Powderpuff County seen off by early goal
Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Prenton Park
Tranmere Rovers 1 (Feeney 7)
Newport County 0
Attendance:
Form:
Newport County dDLLWLDLWd
Tranmere Rovers WWWWWLWDWW
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Tranmere have been on decent run up the table but are missing top scorers Vaughan. County need to absorb threat but have nerve to work ageing Tranmere side around to create openings
CONDITIONS
Cool, partly cloudy with light breeze. Pitch broke up a bit late in parts but decent condition overall.
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Lacking cutting edge and teeth. Choked at the few chances and looked devoid of a plan by the end.
TURNING POINT
Opening goal — one goal enough to beat County at present
THE MATCH
County made a couple of changes with captain Josh Labadie returning in place of Anthony Hartigan who was not in the squad. Padraig Amond came up front to partner Nicky Maynard with Dominic Telford on the bench. Both sides made a slow start to the game with County feeling their way in the match with some thoughtful low moves. Tranmere were keen to get former Liverpool midfielder Jake Spearing on the ball and were dynamic making runs when he was allowed to dictate play. County went behind on 7 minutes from a charitable piece of play right side when Farquharson took the extra touch to play in the wrong area and allowed McDonald to pinch the ball. He threaded a quick pass inside to find Woolery who had taken up space unmarked in the middle. With County stretched, the ball was played right side of the area to Feeney who cut back inside a drilled a clinical low shot into the left corner from 18 yards. County offered little reaction to the goal allowing Tranmere to dictate too much of the play through midfield with Spearing and Lewis mopping up quickly. Tranmere were quick to pick up the knocks down edge of the area in both boxes and County were starved of sustain possession. County made efforts to work their wing backs into the game but were too predictably and the laboured build up allowed Tranmere to press up and seize possession. County had a couple of warnings with Feeney and Morris carrying some strong runs forward in transition but the County defence did well to avert the danger. County worked some moves left side on the break with Haynes overlapping but the crosses lacked quality with Tranmere keeper having some comfortable collections. On 22 minutes, County won a free kick right side of the area after a stop start run by Shephard was obstructed by Nugent. Dolan took the free kick but a poor low delivery into the wall allowed Tranmere to clear. Dolan seized on the loose ball and his snapshot from the right corner of the area went wide of the right post. On 26 minutes, County created a more decisive move from deep catching Tranmere out for the first time. Bennett did well to switch play from left to right to find Maynard who had a clear run right side of the area. He delayed getting his effort on goal and when the shot came in Tranmere centre back Clarke made a good recovery to intercept the danger. County gained some confidence from their exchanges final third and another move on 30 minutes this time through the middle when Amond deft flick in behind presented Maynard a chance but he turned the chance to continue his run inexplicably checking back inside and the shot from 20 yards was blocked comfortably. County created a couple of better moves left side with more conviction and Haynes delivered a couple of back post crosses but Amond and Maynard were not on the same wavelength. Tranmere still offered more threat despite less possession and went close again on 35 minutes when McDonald struck an excellent free kick from 25 yards forcing Townsend into a good parry left corner. Tranmere set their stall out to nullify County in the middle wide areas and pickpocket the ball and they threatened again on 38 minutes when Sheehan was caught in possession and the quick pass from left to right by Feeney found Woolery. He angled his run and dragged a decent effort wide of the left post from 16 yards. County kept plugging away left side with moves right side getting blocked off. On 45 minutes, Haynes drove well left side and cut back a square pass to the “d” which invited Labadie to shoot first time but again the effort was blocked by Ray. by Ray. In first half injury time, County had a decent chance when Shephard threaded a decent pass right side of the area which Amond did well to win ahead of McDonald. With Bennett and Maynard supporting the cross into the area was scrambled away after some stout defending by Ray inside the area.
County started the second half more intention to penetrate from wide areas. On 48 minutes, a corner left side by Sheehan was diverted to the back post by Clarke. Amond was well positioned at the back post but his volley was blocked by McDonald. County made efforts to spread the play wide from kick outs but their retention was inconsistent with them struggling in the aerial duals and Tranmere remained a nuisance in transition exploiting a laboured County midfield. On 55 minutes, a quick Tranmere initiated from deep by Spearing saw him spread play well from right to left and McDonald did well to win his header against Shephard to find Woolery. He wasted little time to get a shot in on the turn from 25 yards with the shot going just wide of the left post. County continued to struggle for retention final third with Tranmere limiting their threat from wide positions. County made a double change on 65 minutes to freshen up their front line with Scrimshaw replacing Maynard and Taylor on Amond. Tranmere responded with a defensive change that saw left midfielder Ridehalgh replace Nugent with Tranmere reverting to 4–4–2. On 68 minutes, County won a free kick just inside the Tranmere half which Sheehan lofted into the area. Taylor rose well to direct his header back across the area finding Labadie but his header from 10 yards was timid with Davies untroubled. Tranmere sat back in the last 20 minutes but were prepared to counter attack right side when County moves broke down. On 78 minutes, Demetriou did well to force a move left side overlapping well with conviction. He cut back a decent deep cross pinpointing a very late run by Bennett but his header under pressure drifted wide of the right post from 8 yards. County upped the bar marginally in the last ten minutes forcing Tranmere to defend deeper and Spearing was booked for tangling with Labadie as he threatened to force his way through the middle. County made a double substation soon after with Telford replacing Bennett and Ellison on for Haynes with County adopting 3–4–3 formation. With Dolan slotting into central midfield Sheehan was finally given more licence to push on and effect game final third and was close with a couple of shots in and around the area which were well blocked by Tranmere. County made their fifth and final change on 86 minutes with Gambin on for Dolan and Tranmere replaced Morris up top for Lloyd. County huffed and puffed in the final minutes but struggled to lay a glove on the Tranmere defence who remained focussed and disciplined under pressure despite Lloyd getting an immediate booking. There was a late call for penalty when a cross into the area by County appeared to be handled by McDonald but the referee penalised Taylor for an infringement. Tranmere held on for deserved win to consolidate their challenge for automatic promotion with County drifting out of the top 7.
