County punish 10 man Salford

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 3 (Proctor 56, Amond 75 pen, Janneh 90+2)

Salford City 0

Attendance:

Form:

Newport County LLWWWWLWWD

Salford City LWDWLWWLWW

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Both sides have made changes but Salford have made more so key County get at them from the offset and unsettle some of their less experienced players.

CONDITIONS
Cold, damp and slight breeze. Pitch was fast and glossy but looked a little worn and erratic in parts

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Enterprising and penetrative, despite missed chances took charge well after sending off

TURNING POINT
Thomas-Asante sending early in second half

THE MATCH
County made a few changes with keeper Tom King replacing Nick Townsend who was on the bench. There was a defensive change with Matt Dolan replaced by Scott Bennett who went into his more accustomed central midfield role and Robbie Willmott went wide right midfield replaced Josh Labadie who was substitute with Sheehan deputising as captain. County made another change up front with Jamie Devitt replacing Padraig Amond was on the bench allowing County to adopt an attacking 4–2–3–1 formation. County started purposively with some cohesive low moves especially left side with Haynes testing right back Golden. On 5 minutes, County had a great chance to take their lead when Haynes threaded a quick pass from under his feet to Devitt. He delivered an excellent cross into the six yard box forcing Eastham to clear but it went straight to Twine. He adjusted well and struck a decent effort which Salford keeper Hladky pushed away in the left corner. County kept probing away testing both full backs and another decisive move on 8 minutes saw Shepherd advance from a quickly taken free kick by Sheehan but left back Berkoe brushed the ball away with his hand to concede a penalty. Demetriou took the spot kick but his low effort was read well by Hladky parrying away in the left corner. County continued to enjoy space in wide positions whilst Salford used Dieseruvwe to stem some moves final third with Thomas-Asante keen in supporting left wing. Salford elected to play deep with centre backs Turnbull and Eastham taking responsibility to clear. The was competitive in midfield with Salford working hard off the ball to contain County with Threlkeld and Hawkins putting in some stern challenges and Proctor putting himself about for County. Salford manager Richie Wellens was booked midway through the half for contesting a decision with the referee as the temperature of the match rose a few degrees. Salford picked up their game for a time with more tempo and energy in transition after they stole the ball in midfield but the County marshalled the threat well. County kept passing well to penetrate deep in the Salford and were awarded a couple of corners but the delivery was short on times allowing Salford to clear. On 40 minutes, Salford created their best chance of the half when Sheehan got caught in possession in midfield by Threlkeld and a snappy move from the middle to the right invited Fielding to cross low right side of the area. Boyd anticipated well with a late run but his low effort was dragged wide of the right post. The game livened up as half time approached with Salford coming out of their shell but this made County more threatening on the counter. On 44 minutes, a poor kick by the Salford keeper was seized upon by Twine who had time to pick his spot but his low drive from 10 yards was saved by the legs of Hladky. Proctor looked favourite to stab home the rebound but Threlkeld made an excellent recovery to deny him inside the six yard box. In first half injury time, County created another decent move from wide when Haynes got outside left back Golden with ease and dinked an inviting deep cross which Willmott read well. He turned down the chance of a first time shot and lost possession with the extra touch allowing Salford off the hook.

