County regain focus to fightback twice
Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Rodney Parade
Newport County 2 (Dolan 45+2, Telford 80)
Leyton Orient 2 (Smith 34, 53)
Attendance: 3,845
Match Rating: ****
Form:
Newport County WWLWLLW
Leyton Orient DLWDLW
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Orient have invested in their squad and manager this season but with both sides missing some key players, flexibility will key and who manages the ball better in the warm conditions.
CONDITIONS
Very warm, sunny clear and light breeze. Pitch in excellent condition and fast on top.
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Made up for slack defensive moments showing spirit to comeback twice finishing on the frontfoot.
TURNING POINT
County changes mid-way through second half made them stronger.
THE MATCH
County rang several changes after the heavy defeat at Salford last weekend and with seven players impacted by Covid. County welcomed back captain Matt Dolan in place of James Clarke who was on the bench and Micky Demetriou also made a welcome return after injury replacing Priestley Farquharson who was substitute. County made another change in midfield with Chris Missilou not in the squad allowing loan signing from Swansea Oliver Cooper to make his debut. Jermaine Hylton was also not available and was replaced by Timmy Abraham up front. The early stages were tentative with both sides feeling their way into the game. County the more patient and thoughtful looking to measure passes and work triangles and Orient electing to play direct into the towering frame of ex-Northampton striker Harry Smith. Orient were happy to sit in and limit County in wide areas and looked to puncture holes on the break. On 7 minutes, County created more menace from a counter left side with Abraham chasing a clearance down winning the ball ahead of James. The cross into the area was untidy but Orient struggled to clear their lines but the effort from Fisher from 12 yards was well wide of the left post. Orient created a good chance on 10 minutes through the middle when Pratley worked a smart move right side of the area to find Drinan who drilled a low shot from 20 yards which Day saved well. Orient gained confidence from their build up play and were closer again on 12 minutes from a quick throw right side which caught County napping and Drinan was denied again when his effort from an acute angle was parried wide of the left post by Day. County needed to up their game and they worked a couple of decent moves left side. On 15 minutes, a clever short corner saw Haynes pick out Upson near the edge of the area and his snapshot was saved well by Vigouroux in the left corner and claimed at the second attempt. County made efforts to get their wide play firing but Orient remained stubborn with James and Wood vigilant stifling runs from Haynes and Norman. County played into Orients hands on times with Clay and Pratley snapping up play through the middle and County had to be on guard to deal with some menacing breaks through the middle. On 23 minutes, a more direct move saw Orient again use the Smith effectively with the lay off finding Clay and his low shot from 25 yards saved well in the left corner by Day. County were more threatening picking holes through the middle when the pass was timed. On 26 minutes, they were close to opening the score when Upson played a quick pass into Cooper and his dynamic run forward took his past Ogie and into the area but under pressure his shot from 14 yards was a little too low allowing the keeper to save in the left corner. Orient persisted with their stifling and were keen to use Archibald right side as an outlet. On 30 minutes, Archibald had a glimmer of chance after a corner with County struggling to clear their lines his ambitious effort from 25 yards was powered well over the bar. On 33 minutes, County conceded a cheap corner when a direct ball was allowed to drop deep and Dolan was forced to concede a corner right side. Archibald took the corner and swung into the six yard box and Smith was allowed space inside the six yard box to head home past Day. On 38 minutes, another direct ball from Orient right side caused problems with Smith unsettling the County rear-guard and Demetriou was penalised for handball just outside the box. From the resulting free kick, Archibald struck a decent curling effort towards the left corner which Day did well to claw away to safety. County made efforts to pick up their game as half time approached using their right side more forcibly with Willmott coming into the game. On 42 minutes, a decisive move right side saw Norman find Wilmott with a neat threaded pass down the right touchline. His early cross caused problems with Fisher getting across Mitchell but his powerful header from 12 yards was narrowly past the corner of right post and bar. On 45 minutes, another decent move right side saw Willmott ghost inside past Wood and his clipped cross was glanced on by Fisher. Haynes appeared to read the situation with a late run but his snapshot from an acute angle went into the side netting when he should have worked the keeper. Orient failed to heed the warning with County winning a penalty 2 minutes into injury time when Willmott cut back a cross from a deeper position right side. Abraham timed his run well to get ahead of Clay but he was clipped from behind just inside the box. Dolan stepped with confident penalty sending the keeper the wrong way with a low shot into left corner.
