County take pride in another clean

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Meadow Lane

Notts County 0

Newport County 0

Attendance: 9,408

Match Rating: *

Form:

Newport County WLLLWdLLLd

Notts County LLDWDWWDWL

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

County will need to muck in after losing captain Aaron Wildig for the season. Difficult conditions to play too much football, so key they limit mistakes with passing and get ball safe.

CONDITIONS

Dull, heavy rain and very windy. Pitch in looked in decent condition all considering but slippery in parts.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Resilience, kept defensive focus to work some good patterns of play but lacked cutting edge.

TURNING POINT

None but some big saves by Townsend lifted side.

THE MATCH

County were forced into two changes due to injury with captain Adam Wildig ruled out for the season and Bobby Kamwa suffering from a knock. Shaun McLoughlin took the armband with County adjusting to 4–3–3 formation with Olives Greaves coming in right side of three up top and Michael Spellman left side with Hudlin in the middle. Kieron Evans went in a more central role in midfield but had the luxury of naming the same defence which has rarely been possible. The hosts made the early running with McGoldrick angling some runs left side to test County. On 3 minutes, McGoldrick supplied a decent cross left side of the area which Jatta helped on towards Tsaroulla right side of the area but his shot was diverted by Baker for a corner. Palmer delivered a decent corner right side which hung on the wind and McGoldrick stole in but his header was well wide of the left post. County struggled for cohesion which became a pattern for much of the first half with some direct hopeful play into Hudlin being tamed quickly by Notts. County kept a good shape defending forcing some hopeful shots from distance which failed to trouble Townsend. Tsaroulla came more into thre game with some strong runs right side which McLoughlin did well to track. On 12 minutes, Tsaroulla found a chink of light right corner of the area and his cross sat up inviting Jatta to shoot from 12 yards but the effort was well blocked by Brennan. County offered more threat from shorter low passes when they kept the ball moving through the middle with Kieron Evans working some wider passes to Spellman and Greaves but some indecision allowed Notts to recover. On 22 minutes, a more slicker County move right side saw Cameron Evans penetrate and thread a pass inside for Kieron Evans but his low shot was blocked by Platt. County opted for long passes in transition to pinpoint Hudlin but County found it hard to make the ball stick final third with Platt pinching the ball early. County put themselves in trouble on times with some sloppy passes in the middle of the pitch. Notts were quick in transition and work crosses but County were well protected with Townsend making some good punches under pressure. On 33 minutes, County had a decent situation when they broke well left side with Spellman linking up to find Hudlin. He cut inside in a promising position and struck a low shot from 25 yards which was hopeful and lacked conviction allowing keeper Bass to hold easily. County were forced deeper as half time approached but restricted Notts to show shots which were rushed and untroubled Townsend. On 44 minutes, County had a decent opportunity when a direct move saw Hudlin feed McLoughlin and his effort left corner of the area being blocked. Whitmore did well to seize the loose ball and thread a pass across the area for Morris but his low effort was saved in the right corner by Bass.

Notts continued to ask questions early stages of the second half with intentions to attack wide areas. County were given a warning on 48 minutes when a move left side saw Austin dart forward and provide a decent cross but Jatta couldn’t keep his header down from 10 yards. Tsaroulla saw plenty of the ball and was quick to put in crosses but a lot of time the delivery was hopeful rather than targeted and Baker and Brennan were vigilant clearing effectively. On 52 minutes, Tsaroulla threaded a low pass right side of the area for Abbot but his effort from an acute angle was intercepted by McLoughlin. Notts continued to add to their corner count and were closer on 55 minutes from a decent delivery left side by Palmer but Macari saw his glancing header from 6 yards clip the outside of the right post. County made a much needed changes on 55 minutes with Hudlin replaced by Baker-Richardson and Antwi came in midfield for Morris. Notts responded with their first change moments later with Brown replaced by Gordon. County had some opportunities in transition but lacked conviction on times to unsettle and press mistakes and this allowed Notts to come back at them quickly. On 60 minutes, Notts were close again when a more direct low move through the middle invited Jatta to link with Austin right side of the area. He checked his run and blasted a decent effort from 20 yards forcing Townsend to tip the ball over the bar. County made another double substitution on 62 minutes with Thomas coming on for Spellman and Jephcott replacing Whitmore. County switched to 4–5–1 with Baker-Richardson up front and the had a better balance about them finding some space further up the pitch with Thomas left midfield. On 67 minutes, Notts had a decent opportunity when a corner right side caused problems for County clearing effectively. McGoldrick pounced on the loose ball but his low shot on the turn from 10 yards was parried around the right post by the alert Townsend. County then had Kieron Evans in the book recovering back to deny the run of Abbot with a tackle from behind. Notts made a like for like change on 75 minutes with Jatta replaced by Scott up front. The game remained stop and start and scrappy and there was another booked for County on 78 minutes when Cameron Evans pulled back Abbot. County kept their shape and discipline well in the final stages with some frustration creeping into Notts game. There were gaps for County with Jephscott finding some space in front of the Notts defence but the final ball lacked edge. County made another change on 82 minutes with new signing Geoffroy Bony replacing Greaves. On 85 minutes, Notts were close again when they forced County to defend deep inside their own area and Scott struck a decent half volley from 12 yards but Cameron Evans got an important block in. Notts responded with another change soon after with Tsaroulla sacrificed for Cisse. County forced some late pressure creating more on the break and were close on 89 minutes following a corner left side by McLoughlin was whipped in and Baker-Richardson glanced a header wide of the right post and bar. County had a chance to steal a win on 90 minutes when they manufactured an efficient low move through the middle of the pitch. Evans did well to find Antwi and some quick feet invited him to shoot from just outside the “d” but the low effort fizzed just wide of the left post. In the four minutes of injury time the game remained untidy and error prone with Jephcott getting a yellow card for a clumsy foul on Abbot. County held on with some dogged defending which gained them a valuable point appreciated by the away support.

