Cruel ending and edged out of a deserved point

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Edgely Park

Stockport County 1 (Madden 90+3)

Newport County 0

Attendance: 8,865

Match Rating: ***

Form:

Newport County WWLWWLWLWL

Stockport County dLWWDWLLdd

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Both sides have struggled for goals in recent games. Stockport have been strong at home so key County don’t give them early charity to gain confidence.

CONDITIONS

Cool, sunny periods with keen wind. Pitch in decent condition but a little slow on top.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Determined defensive and focussed until conceding, but lacked cutting edge final third

TURNING POINT

None aside from the late goal

THE MATCH

County were forced into one change with James Clarke injured, they made a bold change bringing in Zanzala to partner Palmer-Houlden and Evans up front in a 3–4–3 formation. Stockport had the benefit of the gusty wind first half and made their intentions clear with some direct play to test County. The early stages were scrappy with several untidy fouls and Stockport overplaying some passes forward. County made efforts to test Stockport with some direct balls which hung back in the wind but Evans and Zanzala did their best to contest against the Stockport centre backs. Stockport opted to play a quick tempo but struggled for cohesion with the ran back to Townsend in goals. County kept plugging away with some searching kicks by Townsend which got some distance despite being into the wind but Stockport centre backs Horsfall and Pye remained on top winning the aerial duals. On 15 minutes, Stockport worked a half chance following a move right side and Hippolyte threw in an early ball across the face of the area. Madden seized the ball quickly under control and his shot on the turn from 20 yards was well held by low down by Townsend. County kept working hard to deny Stockport rhythm and some good defensive work by Wildig saw him caught late by late lunge by Wootton on 17 minutes and he was booked. On 22 minutes, County had Zanzala in the book for kicking away the ball denying a quickly taken free kick by Stockport. With Stockport building a better spell of momentum left side, Payne was coaxed into an clumsy challenge on Stockport left back Bristow as he overlapped down the flank getting him a booking. Stockport maintained their drive with the ball and worked some better cohesion as the half progressed getting their wide players Lemonheigh-Evans and Hippolyte more on the ball. County worked hard to track the danger and limit the crosses but Stockport won some corners from their pressure. On 35 minutes, Stockport were close when a corner right side by Sarcevic was met by Horsfall from 10 yards but Jameson did well pressurise and the header drifted wide of the right post. County responded with a more efficient move on 40 minutes when a slick exchange through the middle saw Palmer-Houlden get across Pye and link up with Zanzala. He threaded a pass back from Morris in acres of space but his effort from 25 yards was well held by Hinchcliffe at the second attempt. Stockport had a couple of chances on the stroke of half time when Hippolyte again found some space to manufacture a cross right side near the flank and Madden anticipated well with a late run by the header from 10 yards went over right post and bar. On 45+2 minutes, a bright move by Stockport left side saw Pye overlap to receive a pass from Bristow and his early cross was met well by Wootton from 10 yards but Townsend was alert saving low in the right corner.

The second half started with County probing with some moves further up the pitch with the wind encouraging them forward but Stockport happy to stifle and play on the break. This set a precedence with Stockport offering some good switches of play left to right to measure up Hippolyte against Lewis but County worked hard to stifle. On 52 minutes, Stockport had a half chance with a direct move through the middle with Wootton prising the ball away from Bennett. Madden was again menacing but his shot from 16 yards was drilled low but well marshalled by Townsend saving low down. Stockport continued to persist attacking right side and with County struggling to maintain a grip of the ball in the Stockport half this invited more pressure with right back Cass getting bolder with runs forward. On 56 minutes, County had the opportunity to break left side when a Stockport move broke down but a poor pass by Lewis invited Cass to dart forward and he mistimed the recovery to concede a foul right side of the area. Sarcevic whipped in a decent set piece delivery which Powell met well under pressure but his header from 10 yards went high and wide of the right post and bar. Stockport made a double substitution on 60 minutes with Hippolyte replaced by Bailey in a like for like change and Camps introduced centre midfield for Powell. County had a glimmer of chance on 60 minutes when Palmer-Houlden manufactured some space picking up the debris following a direct ball. He linked to find Evans who struck a snapshot from 20 yards which Hinchcliffe claimed low in the right corner. Camps was soon in the action probing space County invited through the middle on 62 minutes and drilled a low shot from 25 yards forcing Townsend to make an excellent parry around the left post. County then made a change on 65 minutes to pep up their approach in midfield with Zanzala sacrificed for Charsley. On 66 minutes, Charsley was somewhat harshly booked for his first challenge when he mistimed the low tackle on Camps. County opted for some direct balls to turn Stockport on their heels but struggled with their distribution lacking quality allowing Stockport a breather. When they did find some cohesion, the referee turned a blind eye to a lot of the pulling and crude antics. Stockport made another change on 70 minutes with Lemonheigh-Evans on for Olaofe as they went for a more attacking 4–3–3 formation. On 72 minutes, Olaofe made a darting run right corner of the area and with County forced deep Charsley stretched out but made their bare minimum of contact but the referee awarded a somewhat contentious penalty. Madden took the penalty but Townsend reacted superbly to save down in the right corner to keep County in the game. Stockport kept probing away with some low moves and were close again on 78 minutes with Camps showing prowess from distance cutting inside left side of the area but his shot was saved well by Townsend. County made another change on 80 minutes with Jameson replaced by Drysdale. With Stockport pushing on, County worked some better moves in transition in the final stages of the game, with Charsley influencing some moves left side. On 82 minutes, County won a corner left side which Lewis took clipping the cross low to the front post but Evans appeared to miscue stabbing well wide of the left post. Stockport persisted with attacking moves right side with Bailey offering pace and verve. On 86 minutes, Bailey outfoxed Lewis cutting inside on the right corner of the area and curled a decent effort towards the left top corner but Townsend was again alert tipping around left post. From the resulting corner by Sarcevic the cross appeared to take a deflection off Morris and Townsend was again alert pushing the ball around the left post. Stockport mad a late change on 90 minutes with Richards on for Wootton to maintain their momentum and County responded with Bondswell and Jephcott replacing Lewis and Palmer-Houlden. Stockport got their reward for perseverance when County conceded a cheap free kick left side of the pitch. The cross into the area by Camps was headed on by Cass and fell kindly for Madden. This time he showed no mercy blasting into the left corner from 12 yards. County made efforts to force Stockport defend deeper in the 6 minutes of injury time but were unable to work the keeper and Wildig got a late booking on 90+5 minutes when frustration saw him catch Pye late. Stockport held on to solidify their position in the top 3 and gain an important win.

