Quality missing in difficult conditions
Report from Mark Vickery at The Abbey Stadium
Cambridge United 0
Newport County 0
Attendance: 3,949
Form:
Newport County D
Cambridge United d
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Cambridge scrapped out a decent draw at Bradford in their opening game. County will need to master strong wind and get the ball down final third.
CONDITIONS
Bright spells but very windy, often swirling making ball difficult to read. Pitch in excellent condition.
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Marginally the better chances but didn’t really use the wind effectively first half and struggled to settle
TURNING POINT
None to note.
THE MATCH
County retained the same starting side and their preferred 4–4–2 formation and made the early running using the strong wind blowing from left to right corner. On 5 minutes, County had a throw in deep inside the Cambridge half on the right side of the area which Demetriou launched into the wind and Matt anticipated under pressure at the front post but Taft did enough to disrupt the effort to go wide of the right post. County kept plugging away and created a decent opportunity on 7 minutes from an efficient move left side involving Haynes. He pinpointed Amond with a neat threaded pass wide of the box and his shot from an acute went into the side netting. County continued to probe away with a more patient move on 10 minutes switching play well from left to right when Haynes cut back seized upon by Labadie on the edge of the area. He caressed a clever ball back into the path of Sheehan right side but his effort was thrashed wide and high of the right post. Cambridge were struggling to find any cohesion in the early stages with their best outlet out wide with Hannant eager for the ball on the left flank and Lambe busy on the right side. On 12 minutes, County had another decent chance from a corner right side which Dolan delivered well and the loose clearance was anticipated well by Willmott edge of the area but his snapshot was deflected over by Maris with an important intervention. Cambridge set their stall out to play with more conviction on the break with Hannant coming into the game. On 15 minutes, Cambridge were quicker to the loose ball in the middle of the park and slip a quick pass to the right channel. Hannant showed quick feet to release left back Jones who skipped down the channel and coaxed McNamara into a late challenge which got him an early yellow card. Cambridge gained some confidence from their snappy moves on the break and sensed a way of breaking down County with Hannant put in some testing crosses at the earliest opportunity. County remained patient in their approach play which Cambridge were able to contain with centre backs Taft and Taylor quick to suffocate and clear the danger. County were more effective when they shifted the ball quicker to feet and carved out a good situation on 20 minutes with Labadie doing well to link with Sheehan but his swerving shot from 25 yards went wide of the right post and bar. Cambridge kept looking for opportunities to exploit County with Ibhere and Smith working hard across the line and they went close on 22 minutes when Smith shielded the ball well under pressure to find Hannant. He adjusted well to direct a first time shot from 25 yards which was deflected by Hawkins but the ball flashed dangerously wide of the left post. Cambridge persisted with some hopefuls passes in behind against the wind but were thwarted by some offside calls against Smith and Maris. County remained the more penetrative side and had decent chance on 30 minutes from a bright move right side with McNamara releasing Willmott in the corner. He directed a decent low cross to the edge of the box which Labadie drove onto but his low shot was just wide of the left post. As half time approached, County had a couple of decent opportunities from set pieces deep inside the Cambridge half. On 40 minutes, McNamara did well to read the loose ball and his run was cut short by Hannant on the right flank. Dolan delivered a decent ball back post into a swirling wind and the ball which Cambridge were unable to cleat but County had nobody alert to capitalise. On the stroke of half time, Cambridge right back Knoyle appeared injure his wrist in a challenge with Haynes and had to be replaced by Davies who deposited. County had a series of corners in first half injury time with Cambridge struggling to clear their lines but they were unable to work the keeper.
