Far too comfortable for Accrington

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Wham Stadium

Accrington Stanley 3 (Nolan 24, Whalley 80, Adedoyin 90+4)

Newport County 0

Attendance: 2,416

Match Rating: ***

Form:

Newport County

Accrington Stanley

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Expecting Accrington to play long. County need to stay switched on to direct play and counter when invited. With Bogle missing up top key they lock the ball in final third and not get turned over.

CONDITIONS

Heavy rain showers, cloudy with gusty wind. Pitch in excellent condition despite the storm.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Game was decided in the boxes, did well through the middle when ball kept low and sharp.

TURNING POINT

Evans missed open goal midway through the second half.

THE MATCH

County kept faith with 3–5–2 formation and introduced a new defensive line up with new signings left centre back Kyle Jameson alongside new captain Ryan Delaney in the middle alongside James Clarke. County also employed a new right wing back Shane McLoughlin but a familiar face with Adam Lewis returning following a loan signing from Liverpool at left wing back in front of keeper Nick Townsend. County played Scott Bennett in centre midfield alongside new signing Bryn Morris and Adam Wildig in a more advanced role. County had a makeshift front two with Will Evans deputising to partner loan signing from Bristol City Seb Palmer-Houlden. County showed promise in the early stages forcing a couple of free kicks right side. On 5 minutes, they had a great chance to forge ahead following a corner right side. Lewis whipped in a decent cross into the six yard box which Accrington keeper Savin struggled to meet cleanly and the ball sat up kindly to Clarke who blasted over from 6 yards when he should have scored. Accrington made their intentions clear with some direct moves to utilise the towering frame of Andrews up front who roamed to contest across the line. On 6 minutes, Clarke was on the end of late aerial challenge with Andrews and play was stopped for him to receive attention. On 8 minutes, County had a glimmer of chance from distance when a stray Accrington pass was pounced on by Lewis who stuck a rising shot from 25 yards over the bar. County kept plugging away offering plenty of energy with Evans doing his best to contest aerial balls. Despite not getting the rub of the green, County were quick to the loose ball with Wildig alert to seize the ball and link play. County had a couple of free kick right side in decent positions but the delivery was floated allowing Accrington off the hook clearing effectively. Accrington grew into the game with some more cohesive moves right side to test Jameson and Lewis who got forced deeper. On 15 minutes, County had a warning when Jameson switched off defending allowing Andrews to caress a pass right side into the path of Nolan. He adjusted well and got in early shot from 25 yards which was well parried by Townsend for a corner. Accrington continued to pick holes well right side with Nolan combining well to stretch play with Jameson and Lewis increasingly hesitant. On 23 minutes, Accrington were close following a free kick right side which Nolan delivered well into the area but the header from Mellor was untidy drifting wide of the right post. County elected to play deep to counter but were struggling to maintain the ball final third. Accrington took the lead on 24 minutes following poor retention by County when a direct ball was tamely contested by Evans allowing centre back Hills a simple header. The ball was won by Andrews in the middle of the pitch who chested the ball into the path of Leigh and his slide pass set Nolan free in behind Clarke. Townsend made efforts to close the angle coming off his line but Nolan showed composure to beat him from an acute angle. County then became bogged down with playing far too many direct high balls into Evans and Palmer-Houlden but got little momentum final third. Accrington persisted with their direct approach often by passing midfield and Andrews continued to offer a nuisance from aerial flicks on which kept the County defence worked. County offered a better spell on the stoke of half time showing more nerve to pass the ball low and work Accrington and they had both centre midfielders Shipley and Leigh booked in 5 minutes. County switched off again on 44 minutes when some indecision by right back McLoughlin right side saw McConville pick his pocket. He slipped a quick pass for Shipley who overlapped well and the early cross was key finding Andrews but his header from 12 yards went just over the bar. Accrington kept pressing right side with County passive in the challenge and another move on 45+2 saw Nolan slice through in combination with Andrews but the low effort right side of the area drifted wide of the left post. County responded late in 8 minutes of injury with a bold move right side. From a quick throw, McCloughlin found Wildig well positioned right side of the area and he linked well to find Clarke who clipped a decent cross into the six yard area which Delaney contested well with the keeper winning the ball in the air but his header from 6 yards was cleared off the line.