Townsend (9) — kicked well into a very difficult wind getting depth and accuracy. Made several important saves to keep Count in the game and gave assurance with safe hands throughout.

Lewis (6) — forced deep having to deal with Hippolyte for an hour and then Bailey latter stages and saw little impetus beyond the half way line. Distribution was erratic on times.

Payne (6) — put under pressure first half and coped well after early booking. Cleared well when he had the ball getting it safe and kept on the pitch but forced too deep to threaten.

Baker (7) — kept composure well under pressure especially from direct aerial balls and cleared effectively. Read game well and kept passes simple and tidy.

Jameson (8) — dominated in the air and got himself well positioned to deal with the danger. Was strong in the 1v1s limiting threat and denying space.

Bennett (7) — played sweeping role with three at the back and read game well. competed well in the air and made several important interceptions to mop up danger.

Morris (6) — covered a lot of ground, worked hard to contain and forced deep for large spells. Made efforts to push and link play but restricted to a couple of hopeful shots from distance.

Wildig (6) — showed a tenacity to pick up loose ball and tidied up threat well especially first half. Influence limited top end of the pitch and not offered on some set pieces left side.

Palmer-Houlden (5) — worked hard to close down but disappointing game, got bullied off the ball on times and needs to show more aggression to get across defenders that suffocate space.

Evans (5) — given little from the referee being held down several times and stifled. Needs to learn the dark arts and buy some fouls. Looked the most likely to score but got rushed on shots.

Zanzala (6) — played back to goals too much and County need to find a way of getting him on the front-foot. Did his best to disrupt and compete but got frustrated and bogged down after booking.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Stockport County)

Strengths — centre backs were quick to get tight and strong in aerial duals. Passed ball efficiently to wide areas and offered guile in around the area maintaining tempo.

Weaknesses — full backs were slow to recover, left gaps through the middle which better sides would punish. Got away with a lot of the crude pulling and disrupting due to lenient referee

Opportunities — played direct and hopeful with the wind behind them but played more effectively from deep 2nd half offering more thought with the ball.

Threats — Sarcevic set pieces asked questions, Madden shots and link play in around the edge area. Hippolyte and Bailey were prominent in forcing play right side.

OFFICIALS

T Reeves (5) — the booking he issued looked right but turned a blind eye to a significant amount of cynical play allowing clambering and pulling to run rife. Penalty looked cheap to say the least.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Paddy Madden — in a game that offered little quality final third, he always looked the most likely to unlock the door taking up positions and quality first time strike pinched the points.

IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

To their credit, County went for a bold formation putting three up top, but found space limited first half with the wind forcing them back but Stockport were quick to suffocate and switch from defence to attack. County kept their defensive resolve and focus dealing with the hopeful direct play, but they needed to find a way of keeping the ball and buying time but the midfield was too disjoint to effect the outcome final third. After the dominance in the Walsall away game when County enjoyed a lot of space to dribble and face off into attacking areas, opponents are now pushing up higher to win the first contact and stifle momentum. County need to find a new solution to turn sides on their heels or pick up the second ball quicker to keep at sides. Despite all their resilience second half, there was no real outlet and with Stockport forcing play right side County desperately needed some verve to get at the Stockport left side. They did this better in the latter stages when Charsley was introduced and if they had been able to win more set pieces left side there was always going to be an opportunity to punish Stockport when they got overzealous with numbers. County need to get their set pieces more tuned as Lewis was taking corners left side when it could have been Wildig. The deliveries into the area today were limp and often floated rather than cutting allowing Stockport to clear their lines. County will be frustrated by the late goal and need to put the record straight on Tuesday in their only home match left in March when Morecambe visit Rodney Parade. Morecambe are a tenacious outfit and will opt for a 4–2–3–1 formation pressing from front to back with Slew an outlet left side to release pressure. They have struggled against teams which grip possession and use their intelligent to work the gaps and spaces through the middle. County may need to bide their time in this one and work them into submission