County mark their progress under Coughlan with disappointment at a draw

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Sixfields Stadium

Northampton Town 1 (Hoskins 90+3)

Newport County 1 (Bogle 2)

Attendance: 5,102

Match Rating: ***

Form:

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Northampton Town WLWWLLdLWD

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Northampton are riding high but have stuttered recently with players injured and suspended. County need to deal with threats in wide areas and stem supply but be more bold final third.

CONDITIONS
Warm sunny spells with keen breeze. Pitch in decent condition but a bit slippery in parts.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Best performance of the season, enterprising, energetic and determined.

TURNING POINT
None to note, Northampton keeper made some key saves to keep them in the game first half.

THE MATCH
County retained the same starting side that drew 1–1 away at Mansfield mid-week and they made an energetic early start winning some throws deep in the Northampton half. On 2 minutes, County shocked the hosts when a long throw right side of the area by Demetriou was glanced on well by Farquharson and Bogle reacted quickest to stab home inside the 6 yard box. County remained in control with some well worked moves to force Northampton using the keen wind behind to good effect. County pushed forward right side with Norman seeing plenty of the ball putting left back Linton under pressure. Northampton adjusted swapping Hoskins from right to the left counter but County remained vigilant clearing effectively. Northampton created some better low moves right side with Bowie and Leonard getting on the ball to slide pass for Appere but the danger was averted. On 15 minutes, County won a free kick right side of the area when Moriah-Welsh exposed space coaxing McWilliams into an untidy challenge. Lewis drilled in a low vicious delivery from the dead ball but the keeper Burge held well low down. Northampton made efforts to push up higher but County remained a threat on the break with wing backs Lewis and Norman asking questions. On 20 minutes, County had a decent situation to add a second when Lewis found Evans left side and with Northampton recovering Moriah-Welsh made a lung busting run right side but the cross from Evans was stifled well by McGowan. County kept pressing the right buttons especially right side winning some corners. On 22 minutes, Lewis provided a decent corner right side which was whipped into the six yard and only half cleared. Demetriou adjusted well and hit a shot on the turn from 10 yards which Burge managed to claw around the left post. County had a great chance to go further ahead moments later when a stray pass in the middle by Leonard was pinched by Evans. He delivered an excellent ball through the middle to piece the Northampton defence and Bogle raced goalside but his low precise effort was pushed away by Burge. The rebound went lose near the edge of the area and Burge made a superb reaction save to tip the shot over the bar. Northampton were shaken by the pressure County applied with some poor passing inside their own half. On 27 minutes, they had another let off when County worked a decent move left involving Lewis who drove to the left corner of the area. He picked out Waite just inside who showed vision to set up an opportunity for Bogle and his first time volley from 14 yards was saved low in the left corner. County continued to rack up the corners and were close again on 30 minutes from a corner right side. Lewis delivered a cross with verve which Farquharson met strongly but he directed just wide of the right post. Northampton picked up their game offering more cohesion as half time approached mainly right side. On 35 minutes, they won a corner right side which Pinnock delivered deep and Guthrie rose well under pressure from 10 yards but the downward header went over the bar. County continued to look dangerous from long throws and set pieces and Northampton had another let off on 37 minutes when Demetriou launched a long throw right side of the area into the six yard box but Clarke saw his header go just over the bar. County maintained their energy with Waite busy and Northampton had Leonard in the book moments later for clipping the legs of Waite as he drove forward left side. Northampton responded with some better moves right side and they had a decent chance on 42 minutes when they switched play from left to right with Lintott finding Hoskins but his low snapshot from 16 yards was well blocked by Farquharson. On 45 minutes, County had an opportunity to punish further with a quick counter right side when Bogle drove forward from deep. He had Waite in support but some delay with releasing allowed Guthrie to recover and intercept the danger