County came out for the second half more positive forcing Accrington deeper with Lewis pushing up higher left side to assert play. On 46 minutes, Evans did well to switch play from right to left with Lewis supporting and he cut inside but his curling effort from 25 yards drifted wide of the right post. On 48 minutes, Lewis was again pressing with well timed run overlapping left side but his shot was rushed left corner slicing wide of the left post. County were exposed on 52 minutes when Wildig lost the ball in centre midfield and McConville got quickly into position right side to receive the pass from Connelly. He wasted no time to deliver the cross into the box which again caught County napping with Shipley steeling in past McCloughlin but his header from 12 yards was pushed around the left post by Townsend. County made an early change on 56 minutes with McCloughlin replaced by Bondswell who went left wing back with Lewis switching to deputise at right wing back. County had a great chance to equalise on 60 minutes when a low move right side saw Evans do well to chase a lost cause with the keeper Savin committed his clearance deflected into the path of Evans but his low shot from an acute angle hit the left post. Accrington made a triple change to pep up their approach on 65 minutes with McConville fading he was replaced by veteran Whalley left side. There was another change right side with Longelo on for Nolan and defensive tweak with centre back Mellor replaced by Quirk. County huffed and puffed but were frustrated by some marginal offside calls when they didn’t time their runs. On 73 minutes, County had a half chance when some space opened up through the middle for Morris to exploit but his shot from 25 yards was dragged wide of the left post. Accrington made another change on 75 minutes with Adedoyin on for Leigh in attacking midfield. With County pressing up higher, Accrington responded upping their direct approach with Andrews causing problems winning some good flicks on to turn County around and stifle their momentum. On 80 minutes, County were punished severely from their lack of alertness when Lewis was pickpocketed cheaply right side. Accrington switched play well from left to right to find Quirk in space and his early cross paid dividends with Whalley beating the recovering Lewis to the ball to head into the right corner from 10 yards beyond the grasp of Townsend. County made a couple of late change in response with Charsley on for Morris and Waite replacing Bennett. County created a couple of decent chances late in the game which should really have been buried coming through the industry of Bondswell left side. On 85 minutes, Bondswell did well in a tight position left side of the area to clip a cross to the front post which Palmer-Houlden anticipated well but could only head past the left post from 6 yards under pressure from Bagheulou. Then moments later another decent cross from Bondswell flashed deep to find Lewis unmarked back post but his header was blocked by a late intervention by Connelly. Accrington made another change on 90 minutes with Pickles replacing Shipley who had a knock. County kept pushing in the 10 minutes of injury time but left themselves exposed at the back. On 90+3 minutes, some weak retention left side by County allowed Quirk to penetrate and find Longelo who cut inside near the edge of the area but the low shot was parried well away by Townsend in the left corner. Accrington added a third goal on 90+4 minutes following a tired County clearance left side which fell short and Evans was slow to get across his man but he recovered well only then to lose the ball cheaply in the right corner. Accrington made the most of the charity with Hills whipping in a quick cross which County failed to react to and Adedoyin won the race to the ball ahead of Delaney to head home from 8 yards. County huffed and puffed despite the overload of extra time with Palmer-Houlden flirting with a low snapshot from the edge of the area which Savin comfortably saved in the left corner. Accrington held comfortably in the added time for a deserved but somewhat flattering win back in league two after five years.

Townsend (7) — made a couple of instinctive saves to keep County in the game. Could have possibly done better to hold ground on opening goal but kicked well in conditions to keep ball on the pitch

McCloughlin (5) — got bullied off the ball far to easily on times, made efforts to make things happen and push on but end product was poor with crosses too short. Replaced early.

Lewis (5) — started well and showed prowess with crossing but struggled to when he switched right side getting beaten to the loose ball. Went close with some shots from distance.

Delaney (6) — probably the pick of the defenders, stemmed the flow into Andrews well winning majority of headers and was sharp with passes. got beaten too easily on third goal..

Clark (6) — put under pressure in the air and sometimes got balance wrong dropping off too much, but got ball safe under pressure when turned back. Missed a decent chance early on from close range

Jameson (4) — lazy getting to the ball on times and struggled with the pace of the game. Got cut open far too many times ball watching and was pinpointed with switches of play allowing too much space

Wildig (6) — had a decent first half, reactive and quick to the loose ball linking play well to provide some decent crosses but shots inside the area were restricted and influence faded in second half

Morris (6) — took responsibility with ball but got caught in possession several times and played far too deep to effect game. Shots in and around area were more hopeful and lacked conviction.

Bennett (5) — does better when he holds deep position but often given licence to roam and struggled to recover and protect often behind direct quick moves Accrington offered.

Evans (4) — did his best up front but struggled to contest in aerial duals. At fault on two of the goals with weak retention. Didn’t get any shots on target and needed replacing but no options available.

Palmer-Houlden (5) — run into several dead ends and got bullied on times. Needs to do more to unsettle defenders off the ball. Went close with a couple of headers when well positioned with runs.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Accrington Stanley)

Strengths — quick in transition and used direct ball well with Andrews leading the line. Decisiveness final third was key providing quick crosses

Weaknesses — gambled off the direct play and County had some good opportunities to punish them off direct play slow tracking back. Keeper flapped at several crosses but got away with it.

Opportunities — persisted with quick aerial ball into Andrews and if anything went longer late on. Kept energy levels up well which key after spell of County of pressure, using subs well.

Threats — Andrews robust and aerial threat, Dolan industry and crosses right side, McConville creativity and eye for a pass to link final third.

OFFICIALS

M Woods (8) — kept game moving and clamped down on bad challenges when he needed to. Never really noticed him which is always a good sign.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Jack Nolan — work he did in the hour was important, offered intelligent picking holes demanding ball right side, eye for goal and provided some excellent crosses.

IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

The overall result was frustrating as it was somewhat flattering to Accrington but they thoroughly deserved to win this match as they were superior to County inside the boxes and certainly more decisive. County look to be playing catch up still after a somewhat indifferent pre-season and look two weeks short of match fitness. It was clear in the Cheltenham game, County had some vulnerability dealing with switches of play to the right side with Jameson and Lewis not always on the same wavelength and Accrington were effective in exploiting indecision when County failed to press play aggressively. County matched Accrington toe to toe through the middle of the pitch and despite struggling to create chances from open play, they did create some decent counter attacks and should really have made this game more uncomfortable for the hosts, had they taken their chances. Too often today, County opted for the cheap lazy option with the long ball aimlessly picking out hopeful aerial balls to Evans who struggled to win one header. There is a lack of options to change their approach up front which was too predictable. When County used their brains and kept the ball low and sharp they were effective, but it was not sustained. Next up is Charlton Athletic in the League Cup this Tuesday at Rodney Parade. This match is equally as important as the Doncaster home game on Saturday. County will need to make one or two changes but not too many with a cup run that could be important for them before the window ends.