First draw since New Years Day
Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Rodney Parade
Newport County 0
Fleetwood Town 0
Attendance: 4,244
Match Rating: **
Form:
Newport County LLWLWWLLLW
Fleetwood Town LWLDWWdWLL
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Fleetwood have had some good results away from home. County need to start this game well and not offer any charity to end up chasing game.
CONDITIONS
Sunny, quite warm light breeze. Pitch in excellent condition and quick on top.
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Struggled to sustain pressure and step through the gears but kept focus defending.
TURNING POINT
Missed pen lifted Fleetwood for a time.
THE MATCH
County retained the same side that battled to a solid mid-week win away at Gillingham. Fleetwood had marginally the better start with some moves right side to test County with Graydon making some strong runs. County elected for some direct aerial balls using Hudlin but Fleetwood doubled up well to cope with the threat with centre backs Potter and Hughes working well to squash the danger. County struggled to get on the second ball which set a precedence for large parts of the first half with the game settling into a pattern with Fleetwood overplaying their passes in behind. Fleetwood kept persisting right side with Graydon and Helm taking turns to make strong runs with Jameson covering the danger well. County had several appeals for free kicks ignored by the referee with some clear shirt pulling and clambering especially on Hudlin going unpunished. County struggled to find fluency in wide areas with Kamwa getting bogged down with the ball at his feet and Glennon offering little penetration left side. On 20 minutes, County awoke from their shell with Glennon getting outside Johnson and his cross left side of the area was met by Hudlin but the looping header from 10 yards was comfortably claimed by the keeper Harrington. County upped the tempo of their passing and created a decent move on 24 minutes when Hudlin glanced on a header left side of the area and Wildig was quick to read and round the advancing keeper but he was hauled down. The referee pointed to the spot but a weak penalty by Morris was saved low in the left corner by the keeper. Fleetwood improved their cohesion right side with right wing back Johnson bold with his runs forcing Glennon to defend deeper. The game remained stop start and was littered by some fouls but County worked some more fluent moves through the middle but the quality with final ball was lacking. Fleetwood had another player booked on 36 minutes when Virtue shunted over Hudlin when he was retained possession. County created their best move of the half on 38 minutes going through several players and Cameron Evans stole into a more advanced position to thread a pass inside for Wildig. He showed good feet to manoeuvre and find space but the effort from inside the ”d” went straight at the keeper. Fleetwood worked a couple of decent moves left side as half time approached with Mackenzie-Hunt prominent with runs to penetrate near the left touchline. On 42 minutes, Mackenzie-Hunt out-foxed Baker and cut back a low cross which Helm struck first time under pressure from Brennan but the effort from 12 yards clipped the left post. Some lethargy crept in County’s game as half time approached and Fleetwood were close again on 44 minutes when some indecision in central midfield allowed Johnson to pinch the ball and thread a pass right side of the area for Helm but his low powerful effort from 12 yards fizzed just wide of the left post. There was 7 minutes of first half injury time due to an injury with the linesman but County struggled to settle and pick their passes with Miley catching Wiredu a bit late as frustration crept in their game and he was booked. County had another warning on 45+6 minutes with Mackenzie-Hunt forging past Baker and his cross to front post invited Virtue to shoot but Brennan did well to block the shot.
Fleetwood remained on top after half time probing with some moves from deep as County allowed them cheaply turn off challenges with Mayor initiating some moves left side. County countered on 50 minutes with Baker linking efficiently with Morris. He cut back a useful pass across the face of goal which Cameron Evans latched onto but the effort was wide of the right post and bar. County made efforts to pick up their approach with Kamwa seeing more of the ball but he found little change with left sided defender Hughes quick to cover the danger. On 65 minutes, County worked some space better when they shifted play from left to right and Hudlin won his header against Potter. Kamwa seized onto the loose ball right side of the area and got in an early shot forcing Hughes to deflect around the right post. County made their first change on 66 minutes with Cameron Evans replaced by Kieran Evans who went into a more advanced role left side with Glennon reverting to more defensive left back role. County had a glimmer of a chance on 68 minutes when Kamwa delivered an early cross into the box which was on half cleared and Miley set up Wildig but his header from 10 yards was diverted wide of the left post. Fleetwood made a triple change on 70 minutes with Helm and Graydon sacrificed up front for Lonergan and Coughlan. They also introduced Shaw for Virtue in midfield to maintain their energy top end of the pitch. County absorbed pressure well and became more threatening on the break in the final stages. On 75 minutes, Miley did well with a piercing run through the middle which coaxed Mayor into a clumsy tackle from behind as he tracked back getting him a booking. Hudlin took the free kick and blasted a decent low effort which struck the wall and drifted just wide of the right post. County had a series a corners and were close to taking the lead on 77 minutes when the right sided corner from Glennon was whipped into the six yard box causing problems for Fleetwood clearing and the ball cleared off the line by Wiredu. County made a triple substitution moment later with Baker-Richardson and Whitmore coming on for Hudlin and Wildig. County also introduced Spellman for Kamwa with Spellman going left midfield and Keiran Evans switching to the right side. On 82 minutes, County had a good situation left side when Jameson did well to advance and coax a free kick from Lonergan just inside the Fleetwood half. Spellman put in a teasing delivery which Jameson appeared to get a touch to but Wiredu managed to intercept for a corner. On 85 minutes, County had another half chance when a quick clever cross left side from Evans was whipped in low and Spellman anticipated front post but could only blast into the left side netting from an acute angle. Fleetwood responded well with a couple of forceful moves left side with Mackenzie-Hunt supplying some searching crosses which stretched Townsend and he was able to claim the ball but Lonergan was denied. Then on 90 minutes Fleetwood had a free kick in a decent position through the middle but Mackenzie-Hunt curled his shot wide of the right post. Five minutes of injury time were played with County resorting to some direct moves using Baker-Richardson and Whitmore did well to support and pick up balls in behind but Fleetwood recovered well to avert the danger. On 90+2 minutes, County were caught napping when they conceded a cheap free kick deep inside the Fleetwood half and put nobody on the ball to delay the kick. Mackenzie-Hunt showed good vision to direct a precise ball in behind which both Jameson and Glennon appeared to switch off on and Johnson ghosted in but his shot right corner of the box was well saved by Townsend. County kept plugging away and may have pinched it on 90+5 minutes when a ball through the middle was glanced on by Baker-Richardson and the advancing goalkeeper slipped but managed to recover just in time to smother ahead of Whitmore. The game finished all square which was a fair settlement overall with County getting their first league draw since New Years Day!
