County will be glad to get back on the road
Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Rodney Parade
Newport County 0
Stevenage 0
Attendance:
Form:
Newport County LdDLLWLDLW
Stevenage LdWLDWLWDd
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
County have struggled to master the Rodney Parade pitch and not expecting Stevenage to offer much charity with the position they are in. Patience and discipline to work gaps will be key
CONDITIONS
Mild, sunny with light wind. Pitch appeared less heavy but bounce was erratic and difficult to get ball from under feet.
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Limited Stevenage threat but struggled to break through the lines, lacking quality especially on set pieces.
TURNING POINT
None to note
THE MATCH
County were forced into one change with captain Josh Labadie injured and he was replaced by Anthony Hartigan with Josh Sheehan taking the arm band. County started with good intentions keeping the ball down and making leeway in the Stevenage half with some cohesive moves. On 2 minutes, County won a corner right side which Dolan flighted in well to pinpoint Farquharson who got a header in from 10 yards under pressure from Martin but the ball drifted wide of the right post. Stevenage showed little ambition to pass through the middle and opted for direct play into front pair Newton and List but they found retention difficult on the surface. County were keen to play some direct low moves and Maynard was caught late by Cuthbert on 7 minutes but some leniency from the referee saw the tackle from behind not punished. County kept probing away with some low moves which Stevenage marshalled well and they looked for direct balls to relieve pressure using their right side. Newton and Osborne worked well to create a couple of decent moves but Haynes did well for County blocking crosses near the 18 yard box. County were forced into some direct clearances which Stevenage centre backs lead by Cuthbert were strong dealing with in the air but with loose ball not picked up on, Stevenage were able avert the danger. On 15 minutes, a more decisive County move left side saw Haynes release a quick pass to Maynard who retained the ball well under pressure. He got himself facing at the Stevenage and showed good awareness to pick out the run of Hartigan inside but his first time effort from 25 yards went just over the bar. County had a good spell and moments later a forceful move right side saw Sheehan do well to find Telford who jinked inside before striking a decent shot right corner of the area which deflected off Cuthbert and dipped just over the bar. County looked capable of unlocking the key when they maintained the tempo and Stevenage were to happy slow game down and regained some composure to their game mid-way through the half. On 22 minutes, County had a glimmer of chance after a Farquharson long throw right side of the area was only half cleared to Hartigan but his half volley was well wide of the left post. County coaxed some free kicks final third holding the ball tenaciously under pressure and decent opportunity on 28 minutes when Maynard was bowled over by Cuthbert. Dolan took the free kick on his favoured side but the effort was deflected off the wall for corner which came to nothing. Stevenage gained some confidence from their defensive resolve with some sporadic breaks through Pett and Newton strong runs right side. On 32 minutes, a corner right side by Lines drifted deep finding Martin but his looping header from 10 yards was comfortable for Townsend. County had a couple of decent situations from direct kick outs by Townsend with Stevenage getting to head clear the danger but they were let off the hook somewhat when the loose ball was not read by County. On 38 minutes, an efficient County move left side saw Haynes overlap well and his cross near the left byline was headed just wide of the right post by Telford from 8 yards. County asked a few questions from some moves right side as half time approached with Sheehan putting in an excellent cross on 43 minutes after a dynamic to near the 18 yard box. He searching cross into the box was glanced on Martin somewhat fortuitously with Maynard well placed to score.
County were nearly undone inside the first minute after half time when Farquharson got caught in possession deep inside the Stevenage half. Osborne was quick to turn defence into attack pinpointing a strong run from List. He brushed off a challenge by Demetriou with ease and had a clear run into the area but was denied by an excellent instinctive save from Townsend using his legs. County struggled to find cohesion with their game very stop and start and some long throws into the area were well dealt with Stevenage. On 53 minutes, a better low move by County created some nervousness in the Stevenage defence. Shephard did well to find Maynard on the face of the area and he adjusted well to curl a shot in from inside the “d” but it was too central to trouble Stevenage keeper Cumming. Shepherd was then booked on 60 minutes when he clashed in a late tackle on Coker. With the pitch degenerating and County unable to settle into any rhythm the momentum was stifled and they made a double substitution on 66 minutes with Maynard and Telford replaced by Amond and Scrimshaw. County persisted with the right channel winning a fair quota of throws in’s right side of the area. On 68 minutes, a long throw Farquharson was glanced on in the crowd by Dolan and seized upon by Sheehan who adjusted and got in a quick shot from 10 yards which Cuthbert got an important block on. County made a tactical change on 73 minutes with Taylor on for Hartigan. Dolan went into midfield with County adopting a more attacking 4–3–3 formation. County continued to win free kick in decent positions and they had another opportunity on 77 minutes left side of the area. Sheehan took the dead ball but his effort went straight into the wall went he should have worked the keeper. Then moments later, from a throw right side Stevenage scrambled the ball clear to the edge of the area. Dolan anticipated well to come onto the ball late and his scooped effort from 14 yards drifted towards the left corner of post and bar forcing Cummins to parry away for a corner. Stevenage made thie first change on 85 minutes with List being replaced by Stevens who went right side with Newton going to the left. County made another double change on 87 minutes with Gambin and Ellison on for Haynes and Dolan as they gambled playing 3–4–3 in the final stages. Stevenage were able to relieve some pressure late on with Stevens offering an outlet right side. Stevenage followed up with another on 90 minutes with Vincelot on for Osborne. In the 3 minutes of injury time played, there was another short delay with a knock to Shephard and the match petered out with referee appearing to blow up somewhat early.
