Gift wrapped goals need to stop
Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Rodney Parade
Newport County 0
Chesterfield 3 (Markanday 1, Grigg 84, 87)
Attendance: 4,570
Match Rating: ***
Form:
Newport County WLLLWLWWLL
Chesterfield DLWWLDWDDD
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Despite Chesterfield missing some key players they have plenty of strength in depth to cope. County need to get at their full backs to force them deep, but stay vigilant to pace and mobility Chesterfield possess.
CONDITIONS
Mild, partly cloudy with keen wind. Pitch in decent condition and quick on top.
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Gifted the charitable early goal and should have equalised before late implosion.
TURNING POINT
Hudlin shot against the left post
THE MATCH
County made a couple of changes following the narrow defeat at Harrogate last weekend with Antwi coming in for Mawene in central midfield and Hudlin sacrificed for Antwi up front. Chesterfield had the benefit of the wind first half and made the use of it inside the first minute hooking a hopeful forward which Madden was alert to glancing a header in behind. The ball looked to be running back to Townsend but with no call forthcoming some confusion saw Jameson get dragged across to cover and collide with Townsend allowing Markanday the simple task to finish into an open goal from just inside the box. County went quickly back on the offensive with some snappy low moves and Oldaker was booked for Chesterfield on 3 minutes for delaying a quick free kick. County were keen to use their left side with Kamwa seeing plenty of the ball but some bad decision making saw him force shots and crosses were wayward allowing Chesterfield off the hook. The game settled into a pattern with County the more thoughtful side and probing gaps and Chesterfield looking to help the ball in behind and turn County around but they overplayed several passes using the wind. County created more threat right side with Kieran Evans and Brennan making some neat combinations near the touchline. On 8 minutes, Evans was caught late by Chesterfield left back Gordon. County worked a clever short free with Glennon cutting a square pass to Morris but his crisp effort from 25 yards was deflected wide of the left post. Chesterfield countered with some forceful moves right side involving Dobra and right back Mandeville pushing up high. On 18 minutes, Chesterfield were close when Mandeville and Colclough linked right side and threaded a low pass for Metcalfe right corner of the area and his snapshot from an acute angle fizzed just wide of the right post and bar. Chesterfield were keen to push up and deny space but County kept their composure well to work some good low moves and beat their press but the quality with the final ball was lacking. County enjoyed some decent possession through the middle of the pitch and had some opportunities to use their left side with switches of play but some delay with ball final third allowed Chesterfield to recover. The game became scrappy as half time approached but County did work a half chance on 38 minutes when a move left side saw Kamwa angle his run well and cut back a useful pass across the face of the area to Antwi. He caressed a pass to Kieran Evans who span with a neat shot on the turn from inside the “d” but the low shot in the left corner was comfortable for Thompson. County then had Antwi booked somewhat harshly on 40 minutes for clipping the legs of Markanday deep inside the Chesterfield half. On 43 minutes, County flirted with goal following another bright move right side and Mamwa had a low shot from the edge of the area blocked. With County forcing several moves and losing possession cheaply Chesterfield saw out the rest of the half comfortably keeping County at arm length with centre back Wiliams and Araujo unphased.
County made an early change at half time with Antwi replaced by Whitmore. On 48 minutes, County had Wildig booked following a collision with Metcalfe as he was tracking back to defend deep inside the County half. Chesterfield were keen to get on the front foot with some strong runs with Markanday and Dobra and County were forced back in the early stages. Chesterfield were rewarded with some corners from their pressure which County dealt with well but they struggled for cohesion with Baker-Richardson too isolated. On 56 minutes, County created a better from deep breaking quick from the edge of their own area with Kamwa making a strong run left side. He set up Whitmore who made a mazy run near the edge of the area and coaxed Araujo into a clumsy tackle which got him a booking. From the resulting free kick Morris whipped in a decent delivery but it went straight at the keeper Thompson. County made a double substitution on the hour with Mawene replacing Kieron Evans and Hudlin came on for Wildig. County adjusted to 4–4–1–1 to match Chesterfield with Kamwa switching to right wing and Mawene left side with Hudlin just behind Baker-Richardson. The change settled County into a better more progressive spell of pressure which should have yielded a goal. On 63 minutes, County were close when a direct move saw Hudlin and Baker-Richardson combine to unsettle the Chesterfield defence and find Mawene left side. He did well to cut back a decent cross near the byline which Baker-Richardson appeared to misjudge and at the back Hudlin saw his snapshot from just inside six yard box blocked. Chesterfield responded with a change on 66 minutes with Mandeville replaced by Campbell and Colclough sacrificed for Jacobs. County keep pressing the right buttons lifting the bar with more energy but were dealt a blow on 68 minutes with Mawene pulling up just as he was starting to impact the game and he was replaced by Spellman. Chesterfield then made another change on 70 minutes with Grigg coming up front for Madden. County kept pressing winning some corners which Chesterfield were not to convincing on and they managed to scramble the ball away to safety. On 72 minutes, there was a moment of controversy following a corner left side by Glennon a cross was swung back in and Chesterfield goalkeeper Thompson appeared to carry the ball over the line in left corner and the linesman had good vision but the goal was not given. On 74 minutes, County were close to equalising when a piece of individual skill by Hudlin right corner of the area saw him attempt an cross come shot which flashed deep and crashed against the left post but the rebound eluded County. Moments later, Chesterfield made another change with Banks coming on for Dobra and Grimes going centre back in place of Williams. On 80 minutes, County won a free kick right side of the area which Glennon took pinpointing Hudlin and he glanced on to the back post but Spellman couldn’t quite find the killer touch heading into the setting netting from an acute angle. Chesterfield got the breathing space of second goal on 85 minutes when they broke right side exploiting space left by Glennon and with no cover the cross from Banks into the six yard was poked home by Grigg winning the race ahead of Clarke. County made efforts to respond with some direct hopeful moves but allowed Chesterfield the comfort of a third goal on 87 minutes which should really have been extinguished. Banks again was allowed maraud in behind with a run right side of the area untracked. This time the low cross towards Grigg invited space with Jameson being brushed off the ball meekly and the shot was clipped over Townsend from 10 yards. Despite 7 minutes of injury time County did little to trouble Chesterfield with the best they could muster on 90 minutes when Kamwa hit a long range shot from 40 yards to chip Thompson who was off his line but the shot dropped wide of the right post. Chesterfield were untroubled with Grimes stifling direct hopeful balls to Hudlin and they gained their first win in Newport since 1969.
