County outfought and outwitted

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Cardiff City Stadium

Newport County 0

Leyton Orient 1 (Wilkinson 61)

Attendance:

Form:

Newport County LDLWdLWWWL

Leyton Orient LddDLLWLdD

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Orient have been on a poor run despite changing manager recently. Orient are missing a few players through injury so key County get at them from the offset and not allow them to settle.

CONDITIONS
Mild, cloudy and calm. Pitch in excellent condition throughout.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Worst performance of the season, lacked passion and stood off challenges failing to work keeper

TURNING POINT
Went backwards with several changes introduced

THE MATCH
County made a couple of changes with Padraig Amond and Ryan Taylor sacrificed to the bench in place of Jake Scrimshaw and Nicky Maynard. County started the game patiently looking to play from deep with some low passing moves but Orient were quick to stifle with player manager Jobi McAnuff leading the charge in midfield. Orient pressed and forced some early play to test County but the threat was dealt with. Orient set their stall out to close down with Sheehan well marshalled by McAnuff. Orient were keen to use their right side with Wilkinson doing well in the aerial duals and linking play. On 10 minutes, County were given a warning when they switched off when a quick pass by Cisse from left to right side of the area found Wilkinson. He adjusted well and struck a decent effort which was well blocked by Demetriou. The game was interrupted by several untidy fouls with Orient given the licence to spoil by the lenient referee with Cisse and Clay leaving their mark. Orient persisted with the right side with some telegraphed ball in the air right side which tested Lewis in the air. Wilkinson remained a problem for County and reluctance to challenge Orient were able to build some momentum. On 16 minutes, County worked a chance out of the blue when a ball to the right side of the area was miss controlled by left back Widdowson and Scrimshaw was quick to steal the ball and find Maynard. He cut inside the box and stuck a decent low effort which forced Vigouroux to parry around the right post. County made efforts to grip the ball forcing some crude fouls by Orient. On 18 minutes, a free kick right by Dolan was glanced on well by Labadie from 10 yards only for the ball to strike the left post and clear for a corner. Sheehan swung in a decent delivery which dropped deep but Bennett couldn’t keep his shot down under pressure from Happe. With Orient pressing high, County were struggling to find space but they had a better spell working triangles through the middle and Sheehan freed from the shackles of McAnuff. On 30 minutes, a move that that typified this saw Sheehan suck McAnuff into a challenge but his lay off found Labadie who drove through the middle. From an advanced position he struck a decent effort from distance which was deflected over the bar by Happe. County kept picking holes well when invited with Farquharson and Demetriou advancing to give the extra option through the middle. On 32 minutes. Farquharson did well carrying a strong run right but he was crudely checked by Kemp who was booked. County enjoyed more space as half time approach with Orient still battling to pickpocket the ball but when they won possession County worked hard to get it back forcing some mistakes. On 38 minutes, Labadie was alert winning a challenge in central midfield ahead of Cisse who was booked. County were most effective when they switched play to work Orient about the pitch and were close to opening them up on 42 minutes. Shephard darted forward right side and picked out the run of Lewis left side. He drove well into space left side of the area and put in a thoughtful low cross which was begging to be turned in but Maynard and Scrimshaw were not on the same wavelength.

Orient were forced into a change at half time with Cisse not recovering from an earlier challenge and he was replaced by Kyprianou. County started the second half slowly allowing Orient regained some of the initiative and Labadie was somewhat harshly booked on 47 minutes clearly winning the challenge ahead of Clay who stayed down. Orient were more alert to the ball and this set a precedent for the rest of the half with County indecisively standing off challenges. On 50 minutes, Kyprianou won a low tackle well in midfield and McAnuff seized the ball finding Wilkinson with a quick pass left side but he closed down well by Lewis and Farquharson. Wilkinson was again causing problems on 53 minutes this time from a direct pass by Happe which County with no closing down. Wilkinson hit an opportunist shot from 25 yards which forced Townsend into a good parry and he held at the second attempt. County made efforts to pick up their game with Lewis seeing plenty of the ball but the crosses into the area were more hopeful and lacked conviction to trouble the Orient defence. County were flat and made a double change on 56 minutes with Taylor on for Scrimshaw and Dolan sacrificed for former Cardiff City and Welsh international Joe Ledley with County going to 4–3–3. Orient were unphased and kept their momentum final third and took the lead on 61 minutes. County lost out in a challenge through the middle of the pitch and a good pass by McAnuff released Kemp left side. With no challenge forthcoming, he was allowed to roam down the touchline and cut back a searching cross left side of area which went through the six yard box and with the County defence static, Wilkinson stabbed home. The linesman flagged for offside but the referee allowed the goal for it deflecting off Farquharson. County made efforts to pick the tempo of their game which was sadly lacking with Shephard more penetrative right side. County gambled with another batch of changes on 66 minutes that saw Ellison, Telford and Gsmbin replacing Maynard, Bennett and Lewis. County switched to 3–4–3 with Ellison left wing and Gambin right wing. County well less patient and worked some quicker balls the wings with Ellison doing well in the air left side. On 68 minutes, McAnuff was booked for delaying a quick throw left side by Ellison with Orient happy to stifle and slow the down at every opportunity. County had some better situations when they worked the ball through the middle getting Labadie and Sheehan on the ball. On 70 minutes, Sheehan did well with more dynamic run attacking space left through the middle and struck an opportunist effort from 25 yards which was deflected wide of the right post. County were forced to push but were let increasingly vulnerable from direct play with 3 at the back sometimes only the two. On 72 minutes, a long ball by Orient invited Johnson to turn edge of the area and Ledley booked for cynically blocking his run. County huffed and puffed but found little joy from the flanks with Gambin coming more into the game but the crosses lacked quality to beat the first man. In transition, Orient enjoyed space left side with Kemp causing problems and he was close on 83 minutes when his shot left side of the areas fizzed just wide of the right post. County saw plenty of the ball in final minutes forcing Orient somewhat deeper but the quality and cohesion in the final third was erratic. On 86 minutes, Orient had another player in the book when Wilkinson tracked back to defend and bowled Gambin over right side of the area. County flirted with a few late corners won and Demetriou went close on 90 minutes heading just over from a Sheehan corner right side. Deep in injury time, a moved that summed up County on the day saw Ellison do well to angle his run left side and stab a low intelligent cross into the area but nobody read it. Orient battled on holding the ball in the corners to run down the clock and gained a hard working if not spectacular victory.

