Plenty of grit, but quality missing when needed

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: County Ground

Swindon Town 2 (Kemp 8 Hepburn-Murphy 82)

Newport County 0

Attendance: 9,628

Match Rating: ***

Form:

Newport County WLDLDLLWLW

Swindon Town LWdWWDWLLL

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Both sides have injuries to contend with. County are missing the influence of Wildig in midfield, so key they take care of the ball and work the ball efficiently final third.

CONDITIONS

Bright sunny spells, cool and breezy. Pitch in excellent condition.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Matched Swindon toe to toe first half but game drifted away as did the quality with the ball.

TURNING POINT

County chances spurned before half time

THE MATCH

County elected to play the same back four that won at Cheltenham mid-week in the EFL Trophy with McCloughlin coming in for Bondswell at left back. County were missing Wildig after a knock to the head in the Cheltenham game and he was replaced by Matt Baker making his first league appearance this season. There another change in midfield with Nathan Wood making his first start of the season with Waite sacrificed to the bench. County also changed their keeper with Maxwell making his first appearance in place of Townsend who was on the bench. County reverted to 4–2–3–1 formation with Bogle up-top with Wood and Evans on the flanks and Morris just in behind. County started with purpose with their full backs advancing into some good positions. On 2 minutes, Swindon were given a warning when a neat low move right side by County released Payne and his early cross caused problems for the Swindon clearing effectively. Bennett anticipated well but as the ball sat up, his shot left side of the area scooped wide of the right post. Swindon chanced their arm with some direct aerial balls to test County with Seberry kept busy by Austin. County were caught cold on 8 minutes losing ball cheaply right side in a decent position. Blake-Tracey won the ball and a long ball left side which Austin won ahead of Seberry. Kemp was alert to pick up the ball down the right side of the area and with Maxwell committed off his line he was beaten to the ball and Kemp slotted into the empty net from an acute angle. County made efforts to pick up their game with Bogle and Evans working hard to retain the ball and on the end of the some meaty challenges which went unpunished. On 12 minutes, Evans appeared to be kicked from behind by Godwin-Malife just inside the left side of the area but the referee ignored the protests and Evans received treatment which he recovered from. Swindon remained direct and hopeful with some of their passes and County began to build some momentum with some penetration left side getting Wood on the ball but the crosses were limp. On 18 minutes, County had another good situation when Morris linked well with Wood left corner of the box but some delay with getting in an early shot or cross allowed Swindon to recover. Swindon were more effective on the break working wide areas with wing backs Hutton forceful right and Shade left side. On 22 minutes, Shade was allowed room to cut inside left corner and dink over a cross into the area which was only half cleared but Austin could only hook over the bar from the edge of the area. On 25 minutes, County worked a presentable chance with a low move through the middle with Evans showing good vision to pick out the run of Bogle. He drove forward and blasted a decent effort from 25 yards which forced Mahoney to tip over the bar. From the resulting corner right side, Morris delivered a decent cross to front post which Delaney met well in the air but glanced narrowly over from 8 yards. Swindon worked a good move from deep on 29 minutes with centre back Brewitt allowed to carry the ball from deep unchallenged. He found Kemp down the left side and his quick through ball released Young who dribbled goalside of Seberry and advance into the area but his effort was pushed around the right post well by the fingertips of Maxted. From the corner right side by Hutton, Austin was given too much space at the front post but his glancing header from 8 yards was tipped over well by Maxted. County kept pressing the right buttons as half time approached. Evans continued to receive treatment for his injury and struggled for movement on times but was able to continue. County forced Swindon to defend deeper for a time with some better possession and efficiency with their passing. On 36 minutes, Bogle did well to win a free kick on the edge of the box coaxing Brewitt into a clumsy challenge which got him a booking. Bogle took the free kick but his effort fizzed just over the bar when he should have worked the keeper. County had two decent chances to punish Swindon deep in first half injury time. On 45+2 minutes, a move left side involving Wood and Payne saw the ball flighted back post invitingly for Delaney but his header under pressure went straight at the keeper. Then on 45+5 minutes, a low patient County move saw Morris slip a neat pass to Bogle who turned away from Brewitt and with the goal opening up his low shot from 16 yards lacked power and Mahoney made a comfortable save in the right corner.