Northampton were forced into some tactical changes at half time sacrificing their 4–5–1 formation to play 3–5–2 with former County defender coming on a left wing back in place of Bowie. There were two other substitutions with Odimayo replacing Lintott to go right wing back. There was another change in midfield to gain more control with playmaker Leonard replaced by Sowerby. Northampton made their intentions clear with direct passes forward helped in behind on the wind to test County with Hoskins and Appere chasing the ball down. On 48 minutes, Northampton won a free kick just outside the area which Hoskins took but the effort was well blocked by Demetriou. With County forced back to defend deeper, Northampton had a glimmer of a chance on 50 minutes but Sowerby rushed his effort scooping well over the bar. County struggled for same cohesion up front with Northampton playing a higher line to press up but there still gaps in wide areas to exploit but some indecision allowed the hosts to recover. On 53 minutes, Northampton stole the ball deep in their own half with a County in a decent position down the left flank. Haynes angled his run left side and his searching cross was just beyond the reach of Appere back post. Northampton persisted with the direct approach to test County and decisive move on 56 minutes saw Odimayo allowed space to loft a pass right side to pick out Appere. He caressed a pass to Hoskins right side of the area but his shot from an acute angle was held well low down by Day. County continued to have space in transition and worked a decent move left side of the hour through the industry of Lewis. His low pass was latched onto by Bogle left corner of the area and his had the opportunity to shoot early but carried his run forward but the angle was too tight allowing Sherring to stifle. County made a double substitution on 68 minutes to pep up their game with Wildig and Nevers replacing Waite and Evans. County settled into a decent shape allowing Northampton possession but they marshalled the threat in wide areas and dealt well with some hopeful crosses left side by Haynes. County introduced Zimba for Bogle on 77 minutes and Northampton responded moments later with Cross on for McGowan. County worked a couple of decent moves through the middle with Zimba lurking but Northampton keeper was just about able to claim edge of the area. On 86 minutes, County absorbed pressure well and ghosted forward right side with Moriah-Welsh pivotal with a strong run forcing Hayes into a crude challenge which got him a booking. Northampton continued to test County with crosses left side and Odimayo advanced high right side. On 88 minutes, Odimayo gambled and won a ball right side of the area but his snapshot was well blocked by Lewis. Northampton made a late change on 90 minutes with Dyche replacing McWilliams and County responded with Dysdale on for Moriah-Welsh. Northampton kept pressing a got a somewhat fortunate goal on 90+3 when County struggled to get the ball safe clearing. A loose header from Bennett was picked up on by Pinnock and despite an air shot he was able to pick out Haynes left side of the area. His deep cross was read well by Odimayo directing a header back to Hoskins who struck a low first time shot into left corner from 10 yards. County kept probing away and Haynes was extremely fortunate to escape a red card on 90+6 minutes for a checking the run of Norman right side. From the resultant free kick Lewis put in a vicious delivery which Farquharson was alive to back post but his header under pressure was glance wide of the left post. The game ended all square but the reception County got at the end compared to the hosts told more than my thousand words.

Day (7) — had few saves to make. made a couple of smart saves low down and safe hands under pressure. Put under pressure on kicks second half and struggled for distance and precison.

Adam Lewis (7) — timed runs well and distributed efficiently. Put in fair quota of set pieces which caused problems throughout. Forced back under some pressure by Hoskins second half

Farquharson (8) — strong in aerial duals and made some good interventions to break and stifle play. Did well to assist on the goal and went close several times from set pieces without reward

Clarke (7) — did well in the aerial duals and mopped up the majority of balls in behind. Pushed up higher later in the game to influence and went close on a couple of set pieces

Demetriou (7) — won his headers and cleared effectively when turned back. Made several good blocks and tackles in around the area. Long throws in delivered caused problems.

Norman (7) — excellent first half, won key tackles and did well in the air after early knock and was at the heart of the best moves. Forced deeper by Haynes after break, but dealt with threat well

Moriah-Welsh (8) — read loose ball very well and won his tackles to effect game with some penetrating runs from deep. Saw less of the ball second half but defended with discipline and focus.

Bennett (7) — read game well taking ball out of the congestion and kept passing simple but precise. Competed well in the air and made few errors apart from stray header leading up to equaliser

Waite (7) — best game for a while, got back into his rhythm and did a good job to support up top with quick mind and neat passing. All that was missing was getting shots in on goal when invited.

Evans (8) — alertness and drive first half gave Northampton problems not allowing them to settle. Hunted down the loose ball and supplied several good chances which should have been buried.

Bogle (7) — showed prowess again to pounce instinctively from set pieces and did better when he had less time think. Penetrated into good positions but delay with pass or shot allowed recovery

SWOT ANALYSIS (Northampton)

Strengths — never really came out today, did offer some good combinations in transition flooding men forward final third.

Weaknesses — despite height in their side, anxious dealing with set pieces and got coaxed into several untidy fouls which they got away with. Untidy with passes on times through the middle

Opportunities — patient first half but went more direct second half switching tact to mirror County 3–5–2. Threw in a lot of hopeful crosses and got a bit of luck late on.

Threats — Hoskins eye for a shot and runs in around the box, Pinnock crosses and Guthrie aerial ability on set pieces.

OFFICIALS

T Kirk (6) — lenient in several decisions, allowed clambering and pulling to build up and frustrated both sides explaining decisions. Arguably should have sent off Haynes at the end.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Lee Burge (Northampton keeper) — kept Northampton in the game when they were flagging with a number on instinctive saves. Decision making and distribution was effective.

IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

The best all-round performance of the season and even though they didn’t get the 3 points they deserved, if County keep up this level they will be looking much further up the league come the turn of the year. Northampton were forced to adjust personal and tactics at half time and despite getting more territorial dominance and possession, County defended very stoutly and kept Northampton at arms-length. They also improved on the Mansfield game with better quality with crosses and set pieces, but they also were sharper in their advancement up the pitch picking holes well. Waite also did a good job today supporting and linking play not allowing Bogle to get too exposed and Moriah-Welsh was prominent with several bold moves from deep. County can improve aspects of their game, getting Bogle to finish one on one chances more clinically and get in an earlier shot. There were also times second half when their passes were too hopeful allowing Northampton cheap option to mop the ball up and build momentum. Next up is Colchester United at home in the FA Cup 1st Round. Colchester didn’t show up in the league match recently so County can expect them to be more bold in a one off match where they will most likely play 3–4–3 with Kazeem and Tchamadeu key outlets to give thrust in wide areas and crosses. County struggled to get joy on set pieces last time so key will be to offer more variety with the ball on the floor and mix their game up.