Mid-table Mediocrity

Report from Mark Vickery at Rodney Parade

Newport County 0

Cambridge United 1 (O’Neil 68)

Attendance: 3,336

Form:

Newport County LDDLWWWLLW

Cambridge United LLWLLLLDLW

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Both sides have struggled for goals this season. Cambridge have picked up form since caretaker manager Mark Bonner took over and important County match their work ethic and let quality shine through

CONDITIONS
Cloudy, some bright spells but quite windy. Pitch was erratic and difficult to play football on with confidence.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Indecisive, lacking teeth in the middle, short of creativity and guile final third.

TURNING POINT
Cambridge goal gave them platform to dig in and fight harder.

THE MATCH
County made a few changes from their League trophy win mid-week with goalkeeper Tom King returning to the fold, central defender Ryan Innis and captain Josh Labadie slotting back into central midfield. Jordan Green partnered Jamille Matt up top alongside Robbie Willmott in a 4–3–3 formation with regular full backs Haynes and Baker injured. The early stages were untidy with County looking uncertain how to battle the against the wind and erratic bounce on the pitch. Cambridge settled down quicker with some balls in behind to test the County defence with Adeboyejo prepared to chase a lost cause. County were struggling to find cohesion and were more fruitful picking up bits and pieces when they managed to force Cambridge deeper. On 8 minutes, County seized on a loose pass after a long throw by Demetriou had been half cleared and Green manufactured some space right side area before blasting well wide of the right post. Cambridge were keen to push up high as possible defending giving County little outlet to put pressure on them and were quicker to the tackle with O’Neil and Lewis alert. On 10 minutes, County were awarded a free kick right side after Adeboyejo checked the run of Green. Willmott whipped in a decent ball but the header from Labadie from 12 yards was high and wide of the right post. Cambridge set their stall out to stifle and work balls out wide in transition with Maris keen to support Adeboyejo who County kept at arms-length. On 20 minutes, County were closer from another Willmott free kick right side with Innis glancing wide from 8 yards after a late run into the area. Cambridge remained disciplined breaking up play and were keen to play direct when invited using the win to effect to chase down some lost causes. County were dealt a blow on 25 minutes with Sheehan appearing to fall awkwardly on the surface and he was replaced by Amond who went up top with Willmott dropping back in midfield. County kept probing away with Matt doing his best retain possession and we did bring in other players their were options for County but they didn’t always make the wisest decisions with their passes. On 28 minutes, a better corner left side by Willmott dropped back post and Howkins saw his header from 8 yards saved comfortably in the left corner by Burton. On 32 minutes, Cambridge took a quick throw right side which caught County napping and Knoyle was invited to whip over a quick cross which pinpointed Maris back post but his header was wide of the right post. Cambridge gained some confidence from their sporadic raids forward with County looking increasingly disjoint. County had a better spell on the stroke of half time pinning Cambridge deeper for a time winning a couple of corners. On 45 minutes, County created a sharp move right side of the area with Bennett doing well to combine with Green. Matt carried his run forward to receive a pass from Leadbitter and his snapshot from an acute angle was well saved Burton using his legs.

Cambridge introduced their first change at half time with central defender Taft replacing Darling. County made efforts to pick up their game with more urgency but they continued to lack fluency with the pitch towards the changing room degrading. County won a corner on 50 minutes left side and the out-swinging delivery by Willmott was glanced on by Demetriou towards Green but his effort was rushed and scooped wide of the right post. Another corner on 56 minutes from the left side gave Cambridge problems with Howkins header front post finding Amond in the six yard box. He appeared to be impeded despite making his shot on turn but the referee ignored the penalty calls. Cambridge made an offensive change on 57 minutes with Knibbs replaced by Mullin. On 60 minutes, County were awarded a free kick in decent position on the left flank after Labadie had been checked by Davies. Willmott delivered an excellent cross into the six yard box but despite having men well placed in the area the ball eluded them. Cambridge continued to play directly helping balls on to find the runs of Mullin and Adeboyejo in exchange. County made an attacking change on 65 minutes with Khan coming on to give County more balance left side in place of Leadbitter with County gambling to play 3–4–3. On 67 minutes, Mullin showed quick feet right side to whip in a dangerous low cross from a difficult angle near the wing and Maris directed a header wide of the right post from 8 yards under pressure from Innis. Moments later, Cambridge took the lead when a poor pass in midfield by County allowed Mullin to snap up possession. He was able to carry his run and showed little hesitation in getting a shot in from 25 yards which King could only parried towards Adeboyejo. He missed the chance to shoot first time but set up a neat pass for O’Neil who slotted home from 10 yards with County slow to track back. County made another change on 73 minutes with Abrahams replacing Howkins. County kept pressing with Khan seeing plenty of the ball and providing crosses from wide positions. On 75 minutes, Khan put a teasing cross left side of the area after a County move had appeared to break down but shots in the follow up by Green and Abrahams were blocked. On 80 minutes, Cambridge were close to a second goal when a swift break again exposed County with Maris finding Mullin and he his a decent effort from 30 yards which brushed the left post. Cambridge made another change with Adeboyejo replaced by Dallas up top. Mullin hit another ambitious effort on 85 minutes from distance enjoying some space County were leaving but his low effort bobbed wide of the right post. County flung in several crosses late in the game to test Cambridge and long throws by Demetriou but they remained stubborn to break down being robust in aerial duals. Deep in injury time, County had a glimmer of chance when a free kick left side by Willmott caused some anxiety but Labadie dragged his low effort wide of the right post from 10 yards in the congested penalty area.