Townsend (6) — at fault with this first goal not asserting responsibility to clear. Struggled with some untidy kicks left side into the wind and little to do other than get the ball out of the net.
Brennan (6) — did a job at right back but struggled to deal with pace on times allowing Colclough space to turn off him cheaply. Did better coming forward to link play and passed well.
Clarke (6) — coped well in the aerial duals with Madden and stifled quickly to limit space. Got exposed late on with side pushing on and could have done better on the second goal.
Glennon (6) — quiet game, never got going, some sporadic crosses but lacked bite. Had a better spell after half time but continues to struggle at full back. Too brittle and lacks awareness marking
Jameson (5) — at fault with first goal and never needed to come across to clear. Let down by poor communication and lack of confidence evident. Got span off the ball again too cheaply on third goal.
Morris (6) — struggled to get a foothold in game and prompt play. Did his best to support and build play but never really impacted final third and restricted on shots.
K Evans (5) — had best moments first half breaking press in behind but didn’t do enough to unsettle the left back, got brushed off too many key challenges and replaced early.
Wildig (6) — got bogged down into firefighting duals other players should have been covering and ended up with booking. Made some intelligent runs first half through middle but didn’t get the ball
Antwi (5) — becoming a liability getting wrong side of player and not tracking danger and picked up stupid booking. Did his best work offering quick feet to pass in around the box but replaced early
Kamwa (5) — should have been replaced, struggled first half and decision making was poor with shots and crosses. Did better countering from deep but struggled to impact when he switched to right
Baker-Richardson (6) — quiet game, stifled by centre backs, link play was tidy but lacked usual energy and needs to get more shots on goal. Missed decent chance at the front post but did air shot.
SWOT ANALYSIS (Chesterfield)
Strengths — didn’t have to do a lot after getting charitable early goal. Centre backs monitored threat well and offered good combinations in the middle and attacking thirds with pace and conviction.
Weaknesses — both full backs were ordinary when pressed and more assertive sides would punish. Team lacked height and they struggled on some set pieces County had scrambling ball to safety.
Opportunities — played 4–2–3–1 and relied on pushing up aggressively to limit space County play in making midfield untidy. Late changes attacked right side lapses and space invited by County.
Threats — Markanday and Colclough offered pace and verve with runs in behind. Mandeville combined well right side to provide crosses. Grigg offered prowess to finish inside six yard box
OFFICIALS
T Parsons (6) — lenient but generally consistent. Interpreted that there was no infringement when Chesterfield keeper Thompson carried ball over the line so decision was mystifying.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Darren Oldaker (Chesterfield 8) — sat deep and controlled tempo prompting some good moves with efficiency of passes and covered danger well
IF YOU WERE NELSON JARDIM WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Despite not deserving anything from this game, between the boxes County were a match for Chesterfield and the score should really have been closer. However, the impairments in defence continue to haunt County with Jameson still unconvincing in 1 v 1 duals and Glennon struggling as a natural full back with his marking and overall physicality. Sides will continue to haunt County attacking right side whilst they persist with a four man defence shifting balls in behind. Chesterfield did this at will first half helping balls on lofting them high on the wind and County need to up their aggression to win the first contacts. County have persisted with two centre backs to give them more impetus and balance in midfield, but for much of the first half they sat back and allowed Chesterfield to control the tempo of the game so it begs the question what’s the point? County need to play to their strengths with three centre backs (Baker/Clarke/Brennan first choice) and employ wing backs. This will suit the likes of Glennon and potentially allow Cameron Evans to return to the side as it is questionable why he is not being played at the moment and Brennan does not appear to be a natural full back. With the frailties of the system (as it stands), County are going to need to score three goals to win games. Chesterfield were also able to wriggle their way out of too many challenges when County switched off allowing them space to turn off their man. This happened several times in midfield first half and later in the game Grigg was able to shrug off weak challenges to manufacture space higher up the pitch. Despite this, there were positives in this match as County were knocking on the door for an equaliser and the changes made after half time were positive. County need to cut out the charity and give themselves a chance as when they have been ahead in games they have generally won their games and been hard to overcome when sides are chasing down a deficit. Next up is Gillingham away this Tuesday. Gillingham have narrowly lost their last four games and are likely to employ a 4–2–3–1 formation with Hawkins a target man up front with reliance on full backs Hutton and Clark to push high and suffocate space with them lacking pace top end of the pitch. County need to stand up to direct play and use their intelligence to work the ball quicker and more efficiently final third which can turn Gillingham around.