Townsend (7) — had little to do in truth but made one very important save just after half time when left exposed. Kicked well under pressure from back passes and provided some long kicks.
Farquharson (6) — strong in the air and did well in 50–50 duals generally coming out on top and made some bold runs forward but got ball stuck under his feet on times.
Haynes (7) — did well to stifle Newton limiting by crosses getting tight and effective with distribution. Found penetration was limited but when he did get to the byline his crosses were decent.
Demetriou (7) — dominated the aerial duals and little goalside apart from the chance just after half time. Did well to clear danger in behind and provided several decent long throws
Shephard (6) — got a knock first half which appeared to stifle his movement. Came more into the game last twenty minutes but found it difficult to get the byline and put in hurtful crosses.
Dolan (6) — picked up bits and pieces in behind but offered more influence when he went into midfield. Looked a bit leggy late on in game. Set pieces and free kicks lacked usual quality.
Hartigan (6) — had a decent first half, but saw very little influence game particularly after half time. Kept passing simple and tidy and had a couple of shots from distance
Sheehan (6) — never really got on the ball enough and was kept at arms length. Did best work when he dynamic and made runs from deep. Needs to work keeper more in and around area.
Bennett (7) — got to the ball early and prise openings, won his headers and used ball effectively when he had it and coped better with surface than majority of players.
Maynard (6) — had some verve to this game first half and did well when he retained possession but faded out of game. Got restricted to half chances outside the box
Telford (6) — looked the most likely player to score on the pitch and was denied with a couple of headers and shots. When County got him facing forward at defenders they came alive.
SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — came for a point, disciplined and kept concentration defending. Central defenders dominated the aerial duals and their work ethic got them through.
Weaknesses — both full backs were ordinary when pressed. Coker lacked pace and Wildin untidy when turned off challenges. Over reliant on direct hopeful play
Opportunities — the mirrored County formation and man for man matched them. Sat increasingly deep late on in the game put more men behind the ball if anything.
Threats — Newton gave an outlet right side, List pace and eye for goal, Cuthbert aerial prowess set pieces.
OFFICIALS
J Ball (6) — very lenient but consistent allowed a lot of the pulling off the ball, bizarrely blew up about a minute in injury time early so must have had enough.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Jamie Cumming — was safe pair of hands on crosses and kicked well under pressure. Wasn’t overworked but gave Stevenage defence assurance behind the back three.
IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
County missed the influence and leadership from Labadie today when they needed a few extra yards up the pitch. Stevenage were happy to sit in and look for the sucker punch but in truth County never really looked scoring from open play today and that is the crux of the problem playing on this erratic surface at present. County did have some decent opportunities from set pieces but their crosses lacked belief and venom whilst their free kicks were timid with several going into the wall. Stevenage were able to defend the long throws at will with either the keeper or the centre backs dominating the aerial duals and County didn’t read the 2nd ball well enough . At the moment, County are too predictable at home and need to find some randomness and create chaos in the final third of the pitch even if it means doing things less conventional. When they worked short corners or late dynamic runs into the box they did unsettle Stevenage but they weren’t able to do it enough. Stevenage made their first change as late as the 85th minutes which indicates they were comfortable so the crux going forward for County will be to unsettle sides for a more sustained period. Farquharson is an option up front and could be used at home alongside Telford, Amond, Scrimshaw or Gambin. Next up is Tranmere Rovers away who have climbed the league in recent months since appointing new manager Keith Hill. Tranmere are likely to play an attacking 4–3–3 formation with Woolery main outlet to keep possession with Lloyd offering pace and invention right side. Tranmere have plenty of threat up top, but do have an ageing defensive players which can be stretched and exposed. County need to take responsibility middle of the pitch to work them into submission and shift play to work the corners — something they did very well in the home match they won.
