Dolan brace stuns Bantams

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Cardiff City Stadium

Newport County 2 (Dolan 76, 90+6 pen)

Bradford City 1 (Cook 46)

Attendance:

Form:

Newport County LLWLDLWdLW

Bradford City WWLWWWWWWD

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
County will benefit from a pristine pitch switching home games to Cardiff. Bradford have been on a good run and will be difficult to breakdown so key County work them about into submission

CONDITIONS
Cool, cloudy and breezy. Pitch in excellent condition and held up well.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Reserved first half but showed great spirit and belief to turn game on its head after charitable goal.

TURNING POINT
Dolan first goal and late changes changed momentum

THE MATCH
County were forced into one change with Aaron Lewis replacing Ryan Haynes who was not named in the squad. County settled in the game well with some neat passing in the early stages working the ball patiently from deep. Bradford set their stall out to press at every opportunity with some determined challenges and this set a precedent which would prove costly later in the game. County were efficient combating the stifling approach with some searching balls to pick out runs by Amond and Maynard but the Bradford defence recovered well with centre backs O’Connor and Canavan clearing the danger. On 10 minutes, a more direct County move through the middle saw Labadie take up an interesting position receiving a low pass from Bennett. He jinked inside struck a low effort from 25 yards well wide of the right post. County won a couple of throws either side of the area and worked some quick short throws but the Bradford defence remained vigilant dealing with the crosses. On 16 minutes, a quick throw by County was well worked in the right corner with Shephard finding Dolan and he whipped a decent delivery to the front post which Maynard read ahead of Canavan but he couldn’t get the angle of his shot right. Bradford kept persisting with the pressing off the ball and it nearly paid dividends on 18 minutes when a loose back pass by Sheehan deep inside his own half was seized upon by Clarke. He slipped a quick pass inside for Cook who carried his run into area and struck a low shot from 10 yards but denied by an excellent save by Townsend. County continued to probe away but were finding it difficult to make in-roads into the Bradford half with the flanks blocked out. On 22 minutes, a move through the middle saw Dolan play a one two and drive forward before striking an ambitious effort from 30 yards which fizzed wide of the right post. On 25 minutes, Bradford had a free kick in a decent position right side of the pitch and struck a powerful effort into the wall from 30 yards. Bradford continued to bite into challenges with the referee happy to encourage some of the antics. On 32 minutes, Labadie was taken late by Watt but with no booking forthcoming seemed a strange outcome when tackled crudely from behind. County made some headway left side with Lewis making some dynamic runs to test right back O’Connor. On 35 minutes, Lewis drove well left side of the area and dinked over a decent cross into the area which Bradford ushered away to safety. County were boosted by better penetration and were close on 38 minutes from a neat bright move from deep with Sheehan pulling the strings. He linked well to find Maynard who turned off a challenge by Canavan and his snapshot from inside the “d” was well blocked by O’Connor. With County marginally on top, they coaxed Bradford into some unforced errors and Rowe was booked for a stupid challenge kicking out at Sheehan on 40 minutes. Bradford got back some control of the game as half time approached building some moves from deep but the game remained a stalemate.

County were caught cold inside the first minute when some poor decision making by Farquharson right side saw turn back and play a pass straight to Cook who pulled away into space vacated through the middle and drill low into the right corner from 10 yards. County went back up the pitch immediately and won a free kick on 48 minutes right side after Sheehan was checked. Dolan delivered a decent ball into the area which sat up and Maynard poke a somewhat hopeful shot wide of the right post from 12 yards. Then on 50 minutes, another move through the middle saw Amond supply Dolan and his low effort from 25 yards was deflected but Hornby held the ball well. County remained patient with more threat evident from the left side with Lewis continuing to offer an outlet but the crosses were managed well by Bradford. County made an attacking double substitution on 58 minutes with Taylor replacing Bennett and Telford on for Maynard with County adopting a 3–4–3 formation. Despite more possession, County were struggling to sustain momentum and get in behind the sturdy Bradford defence. There were openings for Bradford on the break and Wood was close on 65 minutes with an effort from 30 yards forcing Townsend to tip over the bar. Bradford made a double substitution on 67 minutes with Rowe replaced by Evans who went right midfield and Vernam on for Clarke as they reverted to a more defensive 4–5–1 formation. On 70 minutes, Bradford were close to a second when a corner right side by Watt dropped deep and O’Connor stabbed a low effort wide of the left post from 10 yards. County continued to ask questions left side and they stretched Bradford when they were decisive. On 72 minutes, Lewis did well to take on O’Connor and cut back a decent cross which Telford judged well but could only scoop over the bar from 20 yards. County made a double substitution on 75 minutes with some left side changes with Ellison replacing Lewis and Scrimshaw further up in the three up top. County were energised by the changes springing into life and won a free kick right side when Cook was forced to backtrack to defend a run by Sheehan. Cook was booked and Dolan punished the indiscretion curling his free kick from 20 yards superbly into the top right corner with the keeper grasping thin air. County went straight on the attack with move slicing through the middle when Labadie broke up play well quickly and found Telford but his shot from the edge of the area was diverted by O’Connor. Bradford made an attacking change on 82 minutes with Stevens replacing Crankshaw and Donaldson on for Cook up top. Bradford forced a couple of late corners right side and Ellison was booked for a clash with O’Connor as County defended robustly. County carried a threat left side in transition when Bradford moves broke down and won a corner on 88 minutes. Sheehan delivered a decent ball into the area and Labadie appeared to have his shirt pulled by Watt but the referee was unmoved. Bradford offered some threat left side on the break Vernam lively but shots from distance failed to test Townsend. County moved the ball well in the final stages with over 5 minutes of injury time asking more questions in wide areas especially left side. In 90+6 minutes, they switched play well from left to right and won a throw in right side the area after good work by Labadie. Demetriou launched a trademark long throw into the six yard area which was blocked by the outstretched arm of Sutton. The referee awarded a penalty which Dolan struck precisely into the right corner despite the keeper guessing the right way. Bradford kicked off and the referee blew up immediately for an important win that looked unlikely for large parts of the game.

