Predictable County brushed aside

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Lamax Stadium

Stevenage 1 (Gilbey 48)

Newport County 0

Attendance: 2,109

Match Rating: ***

Form:

Newport County DLWLLWWWWL

Stevenage WWWdWWWLWW

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Stevenage have been in decent form especially at home. Not expecting a pretty game, County need to be vigilant dealing with direct play and get to the loose ball to turn them around.

CONDITIONS
Cloudy with light rain and light breeze. Pitch in decent condition and quick on top.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Competed well first half but became too precise and easy to read being picked off by hosts second half.

TURNING POINT
Bogle chance just before half time should have been buried and most likely gave Stevenage manager the half time team talk he needed.

THE MATCH
County made a surprise change in defence with Priestley Farquharson replacing Mickey Demetriou who was on the bench. There were two other changes with Thierry Nevers and Nathan Moriah-Welsh sacrificed to the bench in place of Will Evans and Matt Dolan who was captain. The game started at a fast pace with Stevenage busy if not erratic in their approach with the County defence being tested by some direct balls. On 3 minutes, a forceful Stevenage move left side saw Norris react quicker to a loose ball and his run was checked by Norman. From the resultant free kick, Clark whipped in a deep cross towards the right side of the area but the County defence were slow reacting allowing Piergianni to ghost in with an unchallenged header from 10 yards which drifted just wide of the left post. On 6 minutes, Stevenage launched a direct ball left side for Norris who was booked for a needless challenge putting a stray arm across the face of Clarke in an aerial dual. Stevenage adopted a bold 3–4–3 system similar to the one employed by Salford against County last month and their approach play using the wide areas pinned County back in the early stages with Clark left side and Smith on the right. County had some opportunities to exploit space wide of the 18 yard area when Stevenage moves broke down but some stray passes let the hosts off the hook. The ball remained a hot potato in a chaotic opening to the game with Stevenage working wide areas quickly but County worked hard to contain the crosses. Stevenage had former County loanee Alex Gilbey in their ranks and he was influential reading the ball early as the ball ping ponged around the middle of the pitch. County made efforts to pick up their game with Bogle getting more on the ball but cohesion was lacking allowing Stevenage to stifle and turn over the play at will. On 18 minutes, County had a warning when Stevenage switched play well from left to the right corner of the area for Smith to latch onto. He cut inside with Lewis left flat footed and his shot from 10 yards was well intercepted by a late block by Drysdale. Stevenage kept pressing high up and continued to test County with some measured long balls from deep by centre back Sweeney. Stevenage were keen to switch to play from left to right with diagonal passes asking Smith to support and push on but they were nearly caught out by being overzealous on 30 minutes. Lewis found Bennett left side with a low pass down the channel and he slipped a good early pass toward Bogle near the edge of the area. His strong run took him past Vancooten who stumbled and the ball threaded low right side of the area for Waite but he dragged his shot wide of the left post from 10 yards. Stevenage tested County with some direct aerial balls through the middle using Reid as a battering ram but the defence remained focussed marshalling the threat well. Stevenage had another player in the book on 40 minutes when County again exploited space left in behind Smith forcing Roberts to drop back and make a clumsy challenge on Waite. Stevenage were unsettled by the pressure County built and they had a great chance to punish the hosts on 42 minutes. A direct aerial ball into the area by Dolan forced Vancooten into a rushed untidy header under pressure from Evans which Bogle anticipated well. His forceful run deep into the area went unchecked but he could only poke his effort wide of the right post from 8 yards. On the stroke of half time, County had a half chance when a move right side released Evans who roamed inside across the face of the area. He generously turned down the chance to shoot and passed square to Dolan but his shot from 20 yards drifted wide of the left post.

Stevenage reasserted their game quickly after half time with County going back into their shell. Stevenage set a precedence with some direct long ball through the middle which were to become a pattern of the second half with them losing patience to use the midfield. On 48 minutes, it paid an early dividends when a long ball by Vancooten targeted Reid near the edge of the area and Drysdale got coaxed into a challenge and slipped. With nobody tracking the late run to the “d” by Gilbey he scored with a precise finish into the top right corner beyond the grasp of Townsend. Stevenage kept the heat on and were close to second goal on 55 minutes exploiting indecision by County defending their right side. Clark got outside Norman and his cross into the six yard area was headed away by Drysdale but dangerously back towards the penalty spot. Smith had the follow up blocked from 10 yards and Norris then saw his low effort parried away well by Townsend. County flirted with goal moments later when Dolan struck an ambitious effort from 35 yards trying to catch Stevenage goalkeeper Ashby-Hammond off his line but he recovered well to claim easily. There was another yellow card for Stevenage on 57 minutes when Evans drove forward with a strong run exposing Sweeney left side of the area. The resultant free kick in a decent position was squandered by County with a stupid foul inside the area. Stevenage kept pressing with County timidly losing possession. On 60 minutes, a move that typified the porous County midfield saw Bogle lose the ball cheaply left side allowing Smith to pinch the ball. Stevenage switched play from right to left finding Norris in acres of space but his effort from 25 yards fizzed just wide of the left post. Another similar move just moments later saw Reid repeat the exercise strolling down the right side but his effort from 25 yards fizzed past the right post with Townsend under pressure. County made an attacking change soon after Moriah-Welsh replacing Farquharson with County Dolan dropping deeper. Stevenage kept asking questions in a decent spell and were close again on 62 minutes when Smith advanced forward right side leaving Lewis in his tracks. The cross cut back pinpointed Norris but his header from 8 yards was glanced wide of the left post. County made another change on 70 minutes with Evans replaced by Nevers to give some impetus left side. Stevenage were happy to sit deeper to frustrate County who enjoyed some better possession but mainly inside their own half. There was a final throw of the dice by County on 76 minutes with a triple substitution with new loaning signing Hayden Lindley replacing Scott Bennett in central midfield and Adam Lewis came on left side to replace Cameron Norman with Aaron Lewis switching to the right side. There was another change up top with Zimba replacing Bogle. The changes sucked the life out of County with Stevenage stifling play quicker and more effective on the break. On 80 minutes, a County move broke down and Gilbey played a neat pass to Reid who made a zig zag run the middle but his effort from 25 yards was well blocked Clark. Stevenage made a late change on 85 minutes with Taylor replacing Roberts and Rose introduced for Norris as they put an extra man through the middle to see out the game running down the clock holding the ball in corners. County flirted with a late chance in the 5 minutes of injury time when a well worked move right side saw Moriah-Welsh put a ball on the plate for Lewis right side of the box. He cut inside and had options inside with Zimba and Waite nearby but didn’t seem aware blasting his shot well wide of the right post.

