Indifferent County swatted aside

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: The Peninsula Stadium

Salford City 3 (Hendry 45+1, McAleny 46, Smith 90+5)

Newport County 1 (Charsley 29)

Attendance: 2,394

Match Rating: ***

Form:

Newport County DDLDWWDDWL

Sutton United WDLWWLDLWD

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Salford have plenty of attacking options but less depth defensively. Expecting them to be bold coming forward but they do give opportunities County need to take.

CONDITIONS

Cool, cloudy with little breeze. Firm weathered pitch and bobbly in parts

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Made a fist of the first half but went into shell inviting pressure and too many unforced errors.

TURNING POINT

Salford goal on the stroke of half time gave them big lift.

THE MATCH

County made a change in midfield with Bennett rested to the bench in place of Moriah-Welsh. There was another change up front with Bogle replacing Zanzala who was suffering from an injury sustained last week against Sutton. County retained their 3–5–2 shape with Salford an attacking 4–3–3 formation. The hosts made the more forceful start with some efficient moves right side which set a precedent. Salford worked a shooting opportunity on 3 minutes when some good work left side saw Galbraith latch onto a cross from Barry but his effort from inside the “d” went wide of the left post. Salford kept pressing right side with Bolton lively with pacey runs and they penetrated again on 5 minutes when Bolton cut back a low pass to the front post and Hendry clipped a shot wide of the left post. Moments later Salford switched play cleverly from left to right from a throw in left side. The move again appeared to catch County with them being stretched right side. Bolton delivered an early cross which flashed across the face of the area and left back Touray ghosted in to drill a low shot in the left corner which Day claimed well low down. County eased their way into the game with some moves right side capitalising on space that opened up when Salford moves broke down left side. On 12 minutes, McNeil did well to catch left sided centre back Leak in possession and he picked out the run of Norman right side. From a decent position, Norman supplied a low cross but is was tame and easily cleared by the recovering Salford defence. Salford continued to probe away with some decent moves inside the County half but looked less assured passing in their own and County managed to unsettle with Bogle and McNeil denying space. On 20 minutes, Salford had a warning when County won a free kick right side following some hesitancy clearing left side and Bogle was checked by Touray. From the resultant free kick direct into the area, Farquharson had a shot from 10 yards parried over the bar but the referee awarded a free kick for an innocuous looking foul. County kept pressing the right buttons right side and bold move right side paid dividends on 29 minutes when Farquharson pushed up to link well and slip a low pass right side of the area for Charsley. He directed a low precise shot from 12 yards into the left corner with a precise. County had a good spell after the goal forcing several moves right side in transition and they had a great chance to extend their lead on 36 minutes catching Salford cold with a counter right side. McNeil did well to win the ball ahead of Leak and thread a quick pass left side for Bogle in space. He adjusted and with the keeper committed he clipped a shot wide from 16 yards wide of the right post. Salford upped their effort again and there was another warning for County on 39 minutes when Salford right back overlapped right side. He made the most of the space offered to pinpoint Hendry who ghosted in with a late run between Clarke and Farquarshon but his header from 8 yards was parried over well by Day. Salford appeared to be make a tactical change on 40 minutes with centre back Narty replaced by McAleny who left wing with Salford switching to 3–4–3. County were effective when they were direct with Bogle working some opportunities from some individual runs. On 42 minutes, Bogle was close when he linked well with McNeil across the face of the area. From 25 yards, he manufactured a shot on the turn blasting a low shot in the right corner which Cairns held well. Salford raised the bar as half time approached with Touray and McAleny menacing left side. On 44 minutes, Touray did well to cut back a low cross left side of the area which McAleny anticipated quickest but his low shot from 8 yards was saved well by Day in the left corner. County switched off on in first half injury time after keeping Watt quiet for much of the first half. He was allowed to forge through the middle to pick a gap and chip a ball between Clarke and Farquharson but there was a somewhat fortunate ricochet which fell conveniently for Hendry who buried his volley into the right corner from 8 yards. County then had Moriah-Welsh needlessly in the book on 45+3 minutes when he tangled with Lund.

