County still firing blanks

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 0

Barrow 2 (Gordon 45, 59 pen)

Attendance: 3,793

Match Rating: **

Form:

Newport County LWLLWWWWLL

Barrow WWLWWLWWLW

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Barrow are in form under new manager Peter Wild. County need to track Gordon up top who has been modelled into a more central role but more bite is needed final third than offered mid-week at Stevenage

CONDITIONS
Sunny, warm with light breeze. Pitch in excellent condition and quick on top.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
All the good work first half undone by charitable goal and went into shell after offering no cutting edge

TURNING POINT
Barrow opening goal lifted them and belief went.

THE MATCH
County manager James Rowberry switched to 4–4–2 formation with captain Mickey Demetriou returning in place of Declan Drysdale who was missing from the squad and Adam Lewis came at left back for Aaron Lewis. County sacrificed defender James Clarke who was on the bench with Nathan Moriah-Welsh coming in left wing and loan signing Hayden Lindley made his debut replacing Matt Dolan who was a substitute. County made another change up top with Thierry Nevers replacing Will Evans who was on the bench. County started on the front-foot with some bright low moves and Nevers who impeded inside the first minute when McClelland blocked his run through the middle but escaped with no booking. Nevers dusted himself down and took the free kick which struck Neal in the head and the ball deflected right side of the area but Bogle seized the ball. The referee stopped play for a head injury and then allowed Barrow to restart play from their goalkeeper much to the frustration of the crowd. County made efforts to get on the ball but some loose stray passes allowed Barrow to counter left side which they did well. On 7 minutes, County had a decent situation from a long throw left side of the area when Barrow only half cleared a Demetriou throw. He seized the loose balland back a teasing deep cross which Farquharson met well in the air directing back into the six yard but nobody was alive to the ball allowing Barrow to clear the danger. Barrow set their stall out to stifle and counter from deep when County set pieces and corners broke down using the pace of Gordon and Whitfield up top. On 12 minutes, Barrow won a free kick through the middle when they turned play over quickly from defence to attack. From the resultant free kick the direct ball through ball through the middle was glanced just over the right corner of post and bar by Canavan. County kept probing with some patience approach which was cohesive but Barrow maintained a protection wall around their penalty box. The pattern of the game settled with County pressing but Barrow looking the counter on the break and pickpockets. 0n 20 minutes, County had a warning when some indecision passing allowing Barrow to prise the ball away with Kenlock finding the run of Whitfield left side of the area. He cut back an excellent early cross catching the County defence sleeping and as the ball flashed deep Gordon smashed his effort just over the bar from an acute angle. County had a decent chance on 22 minutes when they won the ball back in centre midfield with Lindley doing well to hurry a pass. The ball fell kindly to Bennett but his effort from 35 yards drifted wide of the left post with the keeper well off his line. County were more effective penetrating left side with Lewis and Moriah-Welsh showing a good understanding to work some low moves. On 28 minutes, Lewis chipped back a decent cross from the left side of the area which Nevers met back post under pressure from Canavan but the header was wide of the right post. County persisted with the left channel and were close to taking the lead on 30 minutes when they worked a smart low move left side with Moriah-Welsh threading a clever pass for Bogle who timed his run well left corner of the area and his low shot from 14 yards beat Farman but McClelland recovered to clear inside the six yard box. Barrow then had Gordon in the book for a clumsy late tackle on Bennett with County gaining some momentum. On 40 minutes, another bright County move left side invited Lewis to dart inside exploiting a gap in the middle but his shot from 25 yards was deflected over the bar. Barrow remained robust defending, conserving their energy to pick holes on the break and Moriah-Welsh was booked for late tackle on Gordon on 42 minutes. Barrow took the lead against the run of play on 45 minutes when Neal burst forward evading a weak challenge by Lewis. His through ball was latched onto by Gordon who calmly slotted past Townsend who committed himself early. County made efforts to respond in the 3 minutes of injury time but could only flirt with goal when Lindley dragged a shot from 25 yards well wide of the left post.