Townsend (7) — wasn’t overworked but was safe with his hands and distribution under pressure. Made an important instinctive save in injury time
Baker (6) — did a job at right back but was unsettled on times from direct runs by Mackenzie-Hunt. Dealt with direct ball well and cleared efficiently.
C Evans (6) — defended well but never really asserted his passing game and not on the same wavelength as Glennon first half. Went close with a decent snapshot early in the first half.
Jameson (7) — forced to turn back several times first half but recovered well to stifle or squash danger. Strong in the air and went close again on some set pieces just missing the magic touch.
Brennan (7) — covered some of the gaps well with some important blocks and was alert to some dangerous crosses swept in from the Fleetwood left side. did well in the aerial duals.
Glennon (6) — got caught in 2 minds first half and indecision allowed right wing back Johnson to gain confident and push on. Coped better second half and provided some decent set pieces.
Morris (6) — looked a yard short and off the pace. Did well when he got to the ball but didn’t win enough key tackles and first contacts. Kept passing neat and tidy
Wildig (6) — took a couple of knocks early on and lacked usual sharpness. Did well to win penalty and should have got up and taken it. Found ball going over his head a lot and dropped deeper.
Miley (6) — found space limited first half with a lot of moves stuttering and being forced back. did better attacking from deep second half when gaps arose. Unlucky with shot which fizzed over the bar
Kamwa (6) — never got a head of steam up right side and ran into too many dead ends or ended up forcing moves when needed ball to stick. Kept working but needs to get more shots and crosses in
Hudlin (7) — contested well in the air and didn’t get the rub of the green with some calls. Caused more problems when he angled his runs to left or right corner of the penalty box and caress headers
SWOT ANALYSIS (Fleetwood Town)
Strengths — wing backs were effective with timing of their runs and crosses. Kept composure in spells County ramped up pressure. Kept variety with passing moves.
Weaknesses — centre backs were afforded time on the ball but when County did press higher up they squandered possession overplaying several passes.
Opportunities — maintained 3–5–2 formation which worked well for them with wing backs assertive box to box. Made changes early to maintain energy and kept positivity going forward.
Threats — Grayson and Helm varied runs well. Johnson link play and eye for a shot with runs in behind. Mackenzie-Hunt crosses and verve left side.
OFFICIALS
D Rock (6) — lenient but consistent, turned a blind eye to a lot of the clambering and shirt pulling with some cute challenges on Hudlin ignored first half
MAN OF THE MATCH
Mackenzie Hunt — bit of a thorn in County’s side with outlet left side which never allowed them to rest. Also did a good job work back and deny Kamwa space when get on the ball.
IF YOU WERE NELSON JARDIM WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
County never really got firing through the gears and build momentum to punish Fleetwood who showed confidence and composure to keeping asking questions when indecision invariably crept in. County looked a bit low on energy in key areas of the pitch, especially first half, being slow to the second balls with several players perhaps suffering from the rigours of the away game at Gillingham on Tuesday. Fleetwood used their wing backs well to assert their game with both Kamwa and Glennon off the pace. Kamwa may have swapped wings early in the second half had the introduction of Kieron Evans been made earlier. Hudlin had a good game again but was well marshalled in central areas but became more effective when he angled his runs to either the left or right corner of the area to drag defenders and use his prowess to link. County had a decent spell mid-way through the second half when they used switches of play efficiently to move a regimental but disciplined Fleetwood side around more. County saved their changes back and with some more alertness through the middle Whitmore may have won it, but he needs to keep gambling with those late runs into the area when sides are static. Next up, County host Peterborough Utd in the FA Cup 1st Round. Peterborough harbour play-off hopes in League One but have been inconsistent this season using different defensive line-ups and keeping few clean sheets. County need to track the runs of Poku right side and have the stickability to keep ball final third and coax free kicks to unlock Peterborough on set pieces.
