Promising changes go to waste

Report from Mark Vickery at Rodney Parade

Newport County 0

Walsall 0

Attendance: 3,049

Form:

Newport County DDLWWWLLWL

Walsall LWWLLWLLLW

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Walsall had a good result to beat Forest Green in last game but not expecting them to open up. County will need patience to break them down and keep resolve at the back

CONDITIONS
Cold and quite blustery wind. Pitch again taken a beating after Storm Ciara and degraded in parts with erratic bounce.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
More positive change of approach, defensively sound but let down poor decisions from opportunities inside area

TURNING POINT
None to note but will look back on several snatched chances.

THE MATCH
County were forced to adjust in midfield with Josh Sheehan injured and moved Robbie Willmott to the bench allowing loan signings Dale Gorman and Otis Khan to make their debuts. County also sacrificed central defender Kyle Howkins with another attacking option introducing another loanee Billy Waters to make his first start. County had a good start winning a corner on the left side which was quickly taken and Khan whipped over a great cross the back post which Innis read but his header was inches wide of the right post. County were forceful with some thoughtful moves to work the flanks but Walsall held firm with former loanee Cameron Pring stifling some strong run by Green right side. Pring showed his pedigree to get forward when County moves broke down right side and County were given a warning on 10 minutes when Pring drove to the byline and tricked his way inside before threading a low dangerous cross which just eluded Gordon and flashed deep to safety. Walsall edged their way into the game with some penetration on the flanks and won some throws ins right side which County dealt well with. County continued to probe away with Khan busy left side and his enterprise on the ball stretched Walsall with right back Norman forced into the corner. County put in some useful crosses left side but Walsall managed the test well with central defender Scarr clearing well. County looked more capable of opening up Walsall from quick balls into the area with some good diagonal passes from left to right which unsettled the defenders. County made efforts to work the right side and get Green on the ball but he was well marked by Pring. However, it did allow some opportunities for Waters to ghost into the area but going for an extra touch allowed Walsall to get a block in. On 25 minutes, County had a good opportunity when a quick pass into the area from the left side by Khan was misjudged by Walsall defender Jules on the edge of the area. Waters stole in and had a chance to shoot first time but he overrun the ball and was forced to a wide acute angle allowing Walsall to intercept the danger. Walsall set their stall out to defend in numbers and pinpoint runs of Avery and Gordon in the final third but they were thwarted by some offside decisions. County were most vulnerable when their set pieces broke down not reading the second or third ball allowing Walsall to break but the defence was able to recover. On 35 minutes, Gordon was booked for Walsall for dissent when contesting a through ball to latch onto. County kept pressing despite not reaching a smooth fluency to their game with Labadie and Gorman picking up bits and pieces well in midfield. On 40 minutes, County worked a decent move right side of the area with some quick feet by Green and Matt and he set up an opportunity for Gorman to shoot from the 20 yards but his effort went well over the bar. County right back Leadbitter was struggling to recover from an earlier challenge and Walsall briefly threatened with his mobility limited but the Gordon and Avery blasted shots well over from distance as half time approached. County were forced into a change in first half injury time with Leadbitter unable to resume and Willmott came on.

County had the benefit of the blustery conditions second half and forced Walsall deeper but were let down by overplaying some early crosses and passes with the ball caught on the wind. County kept pressing right side with Green instrumental in some good moves. On 50 minutes, Gorman did well to supply Green with a quick pass and he cut back inside from a wide position only to drag his low from 16 yards wide of the right post. Then on 52 minutes, a quick kickout by County keeper King caught the Walsall defence flat-footed and Water nipped in to steal possession but his snapshot from 16 yards went wide of the right post. On 55 minutes, County created a good opportunity from a direct move with Matt doing well to glance a header into the patch to find Waters but his effort from 25 yards was wide and high of the right post. Walsall made a change on 55 minutes to firm up their midfield with Sinclair replacing Guthrie. County probing away and a clever move moments later this time on the left flank saw Demetriou header glanced on by Waters to find Khan left corner of the area and his smart low shot was parried around the left post by Roberts. Walsall were struggling to put five passes together with some poor accuracy final third and they made another change on 63 minutes opting for a more direct option as Adebayo replaced Gordon. County responded with Amond replacing Waters to maintain the momentum County had final third. On 67 minutes, County were close again when Gorman clipped a decent cross into the six yard which Amond glanced wide of the left post when he should worked the keeper. County remined most threatening right side with Green penetrating well and putting pressure on Pring. On 73 minutes, Green did well to drive to the right side by line and his deft cross was glanced wide of the left post by Matt when it looked easier to score. Walsall made another like for like change on 75 minutes replacing defender Jules with McDonald and County introduced Abrahams up front in place of Green. County were close to a goal on 82 minutes when they had little time to think about the consequences when Walsall were forced deep and a loose clearance was pounced on by Labadie who blasted an excellent half volley just over the bar from 20 yards. County kept plugging away forcing several corners but Walsall remained robust on aerial duals clearing effectively. On 87 minutes, Willmott was booked for catching McDonald late in challenge and in the altercation that followed Adebayo was also booked. Walsall sat back in the final stages showing little ambition to get forward and Sinclair cleared some of the debris in and around the area. In the second minute of injury time, County threatened from a counter attack with Labadie making a strong run and he had options either side but elected to shoot ambitiously from 30 yards scuffing his effort. The move typified the evening for County often taking the wrong decision when well placed and to add to the frustration Matt headed over the bar from 10 yards after a Khan corner right side.