Orient remained composed despite the set back and tested County early in the second half with some crosses from wide positions with wing backs Wood and James pushing higher up the pitch. County became increasingly tentative and despite having some opportunities on the break they allowed possession to be stolen to cheaply. On 53 minutes, they paid a heavy price from some indecision when they had chance to break right side with Abraham in an advanced position but Ogie pickpocketed the ball. His quick pass to the left flank found Archibald who slipped a pass left side of the box for Pratley who was not tracked. He cut back an excellent cross into the six yard box pinpointing Smith in acres of space who powered his header home from 6 yards. County made a double substitution on the hour with Abraham replaced by Telford and Farquharson coming into central defence for Dolan. Orient persisted with the direct play to use Smith but County marshalled the threat better with Farquharson robust in this approach and some of the Orient passing and link play become less tidy. County had some opportunities to exploit with Cooper and Upson getting more on the ball through the middle of the pitch. Orient remained disciplined defending wide positions but County showed flexibility to pick holes inside with Telford offering good movement. On 67 minutes, County sliced through the centre with Upson finding Fisher and he span off a challenge from Mitchell but his low shot on the turn from 25 yards was well held comfortably Vigouroux. Moments later Bennett was booked tracking back to defend and with a tired mistimed tackle on Ogie. County kept plugging away with some neat passing forcing Orient to sit in deep but they remained a threat with Archibald cute with his runs left side. On 70 minutes, a good move by Orient left side of the area saw Archibald again cause problems with a cross cut back into the area but his time County had Farquharson putting pressure on Smith and the move was squashed. County made an attacking change on 75 minutes with Bennett replaced by Livermore who went right midfield and they changed to a 4–3–3 formation. Orient created a good move in transition on 76 minutes when they switched the ball from left to right with Archibald finding Clay. He jinked inside near the edge of the area and blasted a low shot which Upson deflected wide of the right post. County kept plugging away and raised the bar in the final 15 minutes with Livermore injecting plenty of energy right side and the referee choosing to ignore several indiscretions which should have warranted bookings for after the ball clambering. County equalised on 80 minutes when Norman launched a long throw right side of the area which Demetriou glanced on and Telford poked home inside the six yard box. County were boosted by the goal and forced some better penetration from wide areas with Haynes and Norman more influential. On 87 minutes, a move right side initiated by Livermore saw Norman advance well right side of the area and drive to the byline. With Fisher well positioned in space his cross was cut back but diverted well by Beckles. County were denied on 90 minutes when a menacing run from deep by Cooper had Orient in all sort of trouble and Wood took one for the team scything him down to earn a booking. Orient made a couple of late substitutions with Kemp replacing Drinan up top and Reilly on for Archibald. County pressed in the four minutes of injury time forcing the issue and James was booked for another clumsy challenge on Cooper but the game ended level which was ultimately a fair result overall.
Day (7) — stood tall to make some important saves first half when left exposed. Got his kicks to safe when put under pressure and distributed some decent long balls to find Abraham.
Norman (6) — pretty non descriptive, saw little attacking threat until late on and was forced back to defend by Archibald. Came more into the game late on setting up late equaliser.
Haynes (6) — never really got outside his opposite man enough to worry. Did better when he timed runs to steal in deep and get on the end of crosses from Willmott. Passed well throughout.
Dolan (6) — struggled in aerial duals and put under pressure by Smith. Did alright when he had the ball but a lot of the play from deep was too slow and laboured. Replaced early second half
Demetriou (7) — the most assured defender on the day, coped well in the air and cleared his lines well. pushed up higher late on too make things happen leading team well
Bennett (6) — struggled to deal with pace of Archibald and got caught in two minds on times. Was effective passing and linking play but faded early before being replaced
Upson (7) — took care with the ball and worked variety of passes. Went close with effort edge of the area and was on the end of several late challenges which went unpunished
Willmott (7) — came alive on the stroke of half time setting up several decent crosses and picked his battles well to get forward. fitness and creativity late kept up momentum
Cooper (7) — struggled to get into game first half apart but did give Orient defence concern with his pace and should have scored. Combined well with Livermore late in the game.
Fisher (6) — benefiting from match sharpness, went close with a couple of headers when he stole into the box with late runs but was kept at arms length outside the area.
Abraham (5) — got into habit of playing back to goals too much and not using pace. Did well to win penalty but generally a quiet game and needs to show more teeth to hold ball under pressure
Strengths — defensively they mirrored County to negate the threat from wide positions well. composed under pressure and worked some clever patterns of play final third and precise crosses.
Weaknesses — back three were decent in the air but got pulled around a lot especially late on. Over-reliant on direct play into Smith on times and untidy in possession through the middle.
Opportunities — never really waivered from direct approach using Smith as a battering ram and making runs in transition. Put in some earlier crosses from wide positions second half.
Threats — Smith aerial prowess and strength to fend off challenges, Archibald craft and guile left side, Drinan an eye for shot when invited
OFFICIALS
L Doughty (6) — turned a blind eye to the off the ball pulling and clambering until quite late in the game. Ignored an host penalty call for County late in the second half.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Theo Archibald — Important outlet for Orient, County never really got to grip with his late runs and at the heart of both Orient goals with quality on passes and crosses.
IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Orient must have been working on their shape and defensive system all week as they mirrored County limiting their threat and energy out wide well with Norman and Haynes having relatively quiet games and not able to get outside their opposite number. County took over an hour to get a grip of Orient target man Smith who caused problems throughout aside from the goals but introducing Farquharson did tame that threat and allowed County to gain some better momentum late on. County worked out some better moves through the middle with Cooper and Willmott picking holes and the introduction of Livermore raised the bar. County are going to need to develop variety to open up sides not just from wide positions but also through the middle and it was encouraging to see them learn and offer the flexibility to do this with the late changes and their fitness levels look good. Next up this Friday is an away trip to early League Two leaders Harrogate Town who have brushed aside Mansfield Town in recent games. Harrogate play a conventical 4–4–2 systems and are quick to work wide positions from deep and kick outs with former Hartlepool striker Armstrong an aerial focus. County need to limit the threat from crosses and direct play into Armstrong and take into what they did towards the end of the match today, offering invention and randomness through the middle of the pitch with Harrogate central midfielder Falkingham and Burrell prone to indiscipline and bookings.
