County way off standards they have set

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 0

Doncaster Rovers 1 (Knoyle 58)

Attendance: 3,798

Match Rating: **

Form:

Newport County LWdDWLLWLW

Doncaster Rovers DLLDLWLWLL

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Doncaster have been ridden by inconsistent form. County need to assert their game and raise the bar from the offset and not allow their opponents to build rhythm

CONDITIONS
Very cold, partly cloudy and light wind. Pitch in immaculate condition, despite having covers on them all week.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Never got out of first gear, impaired by poor retention and slow to stifle threats

TURNING POINT
Doncaster goal had been coming but save from Evans midway through second half was key.

THE MATCH
County retained the same side that won at Crewe last week with Doncaster forced into some defensive changes and they forced some early pressure but the game was interrupted by several fouls that disrupted the flow of the game. Doncaster were proficient with some moves right side involving Seaman who was athletic making runs box to box. County struggled for flow but a more direct move on 6 minutes through the middle saw Bogle glance a ball inside which Evans read well but he lacked composure thrashing his shot well wide of the left post from 25 yards. Doncaster made efforts to push up higher and the gamble paid off forcing County into some untidy passing errors. On 15 minutes, Rovers pushed up boldly left side with Rowe stealing the ball off Norman and Maxwell drove down the left channel but Drysdale did well to interrupt. County had the option to counter press but took the wrong option passing through the middle and lost the ball again. The game set into a pattern of stop start play with Rovers offering more cohesion with Maxwell making some forceful runs left side and Seaman complimented well on the right side. On 18 minutes, County were given a warning when they worked a move through the middle with ease shifting play to Seaman in acres of space right side of the area. His dangerous low cross invited Miller to steal in but Farquharson reacted well to clear inside the six yard box. Doncaster responded with a patient low move from deep on 22 minutes inviting the unmarked Close to shoot from 25 yards but his effort was thrashed well over the bar. County had a spell of some better possession midway through the half working some low moves but Doncaster remained disciplined with a good defensive shape to clear the danger. On 25 minutes, Lewis drove forward left side linking well with Moriah-Welsh but from an acute angle he could only blast into the side netting. County won some long throws from some disjointed pressure right side and Demetriou launched some testing deliveries into the area. On 30 minutes, a throw on right side was glanced on by Norman finding Evans inside the six yard box but he header over under pressure from Williams. Doncaster offered some threat from direct play using Miller as an outlet who despite being isolated did well to hold the ball under pressure. On 38 minutes, a direct ball through the middle saw Miller get the better of Demetriou and Biggins picked up the loose ball and first crisp half volley from 30 yards parried around the top right corner by Day. Doncaster gained confidence from their moves pressing up both full backs high and County struggled to counter with several untidy passes being lapped by the Doncaster midfield. On 42 minutes, County had another warning with Doncaster fluffing two chance simultaneously with Clayton picking holes through the middle to release Biggins right side of the area but his snapshot was well blocked by Lewis to concede a corner. Doncaster worked a quick cross into the area following a short corner with Close pivotal but the header from 10 yards by Rowe grazed the top of the bar.

Doncaster persisted with the tactic of pushing up high to pressurise County into mistakes and they continued where they left off after half time. On 50 minutes, a move that typified County slowness to react and read danger, invited Doncaster to play a simple pass through the middle with Woltman picking a gap between Dysdale and Farquharson. Miller drove through untracked but was denied by a good save by Day as he parried the low shot. With County struggling to clear, Seaman had the follow up from 10 yards well blocked by Farquharson. County broke from their shell again with Bogle getting more on the ball and he turned provider on 55 minutes with a clever run right side fending off a challenge from Rowe. He showed great vision to pick out a cross the back stick which Evans anticipated well but his low volley was tipped over by Mitchell. Doncaster persisted with using Miller as an outlet to stretch play and anchor moves deep in the County half. On 57 minutes, Doncaster won a corner right side which Clayton took and with County anxious clearing their lines Seaman drove a decent effort from just outside the area which flashed wide of the left post. Doncaster got their reward on 58 minutes with County just about to make some much needed changes. The goal came from unexpected source with centre back Knoyle raiding forward high up the pitch to support a move right side. With County asleep Knoyle did well to react first and blast a powerful effort into the top right corner from 14 yards. County made a much needed change in midfield with Wildig replacing Waite and Dolan on for Bennett and they also introduced Zanzala up front sacrificing Evans. On 62 minutes, County had a glimmer of a chance when they forced Doncaster deeper defending their own area. Drysdale did well to direct his header into the path of Bogle but his shot on the turn from 12 yards went over the bar. Doncaster then had Maxwell in the book for a cynical challenge blocking the run of Drysdale after a strong run down the right flank. Doncaster made a change on 65 minutes with Woltman replacing Taylor in midfield. The game was scrappy on times with Doncaster offering the dark arts to deny County any momentum. On 70 minutes, Bogle span off a challenge right side and Clayton interrupted his run with a cynical foul getting himself a booking. County made efforts to pick up the tempo of their game as the clock ran down but Doncaster remained focussed defending using Miller as an outlet to relieve pressure and buy time. On 85 minutes, County had a half chance when a cross left side of the area by Lewis caused problems for Doncaster and Norman thrashed his effort well over from 12 yards under pressure from Lowe. On 87 minutes, a decent move by County left side saw Lewis again turn provider and his cross the front post was anticipated well by Wildig but his header from 6 yards went over the bar. Doncaster remained a threat on the break with Miller winning the ball well in aerial duals and County slow to react. On 90+2 minutes, Biggins did well to support Miller and link play deep inside the County half but dragged a decent effort just wide of the right post. County huffed and puffed in 4 minutes of injury time but the closest they came was from a corner right side on 90+4 which Dolan whipped in front post but a tired looking header from Demetriou drifted wide of the right post.

