County fall short despite late rally
Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Rodney Parade
Newport County 1 (Wildig 86)
Mansfield Town 2 (Boateng 24, Gale 73)
Attendance: 3,575
Match Rating: ***
Form:
Newport County LLDDDWdWLW
Mansfield Town LWLDddWWDD
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Despite Mansfield missing some midfield players they’ve coped well in recent games. Not expecting a pretty game. County must stifle their flow and use ball effectively to put Mansfield on their heels.
CONDITIONS
Mild, partly cloudy with slight breeze. Pitch in excellent condition and slick on top
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Flat passive first half gave up too much control after going behind, but made a fist of game after second goal.
TURNING POINT
Opening goal gave Mansfield foothold they needed.
THE MATCH
County made a few changes with Matt Baker and Aaron Lewis sacrificed to the bench in place of Priestley Farquharson and James Waite. There was another change in midfield with Nathan Moriah-Welsh replacing Adam Wildig who was substitute. There was a surprise change up top with Calum Kavanagh coming in for Omar Bogle who was on the bench. County started with purpose working some efficient low moves to find space in wide areas with Kavanagh doing well left channel to stretch the Mansfield defence forcing Kilgour to come across to avert the danger. County worked some diagonal balls to the right side to test Mansfield left back Hewitt in the air but he did well under pressure from Norman. County responded with some more forceful moves left side involving Evans and were close on 6 minutes when they switched play well from left to right with Evans finding McNeil. He directed an excellent low cross inviting Kavanagh to shoot but he was marginally offside as Mansfield gratefully got the ball safe. Mansfield elected to play direct using Atkins as an outlet and his presence kept Farquharson occupied but he was revelling in the challenge. County were effective closing down forcing some untidy passes but they couldn’t quite capitalise allowing Mansfield to recover. Mansfield persisted with direct balls from deep using Atkins to pivot play and Keillor-Dunn and Bowery able runners in support. County calmed the threat Mansfield offered well and won a free throw ins higher up the pitch. On 16 minutes, a long throw by Demetriou caused uncertainty with the ball flashing deep and McNeill was quick to seize the ball and from the left corner of the box, he curled a decent effort just over the bar. County had Bennett booked on 20 minutes when he stretched into a low challenge on Boateng on the right channel. County were close on 22 minutes from a corner right side which Evans delivered well pinpointing Demetriou back post but his clever header from 10 yards looped onto the top of the bar. County conceded a soft goal on 24 minutes, coming out of the blue when they switched off defending a short throw right side of the area. Bowery slipped a neat pass for Boateng who was given the freedom to drive into the area and managed to poke his low effort home from an acute angle. Mansfield then had Hewitt in the book for a late aerial challenge on Norman right side. County made efforts to step up their game with some better pressing but were caught sleeping on 30 minutes when a run left side was left unchecked forcing Demetriou to come across to block Hewitt. Demetriou was somewhat harshly booked for the challenge. County kept chipping away with some bright moves in transition and when they were recycling the ball it caused Mansfield problems. On 33 minutes, County created a snappy move right side when McNeill did well to prise the ball into space and attack the byline. He cut back a decent cross towards the penalty spot but County had nobody alive to punish following a decent move. On 38 minutes, County were shot down in a promising position right side when McNeill turned Perch to attack in behind but he was cynically tripped by the defender who was booked. County somewhat wasted the free kick with a floated delivery by Evans rather than a whipped delivery. County were forced into an early change on 45+2 minutes when Drysdale appeared to be struggling after a knock and he was replaced by Baker. County created some better moves in first half injury when they went more direct with their delivery but Mansfield remained disciplined defending.