King (7) — had little to do with no shots from open play. Distributed well with some smart kick outs from deep and kicked well under pressure on difficult surface.

Leadbitter (6) — contributed well under his injury going forward and passed well to link with Green. Was put under some pressure by pace and was replaced by:

Willmott (7) — did a good job deputising at full back and timed his runs well second half offering plenty of energy and enterprise. Competed well and didn’t shirk tackles.

Demetriou (7) — put under some pressure but adjusted well, tackling and cleared effectively, was mobile pushing on to support and provided fair quota of long throws.

Bennett (7) — composed under pressure, won his headers and shifted his passes well. Took good decisions when defending to clear long and pass short.

Innis (6) — dominated the aerial duals, timed his tackles but was a little erratic with some of his passes not taking time to pick a pass. Should have scored today and always a problem on set pieces.

Gorman (7) — worked well in tandem with Labadie. Won some good tackles and grew into the game to make some good link play and crosses second half.

Labadie (7) — broke up loose play well and made some strong runs to penetrate through the lines. With better decision making final third and shooting he can hurt sides more.

Khan (7) — gave much needed outlet left side and crucially better balance to the side. Can get more shots in when invited but worked hard and provided several crosses which deserved better.

Waters (6) — made several intelligent runs, stole in several times when Green was being watched and had some decent chances to shoot when an extra touch lost momentum.

Green (6) — struggled to make an impact first half and moves when he was forced inside fizzled out. Did a lot better second half supplying ammunition but can work on his finishing.

Matt (6)– did some good work closing down off the ball and provided an outlet and caused problems with his hold up play but will be disappointed with a few headers he snatched at which are usually buried

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — coped well under pressure putting their bodies on the line and set their stall out to stifle and deny space.

Weaknesses — tame final third, passing was very poor and were happy to help ball on with little finesse. Wasted time and got away with some of the cynical antics off the ball

Opportunities — made efforts to work the flanks first half but went into their shell after the break playing more direct but became more untidy in possession.
Threats — Lavery manufactured some space and openings. Gordon pace in behind. Pring penetration and crosses final third.

OFFICIALS
B Huxtable (7) — one of his better games at Rodney Parade. Got the key decisions right and managed game well despite leniency on encroaching with throws ins and time wasting.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Otis Khan — decent debut, demanded ball and was creative with ball at his feet. Pinpointed several decent crosses which should have been buried.

IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County introduced some of the January loaning signings and they made a good impact which will no doubt leave the manager scratching his head how they didn’t get at least one goal for their efforts. County put in several decent crosses which had more verve but often they were not alert to the second ball with too many players focussed in one specific area. Walsall then created their main threat in transition when County moves broke down or their own set pieces were squandered. Green was closely monitored but this did allow other players like Waters and Labadie to profit by ghosting into the area and this will be key to working other sides which are disciplined but often static with their defending. County can improve on their decision making final third as too often they took an extra touch when well positioned to shoot and then conversely shot ambitiously from distance when there were options to pass and stretch play further. There was a better balance to the side with Khan left side and Gorman worked well in tandem with Labadie to policy the midfield and take turns to push on. County will not have Khan available for Mansfield away game up next so they will need to solve how they protect and work the left side and do not leave themselves exposed by Mansfield. The hosts have been struggling to perform in front of the fans and despite having plenty of experience they appear to a vulnerability to pace when defending. Maynard has been their main outlet for goals and assists but County will need to marshal the threat in behind from Hamilton and Rose