Frustration as County held by 10 man Bradford

Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 0

Bradford City 0

Attendance: 4,031
Match Rating: ***


Form:
Newport County LLLLLDWWWW
Bradford City DWWWWWLWWW


PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Bradford have risen to third in L2 after 8 wins from the last 10 games. County need vigilance dealing with direct balls but offer more energy and tempo in transition to break their press.

CONDITIONS
Quite mild, partly cloudy with light breeze. Pitch in excellent condition and quick on top.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Snappy start, huffed and puffed after red card but couldn’t find the quality to punish final third.

TURNING POINT
Sending off changed the pattern of the game.

THE MATCH
County kept the same starting side but Kyle Hudlin was a surprise omission from the squad chosen. Bradford made their intentions clear with a direct move on 2 minutes using Leigh, a new signing in the January window and replacement for injured top scorer Andy Cooke. On 2 minutes, a direct ball was killed by Mellon and he caressed a pass back to Leigh inviting him to volley from 25 yards but the opportunist effort looped over the bar. County pressed well in the early stages from front to back with Baker-Richardson, Ajiboye and Kamwa working the three Bradford centre backs. On 5 minutes, County pressed well forcing Huntington into an untidy pass which seized upon quickly by Ajiboye and despite his effort being blocked Baker-Richardson got in an early shot from 14 yards which the keeper held well. County had a great chance to take the lead on 7 minutes when a corner right side by Glennon pinpointed Baker-Richardson at the front post but his glancing header drifted just wide of the left post which nobody anticipating back post. Bradford persisted with some direct moves using Mellon as an outlet but County protected themselves well squashing the threat. County had a good situations from patterns of play in midfield working low efficient passes to beat the Bradford press. Leigh and Mellon continued to work well in tandem for Bradford up top and a direct move on 17 minutes saw Leigh glance a header into the path of Mellon but his snapshot from 20 yards was well blocked by Clarke. On 19 minutes, Bradford suffered a blow when a quick long ball from deep by County caught them napping when Baker-Richardson fended off a challenge from Shepherd and dragged back when he was goalside. The referee had no option but to issue a straight red when there were no covering defenders. On 20 minutes, Bradford worked a decent situation when a County corner broke down cheaply and a direct ball was latched onto by Mellon. His quick neat pass found Pointon but his shot from the right corner of the box went well wide of the left post. On 22 minutes, Bradford again showed their prowess to break right side with Halliday finding Leigh right side of the box. He cut back a searching low cross into the six yard box inviting Mellon to shoot but Clarke and Baker did well to pressurise and the untidy shot went wide of the left post. Bradford made a tactical change on 25 minutes sacrificing Pointon for a defender Crichlow. Bradford adjusted to a 3–4–2 formation and sat deeper allowing County more of the ball but they sat back with players behind the ball. County enjoyed more possession working the ball thoughtfully from deep with McLoughlin and Antwi getting on the ball but they struggled to find space in wide areas. On 32 minutes, County worked a quicker move from deep with Evans finding McLoughlin who angled a good run right side. He delivered an early cross into the box and Glennon appeared from nowhere with a late run but he could only stab his low effort from 10 yards straight and the keeper Walker saved low down. On 39 minutes, County were close to the opener when a quickly taken corner left side saw Kamwa and McLoughlin combine and the early cross by Kamwa was only half cleared to Baker. He adjusted well but his looping shot from 12 yards crashed against the right post and the rebound was latched onto by Clarke but his shot on the turn under pressure drifted wide of the right post. As half time approached, County worked some better opportunities right side with Thomas getting higher up the pitch but the crosses lacked direction allowing Bradford off the hook. On 45+3 minutes, Bradford won a free kick in a useful position left side of the area which Sarcevic took but his effort from 25 yards went wide of the left post.

County made a change at half time replacing Thomas with Martin as County adjusted to 4–2–3–1 with Martin slotting into a central role with Ajiboye and Kamwa either side and Baker-Richardson lone striker up top. County kept probing away with Martin getting on the ball with some low exchanges but Bradford remained resilient defending their box and looking for gaps on the break. On 52 minutes, a direct move from deep by Bradford saw Baldwin find the run of Mellon edge of the area and he manufactured a shot just inside the box which Townsend claimed well. County retained the ball well and coaxed some free kicks from Bradford in decent positions. On 60 minutes, County had a half chance following a free kick on the right flank. Glennon delivered an excellent cross into the box and Baker-Richardson leapt well but his glancing header from 10 yards went just over the bar. County enjoyed plenty of the ball and kept their patience to work wide areas but struggled to get to the byline with Bradford left wing back Adaramola recovering well and Halliday stifling the threat right side. County made another change on 66 minutes with Geoffroy Bony introduced for Ajiboye. Bony went into the central birth with Martin drifting to wide role on the right flank. The change worked well for a time with Martin coming more into the came more into the game initiating some neat low moves winning some corner right side. On 70 minutes, Glennon delivered a vicious corner right side forcing Bradford keeper Walker into a rushed parry which almost went into his own net. On 73 minutes, Bradford left wing back Adaramola appeared to catch Glennon with a raised arm off the ball but the officials failed to pick the incident up and he was given a talking to. Bradford made another change on 76 minutes to maintain their freshness up front with Mellon replaced by Walker. County kept probing with some switches on play but kept getting drawn back into the centre of the pitch. On 78 minutes, Bony did well to orchestrate a move through the middle peeling off a defender and caress a low pass for Antwi and his well struck low effort from 25 yards well held by Walker. County made a double substitution on 85 minutes with Spellman replacing Kamwa and Jameson going left side of defence for Evans. Bradford responded with Adaramola suffering from cramp and he was replaced by Johnson. On 90 minutes, Bradford worked a quick move left side catching County asleep and Walker got goalside of Clarke but some indecision allowed Baker to recover and make an important clearance. County work some better moves left side in the 7 minutes of injury time and Spellman coming into the game. On 90+2 minutes, Spellman made a strong run from deep forcing Leigh into a clumsy tackle which got him a booking. On 90+4 minutes, County made their final change with Clarke replaced by Patten. County kept pressing with Bradford happy to run down the clock and keeper Leigh was booked on 90+6 minutes for delaying a goal kick. County had a couple of promising moves deep in injury time with Spellman carrying the ball strongly to the byline left side but the final crosses were limp going short allowing Bradford to clear their lines and take a hard earned point.

