County kept at arm’s length by league leaders
Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Rodney Parade
Newport County 0
Mansfield Town (Maris 50)
Attendance: 4,833
Match Rating: **
Form:
Newport County WWWLWWLWLW
Mansfield Town WLDDLWWWLW
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Mansfield have edged their way up to top of the league and will be determined to stay there. County need to match their endeavours and use ball efficiently when they get it to work crosses.
CONDITIONS
Cool, sunny spells with light breeze. Pitch in excellent condition and played fast.
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Bit one dimensional, didn’t win enough of thee 50–50s and lacked quality final third.
TURNING POINT
Mansfield asserted more control after scoring.
THE MATCH
County made just the one change after the mid-week win at Harrogate with Zanzala sacrificed for Palmer-Houlden. Mansfield made the more assertive start with some snappy moves involving Maris and Keillor-Dunn who angled his runs well picking holes right side of the area. On 3 minutes, Mansfield worked a move right side of the area with Clarke threading a pass for Keillor-Dunn in the right corner. Despite Lewis applying pressure he managed a cross back into the area and Maris headed over from 8 yards under pressure from Clarke. County elected to play direct using Evans as an outlet but Cargill managed the aerial threat well clearing the danger. County struggled for alertness allowing Mansfield to sweep up the danger and this set a precedence with Mansfield absorbing the pressure and looking for gaps to counter and work wide areas. On 10 minutes, County broke up a Mansfield well and had the chance to break but a stray pass coaxed Wildig into a late challenge on Clarke and he was booked. County caused more concern to the Mansfield defence when they limited their touches and got the ball moving and Lewis did well with some early crosses from the left flank which asked questions but Mansfield managed to get safe. On 17 minutes, County had a glimmer of a chance when they went through the middle after breaking up a Mansfield move and Bennett released Morris but his shot from 25 yards was well blocked by Flint. County continued to probe away with some direct play which Evans bravely contested but he got little protection from the clambering and pushing that the referee allowed. On 18 minutes, County won a corner right side which Lewis whipped in some verve and Evans anticipated well with a late run back post but the header was intercepted by Williams. Mansfield maintained their creativity with them winning the drop downs well in the middle of the pitch and the turnaround of play continued to impair County with Maris and strong with their runs. On 27 minutes, Mansfield were sharper again with Boateng winning the ball ahead of Morris and his quick through ball found Clarke edge of the area. His shot on the turn was struck low but Townsend reacted well to save and hold the ball. County had a better spell of possession as half time picking up on the debris in the middle of the pitch and they forced Mansfield deeper. On 37 minutes, Palmer-Houlden showed his capability when he received a good pass by Wildig. The early ball in invited space to attack and he provided a decent low cross left side of the area and with all the Mansfield defenders patrolling the six yard box but County had nobody finish off the move. The game became scrappy as half time approached with Mansfield working some better moves left side but County worked hard to contain and intercept crosses.
County started the second half well forcing Mansfield deeper and low direct move saw Palmer-Houlden manufacture some space just inside the box but his effort was blocked by Williams. On 48 minutes, Mansfield caught County napping when they were slow to clear and Mansfield recovered the ball to win a throw in right side. Williams received the quick throw in and his cross pinpointed the late run into the area by Boateng but his header from 10 yards went just over the right corner of post and bar. Mansfield took the lead on 50 minutes but there was contention with the build to the goal when Bennett was fouled on the right flank. The referee encouraged an advantage which never evolved and allowed Mansfield to switch play right side to Clarke and back inside to find Cargill left side who escaped a weak tackle by Payne and his cross into the six yard was drilled into left corner by Maris. County contested the validity of the goal and Lewis was booked for dissent. On 58 minutes, Mansfield threatened again stifling a tepid County move and breaking well right side. Cargill stole forward and his ambitious effort left corner of the area fizzed just over the bar. The was a flurry of changes on the hour mark with Mansfield making a triple substitution with Boateng, Nichols and Clarke replaced by Quinn, Akins and Bowery. County responded with their own triple change as Clarke, Palmer-Houlden and Jameson replaced by Drysdale, Zanzala and Charsley. County switched to 4–2–3–1 with Bennett deeper alongside Morris with Charsley and Zanzala either side of Wildig. County made efforts to get on the ball a did better from direct play with Zanzala contesting well on aerial duals but the second ball continued to evade County. On 70 minutes, County put themselves in trouble when Payne attempted cross field pass was snapped up by Reed. He threaded a quick pass for Keillor-Dunn who raced through the middle but his effort was well blocked by Baker. On 72 minutes, County had a decent chance breaking up play through the middle and Charsley exploited acres of space to drive forward but he scuffed his low shot from 25 yards well wide of the mark. Mansfield made a change soon after with Maris replaced by Lewis as they tightened up the midfield with County picking some space. Moments later, County created their best move of the game finding several players and the switch from left to right found Payne who cut inside right corner of the area but his effort went wide of the left post and bar. County made a double substitution on 75 minutes with Bright coming on right side for Payne and Jephcott on for Wildig as County went three up front. Mansfield were keen to work their left channel with Quinn picking gaps in tandem with Akins. On 77 minutes, Quinn threaded a pass inside for Cargill who made a strong run left corner of the area. With no County challenge forthcoming the left back chanced his arm with a decent low shot from 12 yards but Townsend saved well low down. County struggled for cohesion and their best moves came left side with Lewis and Zanzala busy. On 82 minutes, Mansfield were close again when a direct ball saw Akins win his header ahead of Drysdale and Bowery snapped up the loose ball but dragged his shot wide of the left post from 14 yards. Mansfield made a defensive change on 85 minutes with Keillor-Dunn replaced by McLaughlin who went left back with Cargill tucking inside. County forced some late pressure in the 5 minutes of injury time with some better moves left side to stretch play. On 90+3 minutes, they flirted with an equaliser when the corner left side saw the ball sat up and Charsley glanced a header into the path of Evans but his effort on the turn was blocked by Flint and Charsley seized on the loose ball but the snapshot went well over the bar. Mansfield held out untroubled to go three point clear at the top of the league with Stockport having their game postponed.