Townsend (6) — made a couple of smart saves first half to keep County in the game, but distribution erratic and stood on his line allowing defenders to sit deep and make nervous clearances.

Aaron Lewis (6) — did a reasonable job first half to block out runs by Smith and tackled well but found little headway up the pitch. Put under pressure in some of the aerial duals.

Farquharson (7) — was strong in challenge and won majority of his headers letting little goalside. Did well until fading and defence more brittle after he went off.

Drysdale (5) — made some good blocks to deny but untidy with some simple passes. Made too many mistakes jumping in and needs to learn not head back into danger.

Norman (6) — defended robustly but never really got up the pitch to effect game final third. took the brunt of several late challenges before being replaced.

Clarke (6) — was the most proficient defender in breaking up play and threat and stood up when turned back to make some good clearances under pressure. Went close on couple of set pieces.

Bennett (6) — showed no signs off recent knock, had a decent first half getting to the ball well with some sturdy challenges. Linked some good moves before fading.

Dolan (5) — did alright first half reading game well and competed well but never really got on the ball. Game was littered with too many loose passes and restricted on set pieces.

Waite (5) — lots of energy but little end product snatching at one real chance. Did his best to compete but physically muscled out of too many challenges. Should have been taken off

Bogle (6) — had spells first half carrying threat when ball received early, but shots blocked in and around area. Should have scored on half time but relaxed and allowed ball to pinched too much

Evans (6) — battled away but couldn’t impose himself on game and lacked quality service left side. When he got ball early to feet he was effective but ran into a lot of dead ends

SWOT ANALYSIS (Stevenage)

Strengths — centre backs gave little change and covered wide areas well. offered plenty of energy and drive going forward carving open chances from decent crosses.

Weaknesses — gambled pushing strikers high and when wingers pushed up left gaps in behind which went unpunished. Conceded a few free kicks and got away some crude aerial challenges

Opportunities — started 3–4–3 and made the game untidy which suited them. Went increasingly direct gambling to win drops downs before battening down the hatched late on.

Threats — Norris and Reid were forceful outlet which gave them focus. Gilbey energy box to box and range of passing. Smith provided some decent crosses right side.

OFFICIALS

O Langford (6) — got the key decisions right but allowed much of the persistent fouling and antics off the ball. failed to punish some of the dangerous play with stray arms.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Alex Gilbey — box to box menace in midfield, just had the extra bit of knowhow and guile winning ball early and used it effectively. Took his chance well read the knock down

IF YOU WERE JAMES ROWBERRY WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County were in the game until the final whistle but in truth Stevenage had the measure of them long before that and with better finishing would have been out of sight. County have become a predictable powderpuff outfit and failed to work the Stevenage keeper even when they had chances, they were choked on. Despite a week on the training pitch, County were again undone by a side offering width to drag them about and part the midfield playing 3–4–3 with high press very much in Salford template. After competing well first half, Stevenage ramped up the gears second half going more direct and leaving County floundering still in second gear. The team looked sluggish, went back in their shell second half and it has been mentioned countless times playing both Dolan and Bennett in the same team is counterproductive and now causing impairments. County also made poor use of their substitutes today and taking off both Bogle and Norman was particularly odd choices. It is evident that 3–5–2 has not worked very well this season and the side still lacks balance with Lewis not a natural left back. County may need to revert to 4–3–3 or 4–2–3–1 to give opponents something to think about. They have plenty of attacking options so why not use them? They could utilise three up top or just play Bogle or Zimba up front but the key is offering more energy in behind which will allow Bennett or Dolan sitting alongside a ball player such as Wildig or Bowen. Next up is Barrow at home who continue to surprise sides with their boldness to attack sides in transition playing 4–3–3 with Gordon key cog changing his role to play more through the middle. County need to block the middle with 2 holding players and get their full backs to be more aggressive higher up the pitch.