County were forced into a change at half time with Evan unable to continue and he was replaced by Rai. On 48 minutes, County were given a warning when they were slow to close down a quick Swindon move right side. Godwin-Malife left Wood standing and he found Kemp who slipped a pass inside for McEachran but his snapshot was blocked well by Delaney. Swindon set their stall out to absorb and stifle County pressure and counter from deep with Hutton and Shade offering pace. On 52 minutes, Swindon won a corner from side following a slick break and Hutton picked out Young who glanced his header from 10 yard high and wide of the left post and bar. On 55 minutes, McEachran was again causing problems when his run though the middle was left untracked and his pass found Austin who had a shot on the turn from 16 yards well blocked by Seberry. County made an early change on 58 minutes with double substitution replacing Baker with Bondswell and Thomas coming on for Wood. Bondswell went to his natural left side in the front three behind Bogle with Morris dropper deeper alongside Bennett and Thomas going right side and Rai through the middle. County had a decent chance on 60 minutes when Brewitt roamed forward to set up a move but County pinched the ball well. Payne delivered a decent cross into the area picking up Rai in the vacant space through the middle but he scuffed his shot on the turn from 12 yards. Swindon responded with a like for like change soon after with Hepburn-Murphy coming on for Young. County struggled for cohesion on times with passing errors creeping into their game. On 70 minutes, Morris lost the ball cheaply allowing Swindon to counter from deep with a move left side getting Khan on the ball. He released Shade left side of the area but his low effort fizzed wide of the left post into the side netting. County made another change on 75 minutes with Drysdale coming on for McCloughlin. County switched to a 3–4–3 formation with Rai, Thomas and Bogle uptop. On 78 minutes, County squandered a decent opportunity when they worked some space through the middle with Bondswell finding Morris. He had a chance to shoot first time but delayed and the effort from 20 yards was blocked. Hepburn-Murphy gobbled up the loose ball and recycled quickly into the path of Khan right side. He forced his way into the area but his low shot from an acute angle was smothered well by Maxted. Swindon made another change on 80 minutes in central midfield with Kinsella coming on for McEachran. Swindon continued to pick candy with County poor in retention in the final third and there was another break on 81 minutes right side with Shade slipping a quick pass for Khan to latch onto an his low shot clipped the right post. Swindon added a second goal moments later from a move left side with County inviting space for the cross into the area. County failed to clear and Hepburn-Murphy smashed a volley from 10 yards past Maxted. County huffed and puffed in remaining minutes with Thomas offering an outlet right side and pace in behind. On 90+2 minutes, a move right side saw Payne play a good pass right side for Thomas who cut back an early cross to the edge of the box which Rai anticipated well but his crisp low volley was parried around the right post by Mahoney. Swindon made a couple of late changes to run down the clock with Obodo and Clayton coming on for Austin and Shade. County had another reasonable chance on 90+5 minutes when Bondswell showed a yard of pace to beat Hutton and cross low into the six yard box but Thomas could only get his boot on the ball back post and the effort drifted wide of the right post.

Maxted (6) — got coaxed off his line on opening goal and punished in no mans land. Made up for it making some smart saves keep County in the game. Distribution was wayward on times.

McCloughlin (6) — did a job deputising a left back and generally defended well getting tight. Struggled to make impact higher up pitch with cross on weaker foot not finding its range.

Payne (7) — limited scope Swindon offered left side and cleared well under pressure. Showed capability with crosses and supported well contributing to some good moves right side late on.

Seberry (6) — lapse early on allowed ball to drop in behind that lead the goal. Adapted well and grew into game switched on well to direct moves and made some good interventions.

Delaney (6) — won the aerial duals but switched off a couple of times with lax marking. Had a couple of decent chances from set pieces and was pushed up front later in the game

Morris (5) — had a decent first half in more advanced role and worked hard to link play. Had opportunities to shoot several times but delayed. Passing was erratic second half and lost too many key tackles

Bennett (5) — was a fault in the lead up to the opening goal losing possession cheaply. Squandered some chances to shoot in and around the area and lost too many battles with McEachran second half.

Wood (5) — had opportunities to attack but crossing lacked venom. checked back too many times looking for extra touch and got bullied off several challenges by Godwin-Malife. Replaced early

Baker (6) — did a decent job despite looking short of match fitness, intercepted well in front of the defence but needed to get ball moving sharper. was missed when he replaced early.

Evans (5) — took a few knocks which took the steam out of his game. Did a lot of running but end product and crosses were weak. Had one chance inside box but lost possession. Replaced half time.

Bogle (6) — had a decent first half, manufactured some space and looked menacing when he got on the front-foot but shots were disappointing. Faded second half and offered little threat.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Swindon Town)

Strengths — centre backs gave little change and offered assurance for other to push on. Worked some good low combinations of play second half and had pace in abundance.

Weaknesses — offered some gaps through the middle when centre backs roamed. Hutton was decent going forward but positionally poor and chances for County to break left side were blunt

Opportunities — they were largely direct first half pinging high balls but offered more patience to get the ball down and play second half which asserted more control of the game.

Threats — Young pace in behind, Kemp eye for a pass and shot from distance. Shade and Hutton pace and crosses. McEachran key cog to link moves through the middle.

OFFICIALS

D Rock (7) — let a lot go and some of the tackles first half that were clumsy were not picked up but generally consistent.

MAN OF THE MATCH

George McEachran — didn’t do anything glamorous but stitched several moves together and was always in position second half. Was always a problem and County struggled to pick his intelligent runs up

IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

The defence played relatively well today and had to recover several times, often after self-inflicted poor decision making in midfield by County which allowed Swindon to counter. However, the long balls pinged in behind which had caused some problems for County against Harrogate were managed well due to better alertness. After a decent first half when County should have got back on level terms they became more indecisive second half and passing errors crept in their game. When they had the nerve to vice grip the ball, they were effective but lacked strength and aggression in key moments with the quality on crosses and set pieces lacking with Wildig missing. County had several corners which were underplayed and they need to improve their delivery and variety. Next up is Walsall this Friday evening at Rodney Parade. Walsall have been struggling for consistency but did respond with a good home win over Gillingham today. They are likely to play 4–5–1 formation with former County striker Jamille Matt an aerial focus but County need to pick up the able runners with Hutchinson and Tierney eager to support. Walsall do have some vulnerability at the back through the middle with former County defender Farquharson injured and do gamble getting men forward in support so key County punish them when their moves breakdown.