Cambridge made the early running in the second half pushing their full backs higher up the pitch. On 50 minutes, Cambridge created a decent low move with Hannant providing a neat ball for Jones to overlap on. His low cross from the left corner was claimed well by County keeper King who showed safe hands with Smith lurking. Moments later, County responded with a move to counter on their right side with Willmott dinking a clever ball in behind which Matt chased down just inside box. His strong run took him goalside of Taft who was clumsy clambering over him in challenge but the referee ignored an honest looking appeal for a penalty. County were close again on 53 minutes, when a bright snappy move on the left side saw Haynes make a purposeful run outside Davies. He delivered a decent cross into front post which Labadie ghosted in to head towards the right top corner from 6 yards but Cambridge keeper Mitov saved well. Cambridge offered energy in the final third with Maris and Hannant effective with the ball at their feet. On 58 minutes, a move between the pair offered Hannant a chance to shoot from 25 yards but the swerving effort was parried well by the alert King. County made a change on 62 minutes to freshen their approach with Abrahams coming on up front in place of Dolan with 4–3–3 being employed. County picked up their efforts with some more alertness in the middle and Lewis was booked for tangling with Labadie as he was roamed dangerously left side. Cambridge made a double substitution on 70 minutes with Richards replacing Ibehre and Dallas on for Smith in a like for like change. County continued to pick holes well with some measured passes and went close again on 72 minutes when McNamara pinpointed the run in behind right side of the area by Amond. He showed good awareness to pick out the late run of Haynes back post who went for placement stabbing a low shot from 10 yards which Mitov read well in the left corner. County kept plugging away and another decent move on 76 minutes this time from the left side saw Matt do well to shield off a challenge and release the run of Abrahams just inside the area. His cross was scooped across the area and Amond anticipated with late run but unable to keep his effort down from 10 yards. County made a change soon after with Amond replaced by Bennett. Cambridge remained thoughtful in possession and a bright move across the face of the area on 80 minutes, invited Maris to shoot but his effort was dragged wide of the left post. County had a glimmer of chance on 82 minutes when they broke from deep and the switch from left to right invited McNamara to shoot on the corner of the box but the rising effort went over the bar. On 87 minutes, County did well to steal possession on the left side and Labadie drove deep to the left side of the area and his cross was only half cleared. Demetriou did well to anticipate and blasted a great effort from 25 yards but Mitov made an excellent save to beat the ball away and the loose ball was hooked away to safety. Cambridge responded with a move from deep on 90 minutes with Maris stinging the hands of King with a low shot into the right corner. County kept plugging away and had an opportunity in final third minute of injury time when Labadie was fouled on the left corner of the area. Willmott took the free kick but his tame effort summed up the day going well over the bar when he should have worked the keeper.
King (7) — kicked well and distributed effectively with some quick releases. Showed safe hands to claim low crosses put in second half and got ball safe when he had to clearing.
McNamara (6) — given a testing time by Hannant but coped well after early booking. Came into game more second half and accurate with his distribution but often reserved to defend.
Haynes (7) — gave little change in behind defending well to clear his lines. Instigated several good moves after the break and when he was decisive his crosses were decent.
Hawkins (7) — did well in the air and more disciplined today giving away fewer fouls. did better today shifting ball quicker from under his feet and cleared effectively.
Demetriou (7) — timed headers well in the conditions and decision making was good. Swept up danger in behind and despite long throws not being so accurate his late shot went close to winning game.
Labadie (8) — saw ball early and was robust winning his fair quota of challenges. Kept driving side on, going close several times inside the box and often turned provider with effective runs out wide
Dolan (6) — never really allowed to settle and sustain grip on the game. Needs to get more shots in and be bolder and despite some decent set pieces in the conditions faded early in second half
Willmott (7) — didn’t see so much attacking threat but did a lot of good work to protect and work back to defend. Came more into the game late on when Amond dropped deeper and provide crosses.
Sheehan (7) — had several shots first half from distance and offered plenty of craft in and around the box. Put in some good tackles and did a lot of dirty work today
Matt (7) — won fair quota of headers but found conditions difficult to read on times. Well marshalled inside the box and happy to turn provider dropping off effectively pulling defenders out of position
Amond (6) — did his best work when he carried his run in behind to break offside calls. Struggled to maintain possession and despite early chance had few clear-cut chances inside area.
SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — they were organised, broke up play well and offered some enterprise final third out wide often playing on the break with some trained moves in transition.
Weaknesses — both centre backs were vulnerable to pace and movement. Struggled to work King and lack of goals evident. Overplayed several passes with wind behind them.
Opportunities — they were happy to sit in and play on the break first half using ball out wide to test County. Kept ball lower second half and showed better nerve to maintain possession.
Threats — Maris link play and shots from distance. Hannant had an eye for a quick cross or shot. Ibehre hold up play with most cutting moves going through him.
OFFICIALS
M Edwards (8) — got the key decisions spot on, kept game flowing reading advantage well and game went past his presence was
MAN OF THE MATCH
Josh Labadie — did the spade work in the middle, broke up play and passed well. worked hard throughout and goal looked most likely to go through him.
IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Both sides struggled to master the conditions but County will perhaps look back on not going for the jugular more first half when the wind encouraged them forward. Despite the adversity with the weather, County did have chances but they will know they need more of a killer instinct this season to punch higher up the league. Cambridge offered the most threat in transition often when County were slow to shift the ball and move it efficiently allowing them to pick pocket them. County did not have the best preparation today and this may account for their lacklustre approach first half which could have cost them against stronger opponents. County will know they will need to improve next week against league leaders Plymouth and it will be important that they do not allow them too much fluency with their passing and movement. Next up though is Gillingham in the League Cup and chance for County to experiment but possibly not too much if they want to harbour ambitions to progress.