Townsend (7) — quiet game, had few shots to deal with and safe with his hands and kicked well. When he got ball moving quickly, County were able to work some of the better moves.
Thomas (6) — gone off the boil last two matches. Was reluctant to push on after the sending off and when he did migrate forward crosses lacked were too hopeful. Replaced at half time by:

Martin (7) — started off in the middle but caused more damaged in wide areas with some precise passes and provided a couple of decent crosses on his left foot which deserved better

Glennon (6) — had a good battle with Halliday but didn’t get outside him enough and lost out on some key tackles. Provided some teasing set pieces and corners.

Baker (8) — kept focus and concentration to mop up danger, strong in aerial duals but needs to assert his leap more on set pieces. Made a vital intervention late in game to deny Walker.
C Evans (6) — remained astute defending tackling well and had a lot of touches of the ball inside his own half. Needs to be bolder to make passes wide and link play efficiently
Clarke (7) — kept busy by Mellon from direct moves but coped well fending off challenges and limiting threat. Went close on a couple of set pieces before fading late on and replaced.
McLoughlin (7) — had a good first half, dictated midfield to pick holes and angled runs well right side when invited to provide useful crosses. Had less impact after half time playing deeper.
Antwi (7) — kept passing intricate and neat, working hard box to box but ran into too many dead ends. Needed to assert game more second half but restricted to shots from distance
Kamwa (6) — got into the right positions but needed an early ball which wasn’t always forthcoming. Had opportunities to drive to byline and cross but didn’t get enough shots on goal.
Baker-Richardson (6) — bright first half and did well in 1v1s to retain and link play. Had the best chances on the day and some indecision to delay shot on one chance was a big let off.
Ajiboye (6) — made bright forceful runs first half but poor decision making with ball at feet when pass was on allowed Bradford to recover. Got stifled by Adaramola a lot and replaced early


SWOT ANALYSIS (Bradford City)
Strengths — kept their defensive shape well after sending off to keep County at arms-length. Worked some good moves on the break which never allowed County to relax
Weaknesses — overzealous in several challenges and there was a vulnerability when they got their press wrong with lack of pace to recover quickly.
Opportunities — maintained three centre backs after sending off which gave them assurance. Never really changed tact making like for like changes to maintain shape
Threats — Leigh showed prowess on aerial balls, Mellon link play and eye for a shot. Sarcevic runs box to box and measure passes in behind.

OFFICIALS
A Humphries (7) — Bradford will bemoan about the number of cards they received but he got the balance right and Adaramola was fortunate to escape a card as well


MAN OF THE MATCH
Matt Baker — playing on his less favoured side, he was composed and untroubled throughout mopping danger and made important intervention late in game


IF YOU WERE NELSON JARDIM WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County dominated possession but couldn’t quite unlock a well drilled Bradford defence which has been a bedrock of their performances this season. County found it harder to open them up after the sending off, when they elected to sit in with men behind the ball to absorb pressure and play on the break. Bradford did have their moments flooding players forward but in transition County were too slow to punish them when they could have chosen to attack quickly from restarts or take quick set pieces or throw ins to turn them on their heels. County did do this in spells but they just didn’t do it enough today and it allowed Bradford to recover and the momentum drained. Both wide players Ajiboye and Kamwa were starved of quality supply and made to look poor today with Bradford wing backs Halliday and Adaramola switched on and quick to suffocate them. When games are tight for space County need to work their wide areas slicker which means Cameron Evans and Matt Baker getting the ball away quicker or the midfield asserting patterns of play to build. Baker has deputised well left side but often needs to adjust to his more favoured foot, whilst Evans has the capability to limit his touches and get an earlier ball to feet but lacks belief on times. To their credit, County did break the Bradford press in midfield very well before the sending off (this part of the game will be forgotten) but they need to keep the variety of patterns of play to keep sides thinking. Next up is Cheltenham Town at Rodney Parade next Saturday and a welcome chance of a week to refresh. Cheltenham have switched from 3–5–2 to a 4–2–3–1 formation this season which has coincided in an uplift of their form. Cheltenham full backs give them thrust with Jude-Boyd assertive right side but the key to unlocking them will be variety of short and long passes with Cheltenham centre back Stubbs and Bradbury vulnerable to pace and runs from deep to exploit space between the full backs.