Late goal salvages a point

Report from Mark Vickery at Rodney Parade

Newport County 1 (Matt 90+2)

Stevenage 1 (Sonupe 12)

Attendance: 3,556

Form:

Newport County WLWDLLDLLL

Stevenage DLWWdDLdWd

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Stevenage are struggling near the foot of the table and have not won away this season. They have tightened up at the back recently so County need to offer more verve and creativity final third.

CONDITIONS
Sunny spells, cold and keen breeze. Pitch looked a little heavy and more worn in certain areas after recent weather.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Persistent but struggled to sustained momentum, indecisiveness killing County at the moment.

TURNING POINT
Stevenage goal gave them a platform to work from.

THE MATCH
County had concerns over sickness bug in the camp and made a couple of changes from the Bradford match last weekend with Jamille Matt replacing Tristan Abrahams who was on the bench. There was an enforced change with centre back Ryan Iniss ill but it allowed Mickey Demetriou to make a welcome return after breaking his leg in August. The early stages were competitive following a pattern in recent game with the opponents working in tandem to press and shut down any early County moves. Space was at premium and the best County moves came left side when some sharper passes in behind turned Stevenage around. On 8 minutes, County had a good situation on right side when Digby clattered into Sheehan. The free kick by Nurse was delivered well coaxing Stevenage keeper off Farman off his line and he couldn’t hold the ball on the edge of the six yard box. Amond was well positioned but slight delay in shooting allowed Farman to claim at the second attempt. Stevenage persisted with their off the ball work to unsettle County and it paid off handsomely on 12 minutes. Sheehan appeared to have control of the ball but not release the next pass early enough allowed Sonupe to steal the ball and take advantage of a gaping hole down the middle of the pitch. He drove into the area and finished low in the right corner with Townsend going down too soon. County made efforts to get back in the game quickly with Haynes and Nurse working well together left side to manufacture moves deep inside the Stevenage half. On 15 minutes, Nurse did well to provide an early cross from the left side of the area to pick out Amond but his downward header from 10 yards comfortable low down for Farman. Stevenage were forced back and reliant on direct play into Guthrie with able support from Carter and List out wide and Sonupe. On 20 minutes, County did well to squash a Stevenage move right side and break quickly on the left side. Haynes did well to pinpoint Matt and caressed a good ball into the path of Nurse left side of the area. He had time to pick his spot but his curled effort went over right corner of post and bar. County had a couple of decent situations from crosses wide high up the pitch which Stevenage managed to get safe despite looking nervy with their clearances. On 35 minutes, another direct ball by Stevenage caused concern for County allowing Guthrie to peal away from a challenge and his low shot from 25 yars saved well by Townsend in the left corner. On 38 minutes, Demetriou seized upon a loose in the middle and blasted a decent shot just over the bar from 30 yards. Stevenage worked a decent chance on 40 minutes through the industry of Sonupe who brushed off a weak challenge by McNamara left side of the area and his shot on the turn was thrashed wildly over the bar. County utilised the long ball a lot with Matt doing his best under pressure from Nugent and Cuthbert. When County made the ball stick they had options but they remained vulnerable with they lost possession with Lakin picking up possession too easily from deep. Deep in first half injury time, County had another free kick on the right side when McNamara was bowled over by Sonupe tracking back. Dolan put in a decent delivery into the area and despite Cuthbert winning the header, Demetriou was quick to anticipate but the his shot drifted wide of the left post.

County made a couple of changes at half time with O’Brien not recovering from a cut to the head and he was replaced by Scott Bennett. County made another tactical change with Abrahams going up front in place of Dolan in a 4–3–3 formation. County held the ball better for a time in the early stages of the second half winning a couple of free kicks in decent positions which were lacking quality allowing Stevenage build confidence and they remained a threat largely from direct play. With the ball like a hot potato both sides showed little care in possession and the game degraded. Stevenage worked a decent chance on 56 minutes from an efficient move involving a couple of passes and Denton did well to release a pass for Sonupe who had pace to carry his run past McNamara only for his effort to be deflected off Bennett for a corner. County were more effective on the break and a bold move left side on 65 minutes invited Maloney to ghost inside but his effort from 30 yards was rash going well over the bar. County kept plugging away put in a fair quota of crosses but they lacked quality to worry the Stevenage rearguard. County kept pressing but were increasingly vulnerable at the back and Stevenage had decent chance on 73 minutes when some indecision by Maloney allowed Sonupe to pickpocket and his pass outside found List but Demetriou made an excellent recovering tackle to deny him. Stevenage made a change on 76 minutes with Timlin coming on for List. County made their final change on 80 minutes with McNamara replaced by Collins who went right side midfield. On 84 minutes, Sheehan was denied when his snapshot from the right side of the area was parried around the right post by Farman. On 84 minutes, a better low move by County right side of the area saw Abrahams show quick feet to dance past a challenge by Denton and find Sheehan. His tricky run to the byline set up a low cross into the six yard area and Amond was denied by late intervention by Cuthbert. A final change by Stevenage on 86 minutes saw them introduce Mackail-Smith for Sonupe. County forced Stevenage to defend deep in the latter stages with some Haynes and Nurse enterprising on the left flank. County got their reward for persistence in the second minute of injury time with a moment of quality when Nurse provided an excellent cross after carrying his strong run left side of the area. The delivery was inch perfect finding late run of Matt who rose powerfully to head past the keeper from 6 yards. Denton was then booked for a cynical tackle on Collins to deny his run down the right flank. County kept pushing but were forced to accept a point which stopped the rot.

