Rodney roar awakened

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 1

Colchester United 0

Attendance: 3,994

Match Rating: ***

Form:

Newport County WWWWLLLDWL

Colchester United DWDLLLWWLL

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
New County manager Graeme Coughlan has had little time to work on preparation for the game but expecting County to be more competitive and organised. Basics key today.

CONDITIONS
Partly cloudy very mild, and little wind. Pitch in excellent condition and quick on top.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Fast start asserted game well for a time and kept working overtime to protect the lead despite less of the ball

TURNING POINT
First goal was always to be key today

THE MATCH
New manager Graeme Coughlan only joined on Thursday but made a few changes from 2–1 defeat at Crawley with the players substituted on the bench. Nathan Moriah-Welsh and James Waite came in for Robbie Willmott and Adam Wildig. There was another change in defence with Priestly Farquharson coming for Matt Dolan who was on the bench. County started with urgency pinpointing some good moves right side to test Colchester left back Kazeem. County employed a 3–5–2 formation with Norman driving forward right side and he did well to win a free kick on 2 minutes right side of the area. Lewis whipped in a decent delivery which flashed deep with Colchester reluctant to take responsibility it was a bit of a let off. County maintained their tempo switching tact well to use their left side with Lewis making some darting runs. On 7 minutes, County took the lead following a direct move left side with Bogle caressing a good pass into the path of Lewis left side of the area. He chipped in an inch perfect cross into the area and County had some good options with late runs by Waite and Bogle but Evans anticipated well to head into the left corner under pressure from Chambers. County gained confidence with some neat low exchanges and Bogle and Evans did well to contest final third. Colchester opted to play direct using former Barnet and Gillingham striker John Akinde as an outlet to buy time but County marshalled the threat well. On 11 minutes, County worked another decent move right side with Norman putting Kazeem back in the right corner to defend. Norman did well to hook in an early decisive cross right side of the area. The speed of the cross appeared to deceive Colchester and the ball flashed deep and Lewis superbly anticipated but his low shot from 12 yards lack power allowing Hornby to claim low down. Colchester persisted with long high balls to test County but Farquharson stuck to Akinde like glue competing well in the air and fending off challenges well. County kept competing well through the middle of pitch and when they were snappy with their passes in and around the box, they offered promise. On 20 minutes, a good low move across the face of the goal saw Waite do well to dig the ball out under his feet and find Moriah-Welsh inside the “d” but his low effort was well blocked by Dallison-Lisbon. Colchester eased out of their shell with left back Kazeem opting for attack to be the best form of defence. On 23 minutes, Kazeem did well to force his way outside Norman left side of the area and cut back a low cross to the front. County were caught napping with Hannant the more alert but his shot on the turn from an acute angle fizzed just wide of the right post. With Colchester more forceful left side, County had options to counter left side with Lewis offering plenty of verve. On 28 minutes, Lewis drove left corner of the area and the cross went deep just beyond Norman who made a late run in behind Nazeem. With Colchester pushing higher up, County had some opportunities to counter and had a penalty claim turned away on 35 minutes when a quick move through the middle saw Bogle glance a good header through between the two centre backs. Evans stole in and looked certain to score but Kazeem recovered to make a last ditch challenge which appeared to take the ball and Evans. Colchester kept plugging away left with Kazeem and Marahall-Miranda offering plenty of energy. On 42 minutes, a rare lapse by County saw Akinde have space to glance his header left side of the area. Chilvers was first to the ball and his shot on the turn from 12 was held well by Day at the second attempt. County kept plugging away in first half injury time but were thwarted by a couple of offside calls which were marginal but the approach play was good.

County kept up their energy levels early in the second half and were close to a second goal on 47 minutes with a move out of nothing. Moriah-Welsh lofted a raised pass through the middle towards Evans who glanced the ball on early beating Dallison-Lisbon who had gambled and pushed up high. Bogle did well to seize the ball near the “d” and directed a decent shot which grazed the top of the bar. Colchester set their stall out to play on the break picking on some untidy passes by County and right back Tchamadeu grew into the game. County continued to offer threat in transition when they were accurate passing. On 50 minutes, County exploited space well with move left side on the break after Colchester move broke down. Bogle did well to carry his run left side of the area and pick out the late run of Waite edge of the area but his low shot lacked venom and Hornby held comfortably. Colchester made a change on the hour replacing Chivers with Chesters. On 65 minutes, Colchester worked a more cohesive move with Sears doing well to angle his run right side of the area and get ahead of Lewis. His cross cut back flashed deep but Marshall-Miranda unmarked struck a first time volley from 14 yards wide of the right post. County made a change soon after replacing Lewis for Willmott who went right wing back and Norman went left wing back. County made another change on 70 minutes with Wildig replacing Waite which settled them into a better spell of possession. Colchester responded with a double substitution on 72 minutes sacrificing Hannant for former County striker Frank Nouble who went left side and Judge came on for Sears up top. County had a great chance to seal the game moments later when a quick break right side exposed Colchester who had just two back to defend an Evans run right side. He threaded a pass inside for Bogle who linked well to set up the late run from Wildig but his curling effort from 18 yards was clawed away from top right corner by Hornby. From the resulting corner, Willmott whipped in a vicious lower delivery which Farquharson was close to poking home but his low effort from 10 yards went wide of the left post. County had a good decent situations when they picked up on some untidy tired passes by Colchester but they weren’t able to capitalise final third with some looses passes. Colchester went increasingly direct in the last 10 minutes persisting with the aerial ball for Akinde as an outlet. County made a double substitution on 88 minutes with Nevers replacing Bogle and Evans off for Collins. Colchester made a late change on 90 minutes with Newby on for Marshall-Miranda. County forced a couple of late corners which lacked quality to trouble the Colchester defence and allowed them to come out cheaply from deep. On 90+2 minutes, Colchester worked a decent opportunity from deep with a low move right side and Chester ghosted past Willmott with a strong run. He cut back a decent low cross into the area finding the late run of Newby but Farquharson was alert to squash the danger. County held out with Nevers and Collins instructed to keep the ball safe in the corners and run down the clock to seal an important home win.