Mansfield made a change at half time with Perch replaced by Harbottle in central defence. Mansfield continued to enjoy some decent possession with County sitting off and allowing to work patterns of play. This was encouraged on times as Atkins worked hard to retain possession for Mansfield. On 53 minutes, some indecision by County defending saw Atkins coax a clumsy for foul by Farquharson who was booked. County made their first change on 58 minutes with Bennett suffering from a knock and he was replaced by Wildig. The change appeared to lift County with them penetrating higher up the pitch. On 60 minutes, a move right side involving Norman and Waite got Mansfield backtracking and the low cross into the area sat up and Evans saw his first time effort saved well by Pym in the right corner. County were well on the front-foot and were closer again on 63 minutes when Waite threaded a good pass inside for McNeill but his snapshot was well blocked by Hartbottle. County made a double substitution on 68 minutes with Waite replaced by Bogle and Lewis coming on for Farquharson with County switching to 3–4–3. Mansfield were forced into a change soon after with Gale replacing Bowery who had failed to recover from a knock. With County forcing the game they were left vulnerable and Mansfield added a second goal on 72 minutes. County had the ball in a decent position near the “d” but Boateng was able to pickpocket Moriah-Welsh and break left side with ease with no challenge forthcoming. He linked well to thread a pass for Gale who cut inside near the left corner of the box and finish in the right corner. County upped their tempo but were finding space hard to manufacture with Mansfield sat very deep. Mansfield made another change on 82 minutes with Boateng replaced by McLaughlin. On 83 minutes, Mansfield broke quickly right side exploiting space and Atkins did well to release Gale through the middle and his low shot from 25 yards hit the outside of the left post. County got a reward for perseverance on 86 minutes when Demetriou switched play well from left to right and find Lewis. He supplied a decent cross into the six yard and Wildig made an excellent late run to head home from 6 yards into the roof of the net. County kept pressing in the 8 minutes of injury time Mansfield inflicted and Keillor-Dunn was booked for a mistimed high challenge on Norman. Another Mansfield change followed soon after with McLaughlin departing as quick as he came on and he was replaced by Law. On 90+5 minutes, Law was booked for obstructing Wildig as County made efforts to get something from the game. On 90+6 minutes, County were denied a valid look penalty after the ball bounced up appeared to strike the hand of Quinn but the referee waved the appeals away. Mansfield held out tenaciously holding the ball in the corner to run the clock with their players punching the air in celebration at the end.
Day (6) — kicked well under pressure and distribution was neat but had few shots to deal with. Arguably could have done better on both goals but lacked assertiveness to come off his line.
Norman (6) — was well marked by Hewitt and despite having the better in the aerial duals never got a steam up being forced inside into too many dead ends. Dropped deeper when Lewis came on.
Evans (7) — had some good spells first half and penetrated well providing some neat passes to set Kavanagh free. Delivered some good crosses before energy fading late on.
Farquharson (7) — dealt well with the direct play, stood his ground well to limit space and break up play. Aside from misjudgement to get booking he coped well and nullified threat.
Drysdale (5) — did well in the aerial duals he contested but had a difficult spell before injury, gave too much space between him and the receiver on times allowing patterns of play to build
Demetriou (6) — won his headers but got a bit rushed with some of his clearances allowing passes to drift out of play. Limited to fewer long throws but they did cause problems
Moriah-Welsh (6) — got a bit bullied off the ball and second best in many of the combative duals. Did better last period of the game when he drifted into wide positions to cross or link play
Waite (6) — worked box to box and did well when get on the ball but lost out on too many of the 50–50s. needs to be more decisive and put more shots and crosses in
Bennett (6) — looked a little off the pace, level of performance down from last game and did his best to compete. Replaced early in second appeared to be running on empty.
Kavanagh (6) — had a bright start to the game and never really built on it. was effective when he got to the ball early but struggled to get across and unsettle defender.
McNeill (6) — worked hard on and off the ball, got in some good headers and offered bravery, got in a few snapshots but generally kept at arms-length
SWOT ANALYSIS (Mansfield Town)
Strengths — they were composed and organised defending. Marked well and positional awareness was good. Created some good low passing moves and took care of the ball
Weaknesses — lacked mobility in midfield allowing front three to do the spade work. Vulnerable when County counter pressed. Got away with a lot of the cynical play by lenient officials.
Opportunities — largely direct into Atkins and Boateng using runners in support. Had more freedom to play on counter second half and did that well.
Threats — Atkins bought time and linked play, Boateng and Keillor-Dunn effective in support getting early shots and crosses. Kilgour aerial prowess on set pieces.
OFFICIALS
T Kirk (5) — reading and interpretation was poor, not help by other officials encouraging cynical play on times and missed clear fouls on Norman near by line and honest penalty call late on.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Alfie Kilgour (Mansfield 24) — made some sturdy challenges and read danger well to mop up and get ball safe. Knitted defence together with organisation and discipline
IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
County tried another combination up top with Bogle surprisingly rested and although County did start quite well keeping the ball low to pick holes they lost momentum allowing Mansfield to take a grip of the game either side of half time. The game felt flat on times with County not offering enough aggression and teeth with the midfield chosen passive and ball watching too much. The changes made could have been made at half time to be blunt as County were equally benign for a time before their late rally. County did not have much assistance today from poor officials but there wasn’t much between the sides on the day, probably that Mansfield were a little more streetwise and decisive final third. Next up is Doncaster Rovers away and a chance to make amends against an indifferent side that has struggled for form of late. Doncaster are likely to play a 3–4–3 formation offering freedom, with Molyneux left side who can roam and Miller an outlet to pivot play up top. Doncaster do gamble and push their full backs high but have conceded a lot of goals when their overloads break down.