Townsend (8) — made a couple of important instinctive saves to deny and kept concentration well with good decision making to punch on crosses. Kicked well under pressure throughout.

Baker (8) — solid performance, coped well with crosses and made several important blocks inside the area squashing threat early. Kept passes efficient and tidy from deep limiting touches.

C Evans (7) — defended well limiting crosses but largely reserved saw him play quite deep and showed good awareness to track danger. made an important intervention late on to deny Scott.

McLoughlin (7) — completed full game after injury building match fitness. At the heart of the more advanced attacking moves came left side but got forced back deeper second half

Brennan (8) — worked well in tandem with Baker to monitor the area and clear crosses. Won some good headers and kept Jatta relatively quiet with some good tackles and blocks.

Morris (6) — got some more important minutes after injury. Did a lot good defensive work to spoil or disrupt attacks. Forced deep for large parts of the game and restricted to one shot.

Whitmore (7) — worked hard box to box, combative, won some good tackles and made some well-timed runs forward and was part of the more cutting moves. Replaced quite early after tiring

K Evans (7) — did a good job dropping into more central role and showed maturity today with flexibility to play in different positions. Set up a couple of decent chances especially late on.

Greaves (6) — quiet game, had some opportunities in transition but lacked appetite and aggression on times. Needs to demand more of the ball and chase down lost causes.

Spellman (6) — made some sporadic runs left side first half and worked well with McLoughlin. Needs to be quicker with decision making to cross or shoot and find more end product.

Hudlin (5) — had one half-hearted shot from distance, struggled back to goal, lost ball cheaply to centre backs stifling him. Can learn from Wilfred Bony coaching manual on retention under pressure

SWOT ANALYSIS (Notts County)

Strengths — defenders were alert and recovered well. centre backs disciplined and solid in aerial duals. Built some neat moves largely in wide areas.

Weaknesses — snatched a several shots rushing them and crosses lacked quality. Left gaps on the channels which were unpunished.

Opportunities — played 3–4–3 and despite changing personnel gameplan never really unsettled County

Threats — Jatta knitted play well and decent in air, McGoldrick orchestrated moves left side and eye for a snapshot.

OFFICIALS

A Herczeg (8) — let a lot go perhaps allowing for the conditions and managed game pretty well getting key decisions right.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Nick Townsend — wasn’t overworked but showed his value again as one of the best keeper in league two. Gave assurance to defence and made two important instinctive saves second half

IF YOU WERE NELSON JARDIM WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County had frustrations last weekend for not taking their chances but rolled their sleeves up today in difficult conditions, despite adversity with injuries and suspensions. They will need to show the same resolve in forthcoming away fixtures with big physical outfits like Colchester, AFC Wimbledon and Bromley on the horizon. Hudlin took a bit of backward step today and struggled to adapt when County tried to keep the ball lower and his touch was lacking allowing the ball to be pickpocketed. There may be options for County to play with a false no 9 in these type of games where they will be up against tall robust outfits which will keep their opponents guessing. County also need to plug the gap with Wildig out for the rest of this season and fill the No 10 role. It is possible that Baker-Richardson could do this role just behind or Greaves as he did at Cheltenham away. He didn’t really settle into his wide position today and this is possibly better suited to Kieron Evans for transitional moves where County need more conviction on crosses. The back four looks more solid, the midfield protected well and were efficient with their passes until moves broke down final third. County need to work on the conviction and aggression to hurt sides when they break. A lot of the transitional play was good until passes went astray and the moves lost impetus and edge. County have a ten day break until the AFC Wimbledon away game to refresh and work on their patterns of play. Wimbledon have struggled for consistency at home and are likely to employ a 3–5–2 formation with Stevens a key cog in their link play and industry, with Tilley important to their creativity in wide areas and set pieces. County need to match their work ethic and utilise their freshness to out run them.