County keep discipline but lack killer touch

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Cherry Red Records Stadium

AFC Wimbledon 1 (Chislett 58)

Newport County 1 (Zanzala 70 pen)

Attendance: 7,784

Match Rating: ***

Form:

Newport County WdDWLLWLWL

AFC Wimbledon DWdWWWLWdL

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
AFC Wimbledon have improved their resilience as a team since the start of the season. County need to match their work ethic and add guile quality final third when chances arise.

CONDITIONS
Mild, sunny spells with a light breeze. Pitch in decent condition after recent rain.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Worked hard to contain Wimbedon threats, showed a good reaction after conceding but snatched at arguably the better chances.

TURNING POINT
Wimbledon sending off put them on the back foot last quarter of the game.

THE MATCH
County made just the one change with Omar Bogle sacrificed to the bench in place of Offrande Zanzala who made his first league start since August after injury. The early stages were scrappy and messy and this set a precedent with both sides jockeying for position. County competed well and Scott Bennett received treatment on 5 minutes after being caught late by Pell in an aerial challenge. County ramped up their endeavours closing down well final third but an overzealous challenge by Zanzala on Pell in the right corner got him an early booking on 10 minutes. County battled well and despite falling the wrong side of several dubious decisions they stuck to their plan well breaking up play and coming alive final third with Waite and Evans busy on the ball. County worked some decent moves right side with Norman penetrating well to put pressure on left back Currie. On 20 minutes, County won a free kick right side of the area when Currie caught Norman late. County took a quick free kick which caught Wimbedon napping with Dysdale stealing into an unconvential position right side of the area. He clipped a decent cross the back post which Faquharson read but his header under pressure drifted wide of the left post. The game remained scrappy with breaks for treatment on several players. County worked a couple of decent moves in transition with Waite in a promising positions either side of the area but he lost the ball at the key moment. On 32 minutes, County offered better retention winning a free kick left side of the area. Lewis whipped over a decent delivery into the six yard box which was glanced on at the front post and Zanzala reacted well but his header from close range went straight at the keeper. Wimbledon set their stall out to play on the break with Assal quick to pick on loose ball left side. County had a couple of warning when Assal allowed space to turn inside to provide an early cross into the area but they managed to get the ball safe. As half time approached, County picked up their game winning some penetration deep in the Wimbledon half. On 42 minutes, Demetriou launched a long throw right side of the area which was only half cleared and he anticipated well to head back first time into the six yard and Zanzala was denied when his first time effort was blocked by Kalambayi. County had an even better chance on the stroke of half time when they worked a smart low move left side with Lewis finding Waite. He jinked inside near the left byline with Wimbledon reluctant to challenge and picked out Moriah-Welsh in space but his effort was sliced wide of the right post from 12 yards.

County started the second half where they left off with Waite forcing his way left side of the area to meet the byline and he took care to provide a low dangerous cross which Zanzala was close to pouncing on. Wimbledon we keen to push on left side but were nearly caught out on 50 minutes when Bennett intercepted a pass well through middle and threaded a quick ball to Norman right side. He had plenty of space in front of him and elected to shoot from 30 yards but the shot was well wide of the left post. Wimbledon persisted with using their left side to force County back with Pell coming into the game breaking up play and slipping some neat passes to turn County back on their heels. On 58 minutes, Asal did well to win a free kick for Wimbledon pinching the ball ahead of Faquharson and he was coaxed into a cheap free kick left side of the area. Chislett had shown his quality on a couple of free kick but his curling effort appeared to deceive Day with it going in off the corner of left post and bar. County made an immediate chance with Waite replaced by Wildig. Wimbledon were boosted by the goal and kept pushing wirh Davidson picking up bit and pieces from knock downs by the towering Hudlin. The game span on 66 minutes when Hudlin showed a complete lack of control when he caught Lewis in a late aerial challenge left side. In the melee, that followed Demetriou was booked but Hudlin received a straight red for dangerous play with Wimbledon adjusting to play 4–4–1. Lewis also received a belated yellow card for his reaction to the offence. County went straight on the front foot with Wildig pulling the strings with some neat exchanges final third and Moriah-Welsh forceful left side. On 70 minutes, County created an excellent low move left side with Lewis finding Moriah-Welsh who showed good skill to keep the ball close to his feet left side of the area. He drew Biler into a late challenge and the referee awarded a penalty. Zanzala took the kick with a calm low finish into the left corner with the keeper going the wrong way. Moriah-Welsh continued to influence the game but he was booked on 75 minutes for dissent contesting a decision. County had more of the ball in the final stages of the game and they won some free kicks in wide area. On 78 minutes, a free kick right side was delivered well by Lewis to the back post but Drysdale could only head over from 6 yards under pressure from Pell. On 80 minutes, County were close to a second when Moriah-Welsh drove to the left corner and cut back an excellent crosss into the six yard which Wildig anticipated well heading the path of Zanzala who was denied by an important block by Kalambayi. County made another change on 82 minutes with Bogle coming on for Evans. County forced Wimbledon to defend deeply and had some protests for another penalty turned down on 85 minutes when Bogle was dragged back by Kalambayi and he was about to address a shot on the turn. Wimbledon made a change on 87 minutes with Assal replaced by Young-Combes. County worked some late pressure from corners and long throws but the closest they came was from a Demetriou long throw on 90 minutes right side which Faquharshon read well at the front post causing Towler to panic but his intervention narrowily averted an own goal with the ball flashing wide of the right post. County huffed and puffed in five minutes of injury time but were unable to find the piece of quality to unlock the stubborn Wimbledon rearguard.

