Flickers of light for County but another defeat

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Vale Park

Port Vale 3 (Garrity 29, Stockley 62, Headley 77)

Newport County 2 (Kamwa 12, C Evans 33)

Attendance: 6,354

Match Rating: ****

Form:

Newport County LLddDdWLLL

Port Vale DDLWddLLdW

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Port Vale have been struggling to reach the form they had early season. Big pitch so key County use ball efficiently and work Vale but work hard to limit shots and crosses.

CONDITIONS

Cold, cloudy and calm. Pitch looked in decent condition but a slippery in parts

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Creative and purposeful for an hour but went into shell buckling to hosts pressure.

TURNING POINT

Whitmore miss to make it 3–1 was a big moment.

THE MATCH

County were forced into a change with Anthony Glennon not available and recalled Cameron Evans who went right back with Shane McLoughlin switching to left back. There were two attacking changes with Oliver Greaves to lead the line in place of Kyle Hudlin who was on the bench. County also introduced new loan signing from Peterborough David Ajiboye right wing in place Michael Spellman who was named as a substitute and Bobby Kamwa switched back to the left wing. The game started fast with County keeper forced in untidy clearance after some lax passing at the back but County managed to get the ball to safety. County settled into their rhythm quickly which has been a pattern in recent games with them dominating possession in first halves. County worked some good low moves with Port Vale quite passive and Garrity was unlucky not to be cautioned for a clumsy tackle when Whitmore turned him left side deep in the Vale half. On 10 minutes, Vale worked a quick move left side with Headley attacking space to exploit County on the break winning a corner left side. The cross into the area by Lowe caused problems for County not winning the first contact and Tolaj glanced his header from 10 yards wide of the right post. County responded with a decisive move moments later with Ajiboye angling his run right side and threading a neat pass inside for Kieran Evans. He adjusted well and curled a low shot from inside the “d” which forced the keeper Amos to parry the effort onto the outside of the left post for a corner. McLoughlin whipped in an excellent corner which caused anxiety in the Vale six yard box and despite Cameron Evans seeing his header blocked Kamwa reacted well to head home at the back post. County were lifted by the goal working some confident low moves with Whitmore and Greaves doing well to protect the ball and coax fouls. On 16 minutes, Vale broke well left side catching County napping but there was a let off when Croasdale overrun the ball left side of the area and a late lunge on Brennan saw him booked. On 25 minutes, Vale created a decent move right side when John escaped the clutches of Kamwa and chipped a deft diagonal cross into the area pinpointing Croasdale but the header from 10 yards drifted wide of the left post with Brennan doing enough to put him off. Vale had another player in the book on 27 minutes when Whitmore fended off a challenge from Smith as he pressed up mistiming his tackle. Vale were level on 29 minutes following a corner right side which Headley delivered into the six yard and Baker lost his marker allowing Garrity to steal in and head home uncontested. Vale had a better spell with Tolaj linking some more cohesive moves final third to link play and force County deeper. On 32 minutes, County were caught napping when Tolaj switched play quickly from the right side of the box to pinpoint Headley at the back post but his shot from an acute angle went into the side netting. County kept their belief with their neat passing and patterns of play to test Vale with the home defence not looking that assured. On 33 minutes, Ajiboye did well with a forceful run right side cutting in side but he was clipped by Hart. Greaves delivered an excellent free kick to the left side of the box and Cameron Evans anticipated well with a precise header from 8 yards into top right corner. Vale up their efforts again forcing County deeper but they were dealt a blow on 36 minutes when Brennan contested a high ball but appeared to land awkwardly on his shoulder and had to be replaced after treatment with Jameson coming on. On 42 minutes, County had a good situation squashed again with Ajiboye’s run deep in the Vale interrupted by Garrity who escaped punishment again. Kieran Evans took the free kick from 25 yards which was executed well and dipped just over the bar. Vale had a decent situation on 45 minutes following some poor retention by County inside the Vale half. Croasdale broke quickly threading a pass left side for Hackford who angled his run left side of the box but the low effort from 14 yards was well held by Carney. With the game going from end to end, County threatened a third goal when Greaves did well to pin a move through the middle and direct a pass right side for Ajiboye. He jinked inside and struck a decent low effort from 20 yards which the keeper held well in the right corner. On 45+4 minutes, Vale again showed menace attacking from deep with Croasdale bright with his movement threading a pass left side for Headley. He cut inside leaving Evans static and drilled a low shot from 14 yards which Carney held well low down. There were 7 minutes of injury time played and County were close again in the final minute when Ajiboye angled his run right side of the box and direct a quick shot in from an acute angle forcing to keeper to parry away but the corner was cleared effectively.