Townsend (7) — made a couple of decent saves, safe hands with claims on crosses. Kicked well under pressure and was a little sharper with his distribution kicking some useful long kicks

Farquharson (5) — was a fault with goal gifting possession and need to learn to clear lines when left exposed. Did not have his own way in the air and confidence was fragile.

Lewis (6) — offered the best outlet from wide positions and saw quite a lot of the ball. Worked back to defend and when he was decisive showed capability but didn’t test O’Connor enough.

Demetriou (8) — tucked in and defended deeper and was strong in aerial duals. Anticipated danger and showed really appetite and leadership late on in the game making some brave tackles

Shephard (6) — worked hard but couldn’t seem to get going today, was well marshalled and marked out of the game on times and didn’t get to the byline enough and restricted on crosses.

Dolan (9) — did well to coordinate moves from deep and showed value dropping into midfield later in the game driving side on. Scored two excellent goals and was unlucky not to add a third.

Labadie (7) — quiet game today, had spells where he got on the ball and showed capability when he didn’t over think on passes. Competed well despite little protection.

Sheehan (7) — did a lot of good work in the middle of the pitch to grind Bradford down. Was restricted on shots but provided several decent set pieces and finished game strongly.

Bennett (6) — when he got on the ball he was effective but saw less of the ball today, did his best to stifle and won majority of tackles but looked a little off the pace

Maynard (6) — did better when he dropped deeper and carry the ball from the half way line. Got bogged down a little through the middle and was restricted to just one half chance

Amond (6) — needed quicker ball and was forced to check back with several runs. When got ball he was effective with link play and could have been picked out back post with better crosses.

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — both centre back were assured playing ball low and aerial duals. Organised defensive unit and showed spells where they could pass well but only did this in transition.

Weaknesses — full backs were ordinary when pressed with erratic distribution and right back O’Connor got beaten for pace. Committed several unnecessary fouls and tired visibly late on

Opportunities — they set their stall out to work hard off the ball and win possession but were slow to move the ball when they had it. Late changes made them weaker and more vulnerable
Threats — Cook was robust outlet, Rowe shooting prowess, P O’Connor set piece threat

OFFICIALS

W Finnie (6) — was quite lenient allowing a lot of the pulling and clambering frustrated both sides on times with inconsistency. Got key decisions right.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Matt Dolan — Superb execution under pressure on both goals. Did much to influence game and was assured passing on the surface, provided fair quota of set pieces

IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County pinched what could be a vital win with some late goals scored again. They didn’t panic after conceding and you feel presently they always have a chance the longer the game progresses County also came back from a goal down today something that would have been less likely on the Rodney Parade pitch but they had the ability to keep working Bradford around. After the charitable Bradford goal, it was vital County kept their belief to pass and work Bradford as they visibly tired late on allowing County changes to effect the game more. Bradford did have County on the ropes a bit in spells but aside a couple bad back passing errors they were the more disciplined outfit and that was key. There were signs first half when County held the ball and went through the phases that they could work openings. However, they were not able to unlock the wide positions so well today with Shephard marked closely, more onus was on Lewis but his final ball was lacking quality and verve. The key in the remaining games will be flexibility final third but have nerve to vice grip the ball under pressure and take a few kicks if need be. Next up is Morecambe away and dealing with the wind tunnel at the Globe Stadium. County will need to manage the conditions and mitigate risks with Morecambe likely to play 4–5–1 and suffocate the middle part of the pitch. Stockton is key outlet up top and much of their best play goes through with Gomes and Phillips offering width in transition. County can expect to be pressed on the flanks but if they can create a quicker turnover their full backs Mellor and Gibson can be error prone and exposed.