Townsend (7) — wasn’t overworked but made a couple of important saves to keep County in with a chance. Distributed well out wide, put under pressure with some back passes but got ball safe
Farquharson (6) — won his headers and stifled threat with some good tackles. did well when he didn’t complicate matters but was at fault with the goal playing in the wrong area.
Haynes (5) — lacking confidence in aerial duals, had opportunities first half to get at full back but too indecisive. Crosses were too floated and comfortable for keeper
Demetriou (7) — won some good headers which were not read. Timed tackles well and was purposeful coming from deep to instigate best moves. Did his best to assist with crosses late on.
Shephard (6) — got beaten to ball too easily first half and was closely tracked end up running into too many dead ends. Got further forward later in game but crosses were floated and dealt with
Dolan (6) — did a good job in behind to block and track danger. Less influential with ball at feet and offered more when he went into midfield. Set pieces lacked usual venom.
Labadie (6) — drifted in and out of the game, restricted to some shots from distance but never really got into the box and didn’t pick up enough of the second balls.
Sheehan (5) — made to look poor and wasted playing in deep role. Got turned back into trouble on times and wasn’t on ball enough. Had a few hopeful shots blocked late on.
Bennett (5) — seemed to be playing further up the pitch and made some late runs into area but lacked presence. Did well enough with his passing but did a lot of running without reward.
Maynard (5) — had a couple of presentable chances first half but delayed shooting. Got brushed off the ball too easily on times and passing was nervous and untidy.
Amond (6) — was the best striker on the day and not sure why he was taken off early. Link play was good and got into some decent positions when ball was played early.
SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — after getting early goal, they set their stall out to absorb threat and defenders mopped up in the air. Pressed well as a unit and created some effective moves in transition.
Weaknesses — left gaps through the middle and in wide positions when their pressing faltered but got let off. Ageing side and when County did set a tempo they got coaxed into several fouls.
Opportunities — never really changed tact. Kept breaking up play and getting ball into Woolery as quick as possible. Went more defensive late on happy to contain.
Threats — Woolery had pace and eye for shot from distance. Feeney link play and Spearing effective with cutting passes.
OFFICIALS
B Toner (7) — but lenient with some of the tackles from behind and missed some of the cynical antics. Late penalty claims for County seemed more hopeful than anything.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Jay Spearing — worked tirelessly, mopped up a lot of the danger in front of the defence reading the game well and kept side organised. Best passer by far with effective with ball to feet.
IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
County conceded a sloppy early goal and at the moment one goal is proving to be enough to beat County both home and away. County lacked passion and belief today to turn the game around despite some late disjointed pressure. Tranmere were pretty comfortable dealing with the threat and the difference with the teams was evident early on, in and around the box, with Woolery quick to get a shot but County delaying their efforts on target. County are desperately missing physicality final third to lock down the ball final third went forced to play direct. Tranmere enforced this card very well today blocking out the channels with high press and when County were shifted inside the midfield shirked responsibilities. County also lost possession cheaply several times off throws in with no outlet offered putting themselves into trouble. Sheehan is playing too deep to effect games and Bennett being employed further as an attacking link never really unsettled Tranmere. County made efforts to work play into wider areas second half but both full backs struggled to win aerial duals and with Shephard being blocked out, County needed more from Haynes but he looks short of confidence. Lewis surely deserves an opportunity to impress or can play potentially behind Haynes. Likewise on the opposite flank Shephard could play in front of Farquharson in a more conventional 4–4–2 to give natural width but still compact at the same time. County have become too predictable and were devoid of game plan late on allowing Tranmere to see out the game relatively comfortably. Next up is Colchester United who are in transition at the moment after sacking manager Steve Ball but they did respond well tonight winning 2–1 at home against Carlisle for the first win since early December. They are still in deep trouble near the bottom of the league so County can expect them to be positive playing 3–4–3 formation with former County striker Frank Nouble key outlet to retain possession in transition and Harriot runs box to box.