King (6) — put under pressure on some back passes, generally kicked well and handled with some distribution to set up counter attacks. Could have done better on the goal parried effort into path of player

Leadbitter (6) — won some good aerial challenges and broke up play but perhaps lacking match sharpness. Did get into some good positions to work crosses before fading.

Demetriou (7) — most composed defender, broke up play and did best to make things late on trying too hard with some overplayed passes. Put in some decent crosses when he overlapped

Bennett (6) — got bogged down a lot firefighting playing very deep on times, won his headers and was combative but struggled to find space and get passes in.

Innis (6) — never really troubled in the air but misplaced too many headers and lacked confidence with ball at his feet. Went close on a couple of set pieces.

Howkins (5) — surprise inclusion today, didn’t look match fit and despite competing well looked a yard short in mind and thought. Got punished for not picking up quick enough on the goal.

Labadie (6) — had arguably the best chances but shots always looked rushed and hopeful. Did well working box to box but was always well marked and got crowded out of it on times.

Sheehan (5) — not sure if he was carrying a knock but saw very few touches in suffocated midfield before he was replaced by:

Amond (6) — did his best to get between man and ball, offered an outlet and some assurance to keep possession and went close a couple of times inside the box.

Willmott (6) — provided several decent set pieces from left flank but crosses were less cutting right side. Did a better job when he went into midfield in deeper role and needs to put in more shots when invited

Green (5) — attacking from deep positions to counter he created threat. Needs to pick his battles better and not stand on last man too much. Had shots in and around box when he should have worked keeper

Matt (5)– was well marked in the air and got pushed outside the box where threat was negated. Got ball prised off him too easily on times waiting for decisions from lenient disinterested referee.

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — they were not pretty but effective doing the basics well and had an appetite to dog out the middle of the pitch. Offered more work ethic than County particularly off the ball and that was key.

Weaknesses — gave away a lot of free kicks, offered little threat until late on when County did leave gaps. A bit one dimensional on times, helping the ball on a lot and showed little care with the ball.

Opportunities — they set their stall out to play outside their own area as much as possible and gamble paid off with County devoid of ideas. Substitutions gave them more momentum final third.
Threats — Adeboyejo was robust and unsettled County defenders, Maris link play and passing. Mullin was busy and had an eye for a shot from distance.

OFFICIALS
L Swabey (6) — lenient but consistent approach and missed or turned a blind eye to a lot of cynical time wasting and standing on the ball to delay

MAN OF THE MATCH

Paul Lewis — had an important role breaking up danger down the middle, nothing pretty but was effective in organising and spraying intelligent passes.

IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

The starting line up didn’t seem balanced today and it was surprising with all the attacking options up their sleeve why they were passive and left on the bench so long. County were missing both the regular full backs so there may have been some thought with the defensive set up but County were far too negative and uninspiring first half allowing Cambridge to gain confidence and push up as an unit. The pitch was not helpful to play low pretty football but County were far too predicable with their patterns of play and easy to bat off today with Cambridge dealing with the long throws and crosses. County need to work on other options if they harbour options of breaking beyond mid-table this season and get back to raising the bar and tempo of their game. At the moment, there is not enough guile and they have stopped passing the ball with chances limited from open play. Khan had a decent game when he came on with County having few left sided options and should be pushing for a place. If County are to persist with four at the back, they may need to be bolder and play three up top to give other sides something to think about. They also have options on the bench to revitalise and maintain three up top so why not use it. Next up is Walsall who will offer a similar dogged challenge to Cambridge not allowing a passing game so County will need to be sharper in body and mind. Walsall will play a five man midfield and squash space with Sinclair snapping at heels in midfield and look for the sucker punch with Adebayo a target in the air and Lavery pace and an eye for shot