Vale made a change at half time with Stockley replacing Hackford up front. There was another change in central midfield with Lowe replaced by Harper. Vale made their intentions clear with some more direct play to test County using Stockley as a battering ram. On 47 minutes, a direct pass from deep inside the Vale half was glanced on by Stockley and seized upon by Tolaj. With County slow to react he switched a pass left side for Croasdale but the snapshot from 16 yards went high and wide of left post and bar. On 50 minutes, County won a corner right side which Kieran Evans and dropped deep and Whitmore did well to retrieve the ball and carry his run back inside the area. He fended off a challenge and blasted a bold effort from 20 yards just past the left post and bar. County were close again on 55 minutes when they took a free kick quicky left side with Evans switching play well to find Whitmore. With Vale stretched at the back Whitmore carried his strong run to inside the area and his shot was deflected narrowly wide of the left post by Smith. Vale made a substitution soon after with Hart replaced by Sang. Vale upped their efforts again with some more asserted moves right side with right wing back Clark influencing moves from deep. County were forced into some untidy passes allowing Vale to build momentum with Clark and John pressing mistakes right side. On 62 minutes, County had Jameson in the book when he drove forward and lost control of the ball in dangerous position and caught Clark late. From the free kick by Headley County switched off allowing the unmarked Smith the luxury to head the ball from deep and pick out Stockley who headed home from 6 yards with the County defence static. County struggled for the same cohesion with Vale pressing up aggressively and allowed themselves to be put in awkward positions to defend the transition which Vale did well. County made a double substitution on 72 minutes with Whitmore and Ajiboye replaced by Hudlin and Spellman. Hudlin went up front with Greaves dropping deeper and Spellman went right wing. Vale continued to probe away right side with Kamwa struggling to maintain possession. On 75 minutes, County had another warning when John overlapped with a run right side supporting Clark but his shot from the right side of the box was deflected for a corner. County were caught sleeping again with Vale taking a quick corner with Headley linking with Garrity. Headley made the most of the space offered to cut inside and drill a low shot from 20 yards into the right corner which Carney appeared to see late and the ball escaped his grasp. County made a change soon after with new signing Tom Davies from Cardiff City replacing Greaves. Davies went into central defence with Baker going right back and Cameron Evans slotting into midfield. County struggled to build momentum in the final stages with some direct moves into Hudlin fizzling out and Vale continued to snap out possession cheaply and break turning County on their heels. On 86 minutes, Vale had a chance to extend their lead when a set piece was poorly contested by County with Stockley caressing a header right side of the six yard box but Tolaj could only scoop over the bar. On 88 minutes, County were dealt another blow when Jameson in a rush of blood lunged in on Tolaj defending a break right side and was sent off for a second yellow card. Port Vale made another change on 90+2 minutes with Tolaj replaced by Curtis but held on comfortably despite County playing more direct they lacked teeth to work the Vale keeper.

Carney (6) — made some good saves low down showing safe hands and was tidy with his feet passing the ball. Could have done better on the third goal and got across too late.

Baker (5) — coped well facing ball and won his headers but poor awareness to not pick up on opening Vale goal and was arguably at fault for not picking up back post on the second goal.