Day (6) — kicked accurately first half setting up some good play deep inside the Wimbledon and solid with claims. Got beaten away by a free kick to back post which he should have covered off.

Aaron Lewis (7) — decent game, competed well and gave better balance left side with some precise low passes. provided some decent set pieces.

Farquharson (6) — did his best to contain Hudlin in the air and marshalled this well with Drydale. Was a bit slow reading the dropped ball in behind and got caught giving needless free kick on their goal.

Demetriou (7) — did well in aerial duals winning majority and dealt with loose balls in behind to deny Davidson. Provided usual quota of effective long throws.

Drysdale (7) — worked well in tandem with Faquharson to keep Hudlin quiet and got ball safe with quick feet. Went close on a couple of set pieces. Getting close to his first goal.

Norman (7) — had an excellent first half getting the better of Currie in the air and quicker minded picking up loose ball. Can improve on his crosses from tight positions.

Bennett (7) — recovered well from an early knock and mopped up some of the danger across the face of the area. Competed well in the air and gave assurance to defence being always available for ball.

Moriah-Welsh (8) — probed well with the ball at feet, passed neatly and made several well timed runs to get on bits and pieces. Came alive late on after Wildig came on and was at the heart of the best play.

Waite (6) — was willing to make supporting runs and when he protected ball and took care of it he was effective. Did well getting to byline several times settting up decent opportunities before fading.

Evans (5) — worked hard and did a lot of work back to goal but never really suited to role and struggled to get in any shots to test the keeper or get on the end of things.

Zanzala (7) — lively first game back and showed good anticipation to get to second ball. worked hard off the ball to unsettle defenders forcing them to shift ball long.

SWOT ANALYSIS (AFC Wimbledon)

Strengths — they were combatative and created some good patterns of play in transition. Showed resislience after sending off to dig out a point.

Weaknesses — got away with several clumsy challenges and indiscipline may have cost them the game. lacked mobility through the middle.

Opportunities — never really changed tact. direct on times, stuck with width and offered main threat from wide areas and set pieces.

Threats — Hudlin aerial prowess, Chistlett set piece delivery. Pell set piece aerial threat and range of passing

OFFICIALS

P Howard (7) — seemed to give everything 50–50 against County first half but got key decisions right.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Nathan Moriah-Welsh — showed maturity today to take the bull by the horns and influence play. Did little wrong apart from rash finish on the shot first half which should have been buried.

IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County were questions of by an uncompromising Wimbledon side but they should plenty of appetite competing well box to box and just lacked that bit of quality with final finish or pass. Wimbledon were forced into some direct play using Hudlin with the intention of picking up on the loose ball in behind but County also showed an alertness to snuff that out. County will be disappointed with the manner of the goal but showed a good reaction after conceding and may well have gone on to win this if they had been able to be more decisive pinpointing an early ball or cross into the area. Next up is league leaders Leyton Orient at home on Friday who will employee a 4–4–2 set up with flexbility key with their full backs James and Brown aggressing pushing up high. County need to manage their wide play and pick holes carefully. Quality from wide areas is likely to be key as Orient will leave gaps in behind.