Salford were boosted by the goal and came out strongly to punish County again on 46 minutes. The move started deep inside the Salford half when McNeil allowed Touray too much space to drive forward and link with McAleny. He was able to slice through the County midfield which parted and play a quick one two with Hendry before skipping past a static County defence a slot into the right corner from inside the “d”. County made efforts to get back on level terms with McNeil this time doing well to aggressively win the ball off Lowe. He slipped a good quick pass to find the run of Charsley left side but his effort from 25 yards went straight at Salford keeper Cairns. Salford remained in control with better possession but County managed to work some better moves left side with Lewis coming into the game but the quality was lacking to trouble Salford. On 55 minutes, a move that typified the lack of teeth left side saw Lewis steal into a decent pass left side of the area linking well with Bogle but his rash effort from an acute went well wide of the right post when he should have worked the keeper. With County lacking threat, Salford upped their temp again pushing men forward to dictate play inside the County half. Salford made another change on 65 minutes to freshen their midfield with Lund sacrificed for Mallan and County introduced Kavanagh for McNeil. Salford made another change moments later with Smith going up top in place of Galbraith. County struggled for cohesion on times despite Kavanagh seeing plenty of the ball left side, there was little cutting edge. Salford were forced into another change on 73 minutes with McAleny pulling up and he was replaced by centre back Vassell. Salford reverted to 3–5–2 to match County with Smith uptop and opted to play more direct in the final stages using Smith as an outlet to buy time with Barry and Lowe wing backs. County had options to use wide areas but their distribution from deep fell well short with accuracy. County made a double substitution on 78 minutes with Wildig on for Charsley and Evans for Baker. Salford turned the screw late on with a couple of decent chances forcing County to defend deeply. On 82 minutes, Salford won a corner right side which was took quickly and Bolton was close blasting just wide and high of the right post and bar. On 86 minutes, County had a warning when a free kick from Watt found Smith who was given too much space but directed a header wide of the left post from 10 yards. There were two late changes for County on 87 minutes with Waite on for Clarke and academy prospect Kai replacing Moriah-Welsh. County pushed three up front and there was some hope with 7 minutes of injury time awarded. Salford continued to assert their game despite the changes and extended their lead on 90+5 minutes when a corner left side was weakly defended by County allowing Smith the freedom to direct his header unchallenged from 10 yards. Despite having Bogle on the line he made a hash of the clearance and the ball squirmed across the line. Salford held on for comfortable win to keep them in the play-offs with County failing to test the Salford keeper all second half.

Day (7) — made some good saves low down, kicked well in general especially under pressure and made a couple of instinctive saves first half to keep County in the game.

Norman (6) — given little respite by Touray and McAleny when he came on and got forced back. Never really got out of his shell and crosses were too floated and comfortable rather than whipped.

Aaron Lewis (5) — Had problems dealing with strong runs by Bolton and got caught between standing off ball watching and getting sucked out of position. Pushed on second half but crosses lacked quality

Farquharson (7) — comfortably the most assured defender and fended off challenges well to clear danger. Carried the best threat to score and set up goal well. Can improve on his distribution.

Demetriou (6) — dealt well with aerial balls and did his best to press up and link play but firefighting left side dealing with overloads. Got more error prone late with some tired clearances

Clarke (6) — made some good interceptions to break up threat timing tackles well, limiting threat from Barry. Got rushed into some untidy clearances late on and never settled.

Moriah-Welsh (6) — played deep and offered some control to keep the ball and pick holes but let down by several poor passes which put County in trouble.

Baker (5) — off colour, stifled well but saw few tackles coming in to win ball and effect game, spent too much of the game running and unable to influence higher up pitch.

Charsley (6) — worked hard on and off the ball and took his goal well but never really push on second half. Had a couple of shots from distance and replaced early.

Bogle (6) — had some spells first half when he got the ball quicker from direct play when he shaped some good moves and got shots in. Disappeared second half and got bogged down in frustration.

McNeill (5) — needs to forget scoring pretty goals and do more off the ball to effect games in league two. When he pressed aggressively and won the ball, County worked some of their better chances.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Salford City)

Strengths — offered plenty of craft final third, pace and power to get up pitch and they were neat knitting moves together. Had flexibility to change shape several times.

Weaknesses — as good as they were going forward they left opportunities in behind. Left sided defended was less convincing with Leak and Touray prone to passing and positional errors.

Opportunities — started with an attacking 4–3–3 and adjusted to all out attack playing 3–4–3 for a time before putting extra defender on and going more direct into Smith late on.

Threats — Barry and Bolton offered verve in wide areas and crosses with conviction. Watt eye for killer pass, McAleny strong runs and eye for a shot.

OFFICIALS

C Breakspear (8) — managed game well, let it game on a difficult pitch and got key decisions right

MAN OF THE MATCH

Luke Bolton (Salford 24) — played with freedom box to box and carried threat with pace and crosses. Dropped deeper to defend for a time second half and limit chances.

IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Despite a difficult playing surface, County can have a little excuse for the poor retention and quality they offered. They were always going to see less of the ball today but needed to take care of it when they had it higher up the pitch, but failed to put five passes together and got more error ridden and sat deeper second half failing to work the keeper. There wasn’t a lot in the game first half and after nicking a decent goal against the run of the play they were on top for a period before half time. It meant staying compact and work opportunities on the break which Salford were happy to manage the risk on and concede. When McNeil and Bogle were prepared to press and close down chances arose, but there was not enough teeth and aggression from front to back today. Salford gambled despite having a defensively stretched squad and it paid off for them. County had the opportunity to match them and play 3–4–3 early in the second half, but made conservative like for like choices which just seemed to be made for change-sake rather than offer anything any different or give Salford a problem. County need to improve on their counter press and transitional play as it looked too hopeful and indecisive. Next up, is the long trek to Grimsby Town on Tuesday. This match looks challenging on paper with Grimsby in good cup form, but they will have both mental and physical tiredness to deal with for 90 minutes. Grimsby are likely to play a 3–4–3 formation with former County player Ryan Taylor a key cog in link play up top and Clifton a forceful outlet left side to put Norman back in his shell. County need to squash the threats and offer enterprise through the middle to work on tired legs.