up front with Rai coming in left side for Kamwa and Wood on the opposite side for Greaves who was not in the squad. Jephcott made his first start of the season up front replacing Baker-Richardson who was a named substitute. County made an atrocious start to the game gifting Orient the opening goal inside the first minute allowing right back Clare to switch play from right to left and find Sweeney unmarked. He threaded a pass through the middle and with both Baker and Jameson lacking awareness to pick up Agyei seized the ball. He adjusted and managed to squeeze a low in off the right post just inside the area. County responded with some patient moves from deep enjoying plenty of possession but very little goal threat. Orient set their stall out to press up and stifle play with some physical presence to force County deeper and they remained a threat when passes went astray. Orient varied their game well with some direct play especially right side with Jameson and Glennon put under pressure from some robust runs by Agyei. County offered some threat from moves left side with Rai testing right back Rai who was coaxed into some fouls but the set pieces were limp failed to trouble Orient keeper Hemming. On 18 minutes, County worked a bright move left side with Glennon pinpointing the run of Rai in the left corner. Under pressure he cut back a decent cross into the area which McCoughlin anticipated well following a late run but he hit an air shot from 12 yards and the chance was lost. Despite County seeing plenty of the ball, Orient remained the more decisive side and they had a chance to go further ahead on 32 minutes. Orient pressed up aggressively and a loose pass by Jameson was pounced on by Warrington. He released a quick pass right side of the area to release Agyei with the County defence static but his shot from 14 yards was dragged wide of the left post. County huffed and puffed as half time approached with Orient keeping them at arms length and deny space final third with Rai having less impact. County made efforts to go more direct through the middle but Jephcott was getting little change from former Swansea centre back Brandon Cooper. There were over 10 minutes injury time played due to an injury to the linesman and Orient added a second goal on 90+7 minutes with a goal that typified sloppy defending this season by County. A direct ball right side by Orient saw Agyei the more alert and he dragged Jameson out of position. With no challenge forthcoming he turned and threaded a pass right side to Clare who was left untracked. His early cross into area was met by Jaiyesimi was rose unchallenged to head into the roof of the net from 10 yards

The early stages of second half were extremely flat from a County point of view allowing Orient to dictate the flow of the game and turn off weak County challenges. The were several warnings not heeded by County with Orient dribbling the ball at will and no disruption of their play. Orient killed the game on 51 minutes following a corner left side which appeared to breakdown. County had ample time to clear but allowed O’Neill the luxury to dink a hopeful cross back into area and with the County defence not aligned to play offside, Orient had 3 players queuing up to score but Cooper made no mistake heading into the left corner from 8 yards. County then had Jameson in the book on 55 minutes for getting the wrong side of Agyei as he bullied him off a challenge. County struggled for cohesion and were reliant on some strong runs by Whitmore. Orient had a chance for fourth goal on 58 minutes when a low move right saw County ball watching with Agyei running riot right side of the box. He slipped a pass inside for O’Neill that left Jameson at risk to another card if he didn’t get his tackle right but the shot from an acute angle was saves by Carney. County made a double substitution on 60 minutes with Jameson and Wood sacrificed for Clarke and Kamwa. Orient responded with a double change with Kelman on up top for Agyei and Brown for Clare at right back. The changes strengthened County and they back in the game on 62 minutes. Rai won a free kick right side after being caught late by Warrington who was booked. Glennon delivered an excellent cross inviting Clarke back post and his downward header from 10 yards nestled into the left corner. Orient then replaced Warrington for Beckles on 67 minutes and County were forced to take off Rai for Baker-Richardson on 70 minutes after suffering a knock. There was another change in midfield with Antwi on for Brennan. County then had a decent 5 minute spell with some good combinations of play left side involving Whitmore and Kamwa but Orient managed to recover and get some important blocks in. County had a great chance to reduce the arrears on 73 minutes following a bright move left side when Glennon threaded a neat low pass for Kamwa left side of the area. He was invited to shoot but his effort was blocked. The loose ball fell invitingly for Orient who broke quickly through the middle. County were left exposed and Perkins was able to release Kelmsn left side of the area and he beat Carney with a low shot which appeared to deceive him. Orient made another change soon after bringing on veteran midfielder Pratley for Jaiyesimi.
County had some decent situations on the break in the final 10 minutes but failed to get numbers into the box to support runs by Kamwa. There was a late County change on 89 minutes with Jephcott replaced by Evans. County had no other attacking option so put Evans right back and Mccloughlin up front right side. On 90+2 minutes County worked their best move of the game with Evans quick to release McCloughlin and his deep cross into the area found Kamwa but he dragged a low shot wide of the left post from 12 yards when he should have worked the keeper. Orient were untroubled and held on for a comfortable passage into the next round.

Carney (5) — could have done better on the first and fourth goal. Showed inexperience on times with some erratic distribution

McCoughlin (6) — forced back to defend much of the first half. Did his best to instigate moves from deep but got bogged down with heavy touch and looked rushed

Glennon (6) — got targeted in the air from direct kicks and lost too many 50.50s. Provided usual quota of decent crosses and passed well.

Jameson (5) — another poor game, seems to be lacking focus and concentration and got span off by Agyei too easily. Should have been replaced earlier

Baker (6) — looked lightweight on times and didn’t win enough aerial duals. Needs to offer more teeth and win first contacts

Brennan (6) — sat deep and stifled best he could but didn’t see enough influence with ball. Kept passing safe and tidy

Wildig (6) — read danger and initiated moves but current of sitting deep doesn’t suit him. anonymous for large spells of the game and bore the frustration

Whitmore (7) — competed well and was prepared to fend off challenges and think about his link play. Finished game strongly and best moves went through him

Rai (6) — bright outlet early on and was effective with pace and drive to make crosses. Got less joy 2nd half before fading

Jephcott (5) — disappointing performance and failed to create little threat or work shots. Not sure what he brings to the team presently.

Wood (5) — another player way off standards. Looked flat and ran into too many dead ends. Unclear what his role is and couldn’t get outside full back

SWOT ANALYSIS (Leyton Orient)

Strengths — centre backs won their aerial duals and stifled well. Worked hard to press mistakes, varied passes well and good combinations final third

Weaknesses — got away with a lot of crude pulling and when County kept ball they flew into several challenges.

Opportunities — didn’t really need to change tact with County easily read and predictable. Maintained energy throughout to press and force untidy passes

Threats — Agyei gave an outlet to bump off defenders and eye for a shot. Jaiyesimi runs box to box. Kelman outlet right side late on



OFFICIALS

T Hicks (7) — keen to let game flow and encourage advantage but ignored a lot of the cynical pulling

MAN OF THE MATCH
Daniel Agyei (Orient №7) — ran both County centre backs a royal dance dropping off and had strength to spin off and link best moves

IF YOU WERE NELSON JARDIM WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Changes were made tonight with the Doncaster game in mind but it is clear the fringe players County have at their disposal are not effecting games and the first hour was too comfortable for Leyton Orient who had one plan to press and turnover the play as quick as possible..The back four continue to lack concentration and lack teeth with Jameson often indecisive whether to get tight or drop off and sometimes he did neither which is worse. Glennon is also being targetted with direct aerial balls, so it is key County bring in more experience and physicality to their defence before the window closes. Next up this Saturday is Doncaster Rovers at home. This will be the first home at Rodney Parade for some players and a big test of their character against an in form team. Doncaster are likely to mirror County 4231 with Ironside an aerial outlet and Molyneux v Glennon looks a key battle. County need to win more of those 50–50 moments and punish sides before they punish them.