Day (7) — made some smart saves when left exposed to keep County in the game. Kicked and distributed effectively claiming well.

Aaron Lewis (5) — struggles when pressed and forced onto wrong foot too much times with passing errors. Did better late on offering boldness to provide crosses

Farquharson (7) — by some distance the best defender, won the majority of headers and forced to mop several times, made some good clearances, tracking danger from Miller runs in behind

Demetriou (5) — way off the pace today, didn’t get tight enough, lost far too many headers and looked leggy. Offered usual quota of long throws which were dealt with.

Drysdale (6) — did well in the air and fended off danger outside the area but too slow with his distribution allowing Doncaster to recover and often steal the ball.

Norman (6) — was well marked and didn’t get the rub on several decisions when impeded or blocked. Pushed up on late on and went close in around the area taking threat into the box

Bennett (5) — another player well off the pace, allowed too many runners to ghost past him and never real asserted his game. Had a couple of shots in and around the area but poor shots.

Moriah-Welsh (6) — made some dynamic runs but was the only players making tackles when others were ball watching. Needed to get more creative on the ball but firefighting.

Waite (5) — non descriptive game, struggled to get on the ball and when not winning either the first or second ball his influence was limited. No shots on target.

Evans (6) — got less touches and failed to read some decent passes by Bogle. Restricted to runs outside box and kept at arms-length but denied by good save by keeper just after half time

Bogle (6) — had some spells when manufactured some openings and linked play but needs to stay more inside the box and get on the end of things.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Doncaster Rovers)

Strengths — they outworked County on the day and had an organised shape about them based on defensive discipline. Offered some good patterns of play final third.

Weaknesses — conceded several crude challenges which went unpunished lenient officials. Both centre backs were slow and unreactive with passes but County stood off too much

Opportunities — mirrored County 3–5–2 adapting well to injuries, were quite direct on times but mixed game up well especially second half passing it lower.

Threats — Miller was key outlet and positioned his runs well. Close and Clayton passes were effective. Seaman right wing back prominent in the best moves.

OFFICIALS

A Herczeg (6) — didn’t do anything grossly inept but his lenient approach just encouraged cynical play and clambering, failing to book a few dangerous challenges

MAN OF THE MATCH

George Miller (Doncaster 9) — had poor games against County previously but key outlet, won the ball well ahead of three covering central defenders with alertness and determination.

IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County were way off the pace today and won’t need a match analysis or endless statistics to know where there failings were. They should be angry with their tepid performance as they allowed themselves to pressed back into their shell by a resilient Doncaster side that matched or better their wide game and showed more care with the ball through the middle. The manager has made some bold comments about the strength of the team but until they get rid of the inconsistences (particularly the home performances) the season is likely to drift. County were poor first half and to be truthful there should have been more earlier changes made when clear Doncaster were pressing again early second half. County need work out a better gameplan when sides push up their full backs aggressively as both Norman and Lewis were pawns today being blocked out and the County midfield equally passive. The end result meant the ball kept coming back and County getting turned around too easily with Demetriou and Lewis under pressure. Next up is another key game for County at Hartlepool, changes are needed in midfield to add more teeth who had a good win at Crawley. Hartlepool are likely to mirror County with a 3–5–2 formation with crosses a big part of their game. Hartlepool rely on their wing backs Sterry and Tumility to effect the tempo of their game with the middle of the pitch a weakness if County can be more aggressive and pick holes. Give Wildig his chance.