County forced to do it the hard way

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 1 (Ridehalgh own goal 61)

Bradford City 1 (Cook 36)

Attendance: 4,411

Match Rating: ****

Form:

Newport County LDWWDDWLLD

Bradford City LddDWWWWWd

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Bradford have been on good run to put themselves in contention for promotion based keeping tight and nicking odd goals. County need to building their approach play and start finishing off chances.

CONDITIONS

Cool, cloudy, light rain with slight breeze. Pitch in excellent condition and glossy on top.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Showed character again to face adversity and spin the game but couldn’t finish the Bantams off.

TURNING POINT

The goalkeeper escaping a red card was certainly a moment but no real turning point to note

THE MATCH

County made just the one change recovering freshness from their arduous trip to Grimsby on Tuesday with Kavanagh suffering from a slight knock and McNeil came in to partner Bogle up front. Bradford made the more assertive start pushing their full backs up high to dictate passes down the flanks. County kept focused with some effective clearances to turn Bradford back on their heels. On 6 minutes, with Bradford overzealously pushing forward right side right back Halliday was caught in possession by Bogle. He linked left side of the area to find McNeil who showed good vison to pick out Norman right side of the area in acres of space. Norman smashed a low shot from 14 yards which Stubbs got an important block on inside the six yard box and Charsley anticipated the rebound well but the ball appeared to get underneath his feet and Bradford recovered. County gained confidence with some snappy low moves through the middle with Moriah-Welsh and Charsley working well in tandem. On 15 minutes, County were close again when a smart move saw Lewis and Moriah-Welsh combine to thread a pass right side of the area and McNeil had a snapshot diverted for a corner. There was another let off for Bradford moments later when Lewis stole in near the right byline and his low dangerously flashed through the six yard box eluding the killer touch. On 22 minutes, there was a controversial when County worked a neat move left side from deep with Farquarson directing a teasing long ball through the middle which McNeil chased down hard and Bradford keeper overcommitted himself collecting the ball several yards outside the box. Under the laws, it meant he was denying a goal scoring opportunity but the referee made some peculiar interpretation with a lenient yellow card. Lewis took the resulting free kick and his dipping effort from 22 yards went just over the bar. Bradford worked some direct balls to test County with Cook causing some problems with his aerial prowess but County managed to work collectively to mop up the danger. County increased their intensity with several good moves right side with Norman on the back end of some clumsy challenges. County were let down by poor delivery on the set pieces allowing Bradford off the hook. On 33 minutes, County did well with Bradford again forcing play high up the pitch, but they stifled the move and broke quickly in transition with Norman having his strong run down the right flank crudely halted by Ridehalgh who was booked. County were firmly in the ascendancy but inexplicably switched off on 36 minutes when a direct ball was glanced on by Costelloe ahead of Farquharson. County were slow to pick up the second ball and despite Demetriou doing his best to recover, Cook ghosted in a slotted into the left corner from 14 yards. Bradford had another decent chance moments later when Walker won a free kick left side with Bennett caught the wrong side of him. The free kick was curled into deep towards the back post and Cook was allowed far too much space to direct a header back into the area and Walker saw his first time effort from 10 yards well blocked by Baker. Bradford gained confidence from their approach play with County sitting off too much with moves right side involving Halliday. On 40 minutes, Halliday linked well right side of the area to deliver a decent cross which Stubbs read quickest and his shot was well saved in the left corner by Day. Bradford were on top as half time approached forcing County deep with some low snappy moves but the defence managed to get the ball safe.