Townsend (7) — claimed crosses well and made some smart saves low down to keep County in the game. Put under pressure with some kicks and lacked usual precision.
Lewis (6) — got forced back on his heels to defend too much but got tight to deny crosses well. Made efforts to push on when invited and when he did finally the ball the first time crosses were testing.
Payne (6) — did well inside the Mansfield and was bold making things happen. Less assured inside his own half and missed a few tackles and some untidy passes and replaced late on
Baker (6) — made some good interceptions and much more alert today when ball dropped behind, despite being put under pressure. Missed some tackles but cleared danger well
Jameson (7) — solid game and seems to be building back match fitness well. positioned well to deal with direct play and dominated aerial duals. Presence was missed when he went off early.
Clarke (6) — got put under pressure when County got turned in midfield. Limited threat well and made some good interceptions but replaced early after knock.
Bennett (5) — when he got on the ball made efforts to pick intelligent passes but lost too many tackles, looked a yard off the pace and did better when he dropped deeper to read the play.
Morris (5) — disappointing game, slow to the loose ball and sloppy with some passes. got caught several times allowing marker to recover. restricted to a couple of snapshots from distance.
Wildig (6) — suffered after early booking, worked hard box to box and when got the ball used it effectively. Spent too much time firefighting and threat he offered from set pieces was limited.
Palmer-Houlden (6) — forced out wide to get the ball and probably the best player County had on the day to win the second ball and supplied some decent crosses but chances inside box restricted.
Evans (5) — needed ball down and at feet and spent too much time feeding off hopeful long aerial balls which he found little joy with. Kept working and a couple of hopeful shots blocked inside area.
SWOT ANALYSIS (Mansfield Town)
Strengths — they offered plenty of enterprise and good movement to test County but platform was built by winning first contacts. Centre backs lapped up the aerial duals.
Weaknesses — left gaps several times through the middle which better sides would have punished. vulnerable to early crosses when caught on the hop.
Opportunities — never really needed to change tact. Snapped up possession and used the energy they had with some good combinations. Kept momentum well with early subs.
Threats — Keillor-Dunn timed runs well in behind and provided crosses, Maris anticipation inside area. Clarke eye for a shot and Cargill penetrated well left side.
OFFICIALS
A Herczeg (5) — ignored the clambering and interupting throughout and made several odd calls with advantage interpretation.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Baily Cargill — dealt well with Evans nullifying threat in the air and on the floor. Also had the verve combined with energy to get forward with well timed runs setting up goal well
IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Three games in a week looked to have caught up with a tired County side again with just the one change made in the starting line-up and Zanzala somewhat unlucky to be sacrificed after his lively performance mid-week. Despite some contention with the Mansfield goal, County never imposed their game today. In-fact the midfield went missing and the game was ultimately lost in the middle of the park and poor retention upper third of the pitch. County persisted with pumping aerial balls for Evans to contest and it was clear early in this game, that they were not going to trouble Mansfield this way. County desperately needed to pick up on the second ball in midfield, but they failed to do that well as well, with several players looking sluggish after the recent games and allowed Mansfield to complete their turnarounds with ease. When County did pick up the “debris” they used the ball well and were brave with it, but the problem was that the impetus was limited and they failed to build a head of steam. County also let Mansfield repair several situations when they had the chance to punish them, but they looked tired in body in mind. County are a much better side when they are decisive but they stuttered too often looking for the extra touch which benefited the Mansfield recovery. County looked a better side when Charsley came on last 20 minutes and he can hopefully start against Stockport County away next week. They were without a game today and have lost some ground on the top positions in recent weeks, so County will need a big performance in this game. Stockport are likely to persist with 3–5–2 formation, but they have not had the same impact since both their wing backs have been injured. This has put more demand on their central midfield players to effect the game so County need to up their levels through the centre of the pitch and be bold in wide areas in behind either side of the 18 yard box when invited.