County kept plugging away early in the first half forcing Salford deep but the game took a twist on 47 minutes. A direct ball through the middle caught County sleeping and Thomas-Asante stole in goalside to chase the through ball but an overzealous high up challenge caught County keeper King late and the striker was sent off. County were benefited from the handicap as they built up even more possession to work Salford about the pitch. On 52 minutes, County work a quick free kick on the left side of the area with Proctor finding Sheehan. He threaded a square pass inviting unmarked Devitt to shoot from 25 yards but his effort flashed wide of the left post. County picked up the energy of their game with some intricate passing and used the extra man well. County made an attacking change on 53 minutes with Janneh replacing Haynes with County switching to 3–4–3. The first goal eventually came on 56 minutes from an excellent patient move when County shifted play from the middle to right to find Willmott. He dribbled at left back Berkoe and cut inside to provide a pinpoint cross into the six yard box which Proctor read directing his header into the top right corner. Moments later Devitt was again causing problems left side of the area, this time cutting inside and his lower cross to the front post was met by Proctor who hooked an effort on the turn from 8 yards just wide of the right post. Salford were struggling to contain the momentum County offered and elected for direct play to find Dieseruvwe but found the ball coming back in their face. On 62 minutes, a quickly take free kick left side of the box by Devitt saw him thread the ball across the face of the area and find Sheehan who blasted a decent first time effort from 18 yards which went straight at the keeper. On 64 minutes, County had an appeals for another penalty when another Willmott cross right side of the area caused havoc and Proctor appeared to be bowled over by Eastham but the referee ignore the appeals. Salford made a double substitution just after to pep up their front line with Andrade and Hunter replacing Hawkins and Boyd. Salford raised the bar with long searching aerial balls into Dieseruvwe but some towering headers by Demetriou contained the threat. County introduced another change on 67 minutes with Ellison replacing Devitt. On 70 minutes, Ellison was involved in a decent move left side and his cross found Janneh but his header from 8 yards was misplaced wide of the right post. The changes continued to reign in with Salford sacrificing Dieseruvwe for Armstrong and County responded with Amond on for Proctor and Salford. County were awarded another penalty on 75 minutes when a precise thoughtful move through the middle caused anxiety on the face of the area for Salford with Sheehan linking with Twine. He dribbled skilfully into the box and Berkoe brought him down as he was about to pull the trigger. Amond stepped up with solid finish in the right corner beyond the grasp of the keeper. Turnbull was booked on 80 minutes for a clumsy tackle on Twine and Hunter was booked for dissent contesting the award. County kept pressing in the final stages with Yanneh making some forceful runs and went close again on 83 minutes when a snapshot from 20 yards was deflected wide of the left post. From the corner left side Willmott played a quick pass short into Twine who showed good vision to find Sheehan edge of the area and curling low effort was parried away in the right corner. On 88 minutes, County prised open another decent chance when Sheehan clipped a clever pass through the middle from deep which Janneh latched onto but his effort was parried away by the keeper with a smart reflex save. Salford had an opportunity on break on 90 minutes when a low effective passing move saw Armstrong find Hunter left side of the area and his low drive was deflected wide of the right post. Bennett was then booked for dissent but County added a third on 90+2 with Janneh finally get his goal his play merited. Bennett did well to pinch the ball and find Janneh who made a forceful run right side of the area which took him past the last man and he blasted powerful effort into the roof of the net. County were untroubled and will be in the hat for the FA Cup 3rd Round draw again on Monday evening.

King (7) — had little concern to deal with but was safe with handling on crosses. Was smart with his short distribution and made some good clearances under pressure.

Shepherd (8) — tackled back well to track Asante, but prominent getting forward and combined well with Willmott especially second half. Delivered some neat crosses back post

Haynes (7) — passed well, was compact defending, was the best outlet first half and made some strong runs to the byline to deliver crosses to test Salford

Demetriou (7) — firm with his headers, dealt well with aerial threat from Dieseruvwe and forced him into less threatening areas. Made some good runs to link and move play further up the pitch

Cooper (8) — solid game, gave assurance to cover everything in behind and was strong dealing with pressure when turned in behind. Distributed well rarely wasting a pass.

Willmott (7) — had a quiet first half and got pressed into some mistakes in possession but exploited space well after sending off setting up goal very well and other decent chances.

Twine (7) — was dynamic with his runs across the face of the area, quick feed and quick minded winning the penalty but squandered a couple of decent chances inside area.

Sheehan (8) — bossed the game with his thoughtful intelligent passing and was accurate. Linked up in and around the area and went close with a couple shots edge of the area.

Bennett (7) — much better suited in central midfield to centre back. Saw the ball early and read game well breaking up threat well and competed well in air. Set up third goal prise the ball away

Proctor (7) — took up some good positions but let down with alertness on times, put himself about more today and had a couple of decent chances before taking his header very well.

Devitt (6) — quiet first half, restricted on chances and crosses but saw more conviction and energy after half time providing outlet left side supplying quicker crosses and shots from distance

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — little evident today, both centre backs were decent in the air and cleared well.

Weaknesses — both full backs were quite small but distribution and marking poor. Were too happy to help the ball on with no enough thought and lack cutting edge

Opportunities — they made efforts to press up high and did this well for a time. Direct play didn’t hurt County and created their best moves when they kept the ball low and efficient.
Threats — Dieseruvwe prised some openings, Thomas-Asante was busy with pace and trickery until his sending off.

OFFICIALS

K Johnson (7) — tried to keep his cards in his pocket and tried to let game flow. Had to explain the rules a few times unnecessarily but got the key decisions right

MAN OF THE MATCH

Josh Sheehan — did well first orchestrating some good moves from deep but took control of game after sending off and only thing missing was a deserved goal.

IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County were penetrative for much of the first half and should have been a couple of goals in front at half time. Although, the sending off made their task easier, they were effective in how they used the ball low and they exploited the weaknesses Salford had today especially in wide positions. The defence did well adjusting to four at the back and the only threat came when County switched off from some quickly taken free kicks or direct balls through the middle with perhaps the absence of Dolan not there. County were a flexible unit today, attacking through the middle well and when play opened up wide after they used the wide positions well. Next up is Forest Green away who closed the gap at the top today with a win at Southend. Rovers have largely played 3–4–3 and play patiently from the back. County need to close down back to front as they can vary their play subtly with former County striker Matt and Collins in their ranks. Rovers will be keen to work wide positions and provide crosses into Matt but midfield duals with Sheehan -Adams and Winchester- Labadie look key.