Bradford started the second half aggressively but County held firm taking the brunt of few mistimed challenges. On 52 minutes, Costelloe was booked when he got a challenge on Demetriou totally wrong. County ramped up the pressure again with some verve down their left flank with Lewis finding space to get at Bradford right back Halliday. On 55 minutes, Bradford had a warning when Lewis drove inside from left corner of the area and his low effort was blocked well by Stubbs. On 58 minutes, County had a decent chance to equalise when Baker did well to inch up with a move left side and slip a neat pass left side of the area for Lewis. His cross into the area appeared to deflect up and Charsley anticipated well but could only scoop over the bar from 8 yards. On 60 minutes, Lewis was again pivotal with a forceful run setting up Bogle for a half chance which was rushed and his effort from outside the box drifted wide of the right post. County kept pressing and got their reward moments later when a Demetriou long throw right side was only half cleared. Demetriou showed great determination to pick up the loose ball and whip in an excellent curling cross which appeared to take a slight deflection off Ridehalgh and nestle in the left corner. Bradford upped their efforts again squeezing up as a unit and a cross left side by Ridehalgh on 63 minutes had to be cleared back post by Demetriou. The game become scrappy for a while with Bradford doing more to assert their game through the middle with Clayton and Walker dictating some good moves. On 70 minutes, County had Moriah-Welsh in the book for catching Clayton from behind with a late tackle. Bradford made their first change on 73 minutes with Gilliead replaced by Banks. Both sides jockeyed for position with Bradford offering more patience to pass the ball but County were effective on the counter. On 80 minutes, County had a half chance again from the industry of Lewis left side who threaded a intricate low pass inside for Moriah-Welsh but his snapshot from inside the “d” was well blocked by Platt. Moments later, Lewis provided an even better chance with a cross near the byline which Norman ghosted to meet following a late run but his header from 10 yards went straight at the keeper. On 82 minutes, County won a corner right side and an out-swinging cross caused problems for Bradford and the loose header was well anticipated by Bennett inside the “d” and his first time volley fizzed just over the bar. Both sides made a double substitution just after with Bradford sacrificing Smallwood and Costelloe for East and Chapman. County responded with Moriah-Welsh and Charsley replaced by Waite and Wildig. County ramped up the tempo in the final minutes and a strong run by Norman on 85 minutes was crudely halted by when Chapman shunted him into the hoardings. Chapman was booked and Norman recovered well after a couple of minutes of treatment to resume with Evans coming on for McNeil with County firmly in the ascendancy. County pressed well in the final minutes with Waite and Wildig doing well to influence with some sharpness of passing. On 90+2 minutes, County had a decent chance from another move left side with Lewis unsettling the defence. With Bradford struggling to clear their lines near the byline, Evans struck a clever shot on the turn which the keeper saved with his legs. Bradford were forced to play direct using Cook as an outlet but Farquharson and Baker were quick to break up play. On 90+5 minutes, County created a snappy move right side with Norman cutting back an early cross right side of the area which Evans latched onto but his header from 10 yards went just over the bar. An entertaining game ended with County finishing score but reflecting on bad luck and near misses.

Day (7) — kicked well under pressure and made some good claims. Not overworked by any means and made an important instinctive save to deny Bradford a second goal just before half time.

Norman (7) — competed well, had spells coming forward in waves and got blocked a bit driving to the byline but provided some effective early crosses which offered more threat with a whip on them.

Aaron Lewis (8) — another strong performance, concerns over Adam Lewis being missed unfounded as he caused problems timing strong runs, immense stamina and some decent crosses.

Farquharson (7) — didn’t have his own way in the aerial duals with Cook but grew into the game stifling better second half and provided some effective passes from deep to chase down.

Demetriou (8) — solid in the air and mopped up danger well in behind. Important he kept side pushing on, provided fair quota of long throws and showed moments of quality on crosses and the goal itself.

Baker (7) — solid game, won some strong headers early and tackles. Impressed moving forward up the pitch with ball at his feet and passed well throughout.

Moriah-Welsh (7) — showed good vision when get on the ball and link to pick holes further up the pitch. Coaxed several fouls and went close with a couple of shots in and around the box.

Bennett (6) — worked hard to stifle across the face of the area, won his headers well but didn’t really get on the ball enough. Went close with a decent shot edge of the area.

Charsley (6) — bit of a frustrating game, conceded a few fouls, work tirelessly box to box but got rushed on a couple of half chances inside the box. Needs to pick his battles to conserve energy.

Bogle (6) — one shot which drifted wide, didn’t really trouble inside the box, drifted out wide a lot to link play and needs to show more hunger to get across defender inside the area and demand ball.

McNeil (7) — probably his best game in a County shirt without reward. Got a couple of decent snapshots in when well positioned and when he had strength to fend off challenges he caused problems.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Bradford City)

Strengths — they were disciplined defensively limiting chances inside the area and cohesive pushing up as a unit pressing play in spells.

Weaknesses — got away with several untidy challenges especially first half and poor County delivered got them off. Full backs were forceful but left opportunities to punish in behind.

Opportunities — they worked the best chances from low exchanges but struggled to sustain it. Used direct ball well and went increasingly direct late before threat fading.

Threats — Cook aerial prowess and sharpness to get shot on goal, Walker energy in behind and Halliday orchestrated best moves right side

OFFICIALS

S Allison (5) — weak in his interpretation of some of the cynical play to slow down, no idea why red card was not produced when keeper was miles off his line to handle.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Mickey Demetriou — focussed, defended stoutly and lead side well second half, has come up with some valuable goals this season and new contract should be mandatory

IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County made a good fist of this game and with Bradford pushing for a top 3 finish, you wouldn’t have know which team were higher in L2. Bradford did have their spells when their full backs pressed up and County allowed themselves to be turned over with sneaky balls slipped in behind. County learnt from it and started to cut out the threat to counter press and caused problems in behind several times but they couldn’t score when on top. County will be disappointed with the Bradford goal as it should have been dealt with in the first contact but they need to react better to the second ball in those situations. County upped their game again second half especially late on finishing very strongly, forcing Bradford much deeper but they ultimately didn’t work the keeper enough despite more decisiveness to shift the ball quicker from under their feet. Next up on Tuesday is AFC Wimbledon who have only one once in 2023 and slipped out of play ambitions they harboured at Christmas. Wimbledon are likely to play 3–5–2 with the wing backs key to energy and Chislett a creative cog in behind the front two. They do lack pace in defensive recovery and this will be one where County need to keep maintain discipline with their shape and work the ball quick in transition to get reward.