C Evans (6) — lost out to some headers but made some good tackles to track danger and limited threat well forcing Vale to the other side. Took his chance well from set piece.

McLoughlin (6) — round pegs in square holes but did well first half to break up and instigate some good moves. Got put under pressure second half with Kamwa playing deeper and forced into errors

Brennan (6) — made some good interceptions and coped reasonably well in the aerial duals keeping concentration well. was missed when he went off and replaced by:

Jameson (4) — continues to be a liability in a County shirt. Won the simple headers but positional awareness to mark was poor and got coaxed into reckless tackles for sending off.

Whitmore (7) — bright spark especially first half, took up good positions high up pitch winning useful free kicks and linked well with Greaves. Denied with couple of decent shots around edge of area.

Antwi (6) — did well when he got the ball from under his feet quickly to shift play and was accurate passing. Forced deep on times second half firefighting and attacking influence faded

K Evans (7) — coordinated the best moves from deep and was influential inside the Vale half first half going close with some shots and provided useful set pieces. Forced back deeper second half

Kamwa (6) — retained ball well first half to link moves but lost possession cheaply second half putting side under pressure. Needs to learn when to play and when to slow it down and not force moves

Greaves (7) — did a good job playing as a false nine, offered some intelligent movement and knitted together some good moves. Supplied good crosses and set up second goal well before fading.

Ajiboye (7) — decent debut, showed promise with several strong runs dribbling ball with pace and got in some quick shots to test the keeper but faded and replaced early.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Port Vale

Strengths — they were effective in transition with some coordinated moves from deep and had some quality to change game using bench.

Weaknesses — centre backs got stretched by movement and they struggled to deal pace and movement County had first half conceding several fouls which better side would punish.

Opportunities — sat back passively first half but did enough to spin game by pushing up more aggressively and win their first contacts. Went more direct second half to force County deeper.

Threats — Garrity and Tolaj linked play box to box. Croasdale awareness to pick holes. Stockley headers inside box and Clark dictated some good moves right side.

OFFICIALS

S Parkinson (7) — was keen to play advantage and let a lot of the persistent fouling go unpunished to limit bookings but got key decisions right.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Mitchell Clark — grew into game, kept Kamwa relatively quiet forcing him inside on wrong foot but influenced game well second half to win ball and direct moves supplied some decent crosses.

IF YOU WERE NELSON JARDIM WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

There were certainly many positives in the first half performance and for a good hour County were arguably the better side and will reflect back on what may have happened if they got the third goal they threatened at one point. Greaves did well playing as a false 9 and Whitmore was effective with his positioning to knit moves high up the pitch. However, County still have defensive impairments which continue to derail all the good work on the training ground and needs to be addressed in the January window. County can’t keep buckling on set pieces allowing players to roam unmarked and being let down by extremely poor decision making. In the last 3 games against Walsall, AFC Wimbledon and Port Vale there is also alarming common thread where County have dictated the first half proceedings with the opponents happy to play passively. The second halves have been predictable seeing opponents up their aggressive and it has been enough for them to press up higher and force County deeper into unforced errors. This may not actually be intentional but they are not likely to be able to press with some same verve for 90 minutes at this level. County need to sharpen up their second half performances and match opponents work ethic off the ball (when needed) win more of the 1v1s, but make the game more ugly and slow it down if they have to. They also lack experience in key moments with a big void still left in central midfield. Hudlin is not convincing enough to score goals or change the pattern of the game when he has come on. Next up is Swindon Town at home this Friday which looks a pivotal game of this season. Swindon are likely to play a 3–4–3 formation with Smith a focal point on aerial duals and both Nichols and Drinan effective in picking up the debris in behind. Swindon are likely to be aggressive and determined and not likely to sit back as Port Vale did first half today. County may need to take a kick or two in this match but they have the tools to punish Swindon with their pace and verve to run in behind them.