Townsend (5) — couple smart low saves but seemed reluctant on times to distribute quickly from deep out wide. Sat down early on the goal and kicking was erratic under pressure.

Haynes (6) — generally passed well from deep and worked well in tandem with Nurse. Missed out on a few headers reluctant to challenge and wasted a couple of decent crosses when he went to byline.

McNamara (5) — got brushed off far too many challenges cheaply and anxious on several clearances. Saw less of the ball and influence higher up the pitch.

Demetriou (7) — considering he had been out for several months and thrown in, did very well, was tuned in to pace of the game, won his headers and cleared effectively.

O’Brien (6) — timed tackles and comfortable on aerial duals. Did well to sweep up balls in behind for Guthrie before injury ended his game and replaced by:

Bennett (6) — put under some pressure later and had to cover off several moves on the break. Cleared effectively and broke up danger well.

Maloney (5) — did a job in middle and when he had ball at feet he kept passing short and simple. Got brushed off too much challenges especially in the air allowing Stevenage to carry runs forward.

Nurse (7) — busy game and made things happen later in the game, showed his capability again with cross on the goal and best moves went through him taking pressure of Sheehan.

Dolan (6) — produced a lot of sideway passes first half when County had marginally more control of the game, slow reading or picking the second ball and was replaced by:

Abrahams (5) — first fifteen minutes after half time never got going and struggling for confidence presently. Needs to be on the ball and carrying his runs in behind or on the back of the defenders.

Matt (7) — didn’t have a lot of quality inside the box to feed off and got dragged out wide a lot. saw several decisions go against him by referee but kept his discipline well and got much needed goal.

Amond (6) — offered an outlet but asked to drop deep too much and not in areas hurting other sides apart from on set pieces. Should have buried his chance late on.

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — both centre back were strong stamping out the aerial threat and lead side well. They worked hard to protect their lead and did off the ball work well.

Weaknesses — struggled to put five passes together and defenders were less comfortable on the floor being exposed to pace. Lacked cutting edge and one dimensional going into shell late on.

Opportunities — despite lack of height in midfield they outmuscled County on times, but were defensively set up and never really changed their tact
Threats — Sonupe had pace and eye for a goal, Guthrie was direct and decent in the air, Cuthbert and Nugent nuisance on set pieces.

OFFICIALS
C Sarginson (7) — kept game flowing well as best as he could, missed some of the pulling off the ball but got key decisions right.

MAN OF THE MATCH
George Nurse — brilliant cross on goal, gave an outlet left side which forced Stevenage back and his industry was headache shuffling Stevenage rearguard about.

IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County will know they have dropped off their standard in recent weeks and have possibly got themselves into this rut not being able to field a settled side. Most sides are playing the same game to contain and suffocate momentum by County, pressing high and stifling the effect County have out wide with their full backs unable to influence matters. When forced inside, County also looked less comfortable today in possession and possibly lacking physicality. Stevenage won a lot of the first and second ball for an hour and it was only when their intensity to close down and sit back that County really exerted sustained pressure and that was key. Amond dropping deep into midfield is also undermining County allowing sides to push up further to suffocate space. Amond needs to be turning off defenders and getting on the bits and pieces inside the area or at least closer to Matt. Abrahams also had a quiet second half and not really on the ball enough which a concern. County will need to freshen their side in the transfer window because even through they are defensively sound, they are lacking teeth, missing dynamism in the final and can’t rely on crosses or set pieces to get them out of jail. Next up is Morecambe away who are struggling to find form after losing long serving manager Jim Bentley. They will have to adjust after central defender Sutton was sent off today. At the moment, County look lightweight in centre midfield and will need to be more assertive in the middle of the park more putting pressure on central midfield Kenyon to starve the supply to release their front three.