Barrow picked up their game after half time offering more tenacity to close down and press play taking the wind out of County. On 50 minutes, Waite supported a move right side and cut a cross back deep towards Nevers but County failed to get an early shot and Barrow recovered to stifle the move. The game was scrappy and unproductive on times playing in Barrow’s hands with County struggling to get Bogle and Nevers in the game. On 55 minutes, County worked a move decisive move through the middle with Bennett and Lindley working in tandem to win the ball and release Moriah-Welsh but his shot from 25 yards was rising over the bar. On 59 minutes, Barrow worked a quick direct move to test County with a ball through the middle and Gordon released a pass left side for Gotts to latch onto. With him being forced wide Lindley made a somewhat rash challenge inside the box catching him late and the referee awarded a penalty. Gordon converted a low penalty into the left corner with Townsend going the wrong way. County had their first telling shot on target on 66 minutes when a neat combination across the face of the area between Moriah-Welsh and Nevers worked an opportunity but the low shot from 16 yards was well read by Farman. County continued to see plenty of possession inside their own half of the pitch but lacked bite final third often cutting back which allowed Barrow to recover. County made their first change on 70 minutes with Waite replaced by Evans who went left side with Moriah-Welsh switching inside. Barrow suffocated the threat offered by County in the final 20 minutes and became more threatening final third with some good moves in transition which County just about managed to squash the danger. Barrow kept the momentum with a double substitution on 77 minutes with Waters on for Whitfield and Moyo for Kay. County responded replacing Lindley for Zimba uptop who went right side changing to a 4–3–3 formation. On 82 minutes, County worked a decent opportunity left side with Lewis again forcing the issue and his low cross was cut back finding Nevers. He supplied a pass back to Moriah-Welsh near the edge of the area but the effort was well blocked by McClelland. Barrow made another change on 85 minutes reinforcing the midfield with White on for Neal. Barrow were happy to play direct in the final stages with Waters and Gotts chasing balls down quickly and County struggled to get up the pitch to test the Barrow defence. On 88 minutes, a move that summed up County on the day saw Lewis thread a clever early pass to release Bogle left side of the area. The option to get an early shot on was on with McClelland coming across to recover but he went for the extra touch and the ball was stolen. Barrow made their final change on 89 minutes with Rooney on for Gordon and were able to see out the 6 minutes with relative ease. County flirted with goal on 90+3 minutes when Moriah-Welsh curled a decent cross from the left channel but County had none of their strikers in position and it was left to Norman to make a late run but his header from an acute angle went into the side netting. Barrow held out comfortably to move up to second in the table leaving County fans venting their frustrations another home league defeat.

Townsend (5) — kicking was erratic on times lacking distance and distribution was slow. Could have done better on opening goal but sat on his line.

Adam Lewis (7) — One bright spot in the game. Was quick with his distribution and showed no fear to push on and make things happen. Put in some good crosses which deserved better.

Farquharson (6) — switched off on some headers but when he was alert he did well to break up play and made some good clearances under pressure. Went close on couple of hopeful crosses

Demetriou (6) — won his headers and was quick to get ball moving first half with the best moves initiated left side. Provided several throws which were lapped up by the Barrow defence

Norman (5) — got forced back to defend and never really got outside the left back enough to unsettle. Crosses were hopeful and lacked quality. Made a couple of late hopeful runs back post.

Lindley (6) — passed well and didn’t shirk his tackles. Never really got up the pitch and left firefighting on times to cover and come across doing others jobs. Rash moment gave away penalty.

Bennett (6) — kept passing simple and tidy first half but went into a shell after half time, forced deeper and was always vulnerable to the breaks by Neal right side.

Moriah-Welsh (7) — looked most likely player to score on the day, had spells playing left and right side offering flexibility to craft openings. Had a couple of decent shots and should have scored.

Waite (5) — never really settled right midfield, no shots on goal, made some bold runs but crossing was poor and lost too many key battles second half being bullied off the ball.

Bogle (5) — didn’t have much service but lazy on times and when he did get chances to shoot he turned it down. Got caught in possession with bad decisions not to get pass away earlier

Nevers (6) — had a decent first half making some strong runs and went close a couple of times but needs to get more angry around the area. Not enough shots and only worked keeper once.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Barrow)

Strengths — they were bland but an effective organised unit defending but the front three always gave them an outlet with their pace and decisiveness. Worked hard on and off the ball

Weaknesses — both full backs were ordinary and distribution was poor when put under pressure. Left gaps down the flanks especially defending their right channel.

Opportunities — first half they sat in and played on the counter. More aggressive and collective unit after half time protecting their lead and work they did stifle County was key.

Threats — Gordon strong runs though middle and eye for a shot. Gotts and Whitfield supported counter moves well. Canavan aerial threat on set pieces.

OFFICIALS

J Oldham (6) — ignored much of the pulling and holding down, some bizarre decisions following restart of play but got the key decisions right

MAN OF THE MATCH

Niall Canavan — choked off the best County moves winning majority of aerial duals and stifled the set pieces. Mopped up danger in behind covering left back

IF YOU WERE JAMES ROWBERRY WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County were thoughtful and did have better control of the game first half but they still failed to land a serious blow allowing the Barrow defence to recover time after time. When you look at the key statistics from this game, they will tell you nothing as both sides were similar but Barrow were crucially much more effective in the box, taking their chances and squashing the County threat quickly. The goal lifted Barrow and at the moment one goal appears enough to beat this Newport County side. County failed to win any telling headers from set pieces and corners and blindly kept persisting when they had the option to go short and pull Barrow about. Game management is impairing County’s chances, the home performances lack edge and aggression and whilst County keep checking back allowing sides to get back in position defensively they are not going to score goals. It is now over 300 minutes since the Bogle goal just before half time at Harrogate and they have probably worked opposition keepers into about 5 saves since then. Barrow upped the tempo second half to protect their leading outworking County in key areas and won this match comfortably in the end. County have the EFL cup match mid-week to experiment again Forest Green Rovers, before what is looking like a “must win” game against Carlisle who have struggled with injuries in some positions. Carlisle are likely to play a 3–5–2 formation with striker Mellish deputising in defence. Carlisle tend to play direct with Patrick a willing runner up top and Gibson and Guy capable on early crosses. County need get back to the grassroots, do the basics and win their 50–50 battles but be more bold in the final third.