Day (7) — kept concentration well to make some smart low saves and handled well throughout coming for crosses. Kicked well under pressure and distributed much better.

Adam Lewis (6) — did well first half timing his runs well, provided fair quota of crosses and set up goal well. got forced back by Tchamadeu in second half and replaced early on.

Farquharson (8) — stood up to pressure in aerial duals by Akinde and finished strong. Read danger well to clear or block and first County goal can’t be far away went close again from set pieces.

Clarke (7) — mopped up well in behind and efficient with his tackles to break up play and stifle. Competed well in the air and offered strength on the ball to clear well under pressure

Demetriou (8) — anticipated threat quickly and made several important clearances especially second to deal with impetus Colchester offered right side. Provided fair quota of long throws.

Norman (7) — had spells on top first half and was prominent early on getting the better of Kazeem. Got forced back for a time and showed flexibility to swap coping well at left wing back.

Moriah-Welsh (6) — busy game, worked hard and competed well with some forceful tackles but struggled to impact play final third. Needs to get more in no 10. position to release his strengths

Bennett (6) — won his headers and when he had less time to think did better with his passes. Had one or two good situations around edge of the area off corners but slow to react

Waite (6) — did his best to offer outlet and link play final third putting in some brave challenges but got pushed off too easily on times. Had best situations drifting in with late runs to support.

Evans (8) — bright energetic ran himself into the ground hounding defenders. Did well to get across man with some brave headers and got his reward with intelligent run to score header.

Bogle (7) — bit slow getting across marker on times but when he met the ball he had guile and vision to unlock the door. Did best work outside box and needs to get on the end of crosses more.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Colchester)

Strengths — saw few of them today. Full backs offered some verve in different spells to make an impact higher up the pitch. Offered some aerial prowess and physicality.

Weaknesses — over reliant on direct hopefuls balls to chase down and untidy with passes through the middle. Both centre backs got exposed by pace through the middle.

Opportunities — played a rigid 4–2–3–1 system for large changing to 4–3–3 late on. Asked full backs to push on more second half and got away with some of the gaps left.

Threats — Akinde aerial prowess, Chilvers creativity in behind, Tchamadeu and Kazeem industry down the flanks

OFFICIALS

A Kitchen (7) — seemed to determine not to book allowing a lot of the cynical play to go unpunished including encroachment on throws ins but got key decisions right.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Wil Evans — worked tenaciously not allowing defence to settle, but not without intelligence picking his moments to close down and work gaps. Took his chance well and should have got more

IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County offered more energy and aggression from the offset and their fast start set a precedent. After getting the early goal, they had an enterprising half an hour before Colchester asked questions either side of half time. County were organised defensively, switched on to the direct play throughout and with better use of the ball final third they would have put the game to bed. With Colchester gambling to press up high, when County did lock the ball in or interchange quickly, they put them on the back-foot and worked some effective balls through the middle with the verve offered by Bogle and Evans. With County more resilient through the centre of the pitch, opponents will now look to push up higher as a unit, with demands for their full backs to push on to make things happen. This carries risk as County had opportunities to punish in behind when their gamble breaks down. This was especially noticeable second half when Colchester right back Tchamadeu overcommitted but had County got somebody in position quicker left side they would have profited. County do have the cards in the pack with Nevers, Collins and Zanzala who can all play in various positions, run the line and need to utilise them better so they always have a counter option up their sleeve. County got this win today and that was imperative but know they will need to improve on their performance with two tough away games on the horizon. Next up is Mansfield Town away who were beaten 3–2 at an improving Crawley side today. Mansfield have been employing 3–4–3 formation and as effective as they have been coming forward, they do have defensive vulnerabilities with Hewitt and Hawkins employed as stand in centre backs and prone to indiscipline. County need to stifle direct balls into Atkins, force the middle of the pitch and break through the lines with pace they have to hurt the Mansfield defence.