Townsend (7) — not overworked by any means. distribution was a little laboured on times but often nobody in position. Made a couple of smart saves low down to keep County in the game.

Farquharson (6) — did well first half breaking up threat early and won alert making his challenges. Stole forward to support moves but for some reason played more reserved after half time.

Lewis (5) — got put under pressure in the air and beaten too often in the tackle. Did get forward into some promising positions but crosses were too floated and half-hearted lacking cutting edge

Demetriou (6) — put under in the air by Wilkinson and got forced to turn back to often playing very deep second half. Passed well when he was able to link and effect play but forced to deep.

Shephard (5) — arguably one of his quieter game, took a knock early in game and seemed to lose some vigour after that. Crosses were more hopeful than anything and runs were well contained

Dolan (6) — dealt with the bit and pieces well in behind and was able to edge up into midfield and did a decent job before he was surprisingly replaced. Set pieces were limited but effective.

Labadie (5) — had spells when he got the bit between his teeth but too slow too often to the ball and not alert picking up the bits and pieces. Did his best work when he got around the box with shots blocked.

Sheehan (6) — was unable to break free from McAnuff, got brushed off too many challenges, played far too deep to effect any threat on the game. had a couple of half chances in and around the box.

Bennett (5) — looked leggy and game was impaired by indecision. Lacked boldness to push on and make things happen when he did get opportunity taking safe option

Maynard (4) — poor retention, sulked when ball not to feet. Off the ball closing down of defenders needs to improve. Restricted to one chance and didn’t show enough appetite to put his body across the line

Scrimshaw (4) — was anonymous for majority of the game, never really looked on same wavelength as Maynard and ram into too many dead ends. No shots on goal and played pretty much outside box

Strengths — they had game-plan and stuck to it rigidly. Both full backs limited space well and the work ethic box to box was key

Weaknesses — both full back small but not tested in the air, centre backs lacked pace, they got away with several overzealous fouls which other sides would have played on and punished them.

Opportunities — didn’t to change tact, blocked channels and worked Wilkinson as outlet all day without contention. Went a bit more direct late on to pinpoint gaps County left by pushing on.
Threats — Wilkinson hold up play and eye for shot, Johnson was decent in the air, Kemp pace and crosses left side had verve.

OFFICIALS

S Barrott (7) — very lenient with some of the challenges but was consistent. Got the key decisions right including the goal which Orient got a bit lucky on

MAN OF THE MATCH

Connor Wilkinson — stood on the right side and held up ball when he needed. Was strong under pressure and used ball sensibly taking his chance well

IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County are flattering to deceive and with 10 games left they really need to take the bull by the horns before it is too late. The changes today seemed rushed and panicked when County really need to show some bottle to keep the ball ticking over, work triangles and coax fouls with the Orient card count high. When you look at the sides above them, County have matched them all but at the moment they do not have the consistency of performances to main top 7 position. The disappointing element from the last 2 games is that they have been beaten by two sides that are relatively safe and little to play for but pride. County lost too many key battles with Orient winning majority of 50–50s in midfield and the defence sitting passive and far too deep, being reluctant to press play particularly late on when it was desperately needed to raise the bar. Maynard has played most effectively with Amond or Telford so the starting choice up front was baffling. County also had a problem to solve with Sheehan being marked out of the game by McAnuff and both the channels were blocked. When they worked patterns through the middle they were effective but stopped doing that after half time and they became more disjoint as a team. Too further impair their momentum, both Demetriou and Farquharson were forced to play more reserved and stood back from driving forward to effect game. County ended up one dimensional and lacking creativity despite several second half changes which complicated matters. Sheehan really needs to be playing further up the pitch to give sides something to think. Sides have successfully played 4–2–3–1 against County with the front 3 pressing hard to deny them passing from deep. County need to put Ledley and Labadie in behind and get their creative players like Sheehan picking holes in the corners and start getting the wing backs released with freedom. County have no game now until Good Friday when they play Barrow away who are much improved state having won the last 4 games. They are likely to play 3–5–2 with Quigley main aerial outlet and hold up play pivotal. They have made some astute signings with Eardley right wing back capable on crosses and Ollie Banks v Labadie key battle box to box