Slow start puts County on the back-foot

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 0

Sutton United 2 (Rowe 9, Smith 65)

Attendance: 3,968

Match Rating: ***

Form:

Newport County dDDLDWWDDW

Sutton United WWWdLWdDWW

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Sutton have been on a decent run since December after a slow start to the season. County need to deal with their direct play and nullify their pace in wide areas. Keep ball low and efficient final third.

CONDITIONS

Mild, bright with slight breeze. Pitch in excellent condition and fast on top.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Responded well after charitable early goal and should have buried one of the chances before Sutton killed the game

TURNING POINT

Zanzala miss and Farquharson effort against the post inside a minute was a huge let off for Sutton.

THE MATCH

County made just two changes with the front two of Bogle and Kavanagh rested to the bench in place of Zanzala and McNeil. Sutton made the more assertive start atypical of recent County home performances with a cutting move inside 2 minutes right side involving Ajiboye giving far too much freedom to drive to the byline. He cut back a decent cross to feed Angol who stole in late untracked and blasted well over the bar from 12 yards. County worked some good moves early on left side in transition with Lewis making some dynamic runs box to box. On 5 minutes, County had a decent chance when Lewis curled back a low cross left side of the area which Charsley anticipated well with a late run in the area but his glancing header from 10 yards drifted wide of the right post. Sutton were keen to use their left channel at every opportunity to force County back with Randall clever with the ball at his feet. On 8 minutes, County had a warning with Randall angled his run well left side and his cross into the area caused problems but County managed to clear for a corner. Kizzi took the corner which flashed deep and Goodliffe rose strongly from 8 yards but couldn’t find the target. County appeared to have done enough but Smith was given the freedom of Rodney Parade to cut back a low shot from an acute and Rowe was first to react and stab home from 6 yards. County responded well to the set back with some energy and good movement off the ball and Lewis continued to pick holes left side with some strong runs. On 12 minutes, Lewis overplayed his cross and Zanzala did well to seize the ball but was shunted into the ground by Goodliffe but no free kick was forthcoming. Zanzala took a heavy knock from the tackle but was able to recover after treatment. County maintained their tempo with some good low moves and patterns of the play final third. On 23 minutes, County switched with a more direct move through the middle when Baker played a peach of ball through to split Goodliffe and Rowe. Zanzala had time to pick his spot leaving the covering defenders in their tracks but lacked composure with the low effort from 10 yards saved by the legs of keeper Rose. McNeill did well to seize the loose ball and curl and effort from 14 yards towards the right corner but the keeper reacted well to parry around the right post. Lewis delivered a decent delivery from the corner with the ball sitting up and Farquharson directed a clever shot on the turn from 10 yards against the inside of the left post. The ball agonisingly ran across the near the line but County were slow to get somebody to reads the loose ball and Sutton were grateful to clear their lines. The game followed a pattern in the run up to half time with County having the better of possession and more thoughtful with Sutton stifling and shunting the ball deep with Angol acting a battering ram and Wilson making some strong supporting runs. Lewis kept pressing left side but County need more verve right side and they managed to up their influence right side with Norman coming into the game. On 32 minutes, County had another decent opportunity when they broke from deep with Norman timely his run perfectly, breezing past Randall and outside Hart. He clipped in a decent cross pinpointing Charsley but his header from 10 yards fizzed just wide of the left post. Zanzala was again on the receiving end of heavy tackle by Rowe on 35 minutes with the referee and linesman seeing nothing untoward. County kept pressing the right buttons to work low neat patterns in and around the Sutton edge of the box which you felt would yield chances. The free kicks continued to reign in for County but Sutton remained resolute defending set pieces and volleying long to relieve pressure. On 45 minutes, County had another presentable chance with a snappy move near the edge of the area with Charsley scooping the ball in behind and Zanzala won the race of the ball ahead of Goodliffe. His touch was a little heavy and the ball sat up allowing Hart to recover and block his shot from 10 yards.

There were changes at half time with County replacing Bennett with Moriah-Welsh in midfield and Sutton introducing Kouassi for Wilson up top. Sutton upped their game again forcing County into an untidy challenge on 47 minutes with Charsley caught the wrong side of Angol protecting the ball near the right flank. From the resultant free kick by Hart, Angol was given too much freedom directing his header from 10 yards on target but Day held it comfortably. Another direct move moments later with Angol getting up a head of steam saw him hit a shot on the turn from just inside the area over the bar. County kept working the ball low and efficiently with some better moves right side to gain penetration. On 55 minutes, it nearly paid dividends when Norman switched the ball from right inside finding Zanzala who turned well leaving Goodliffe flat footed. He set up a snapshot for Lewis from 20 yards which was well blocked by Rowe. On 57 minutes, County worked another decent move going through several players before McNeill was denied with an excellent save by Rose clawing his shot from 16 yards out of the right corner. Lewis swung in a decent delivery to front post and with Sutton consumed with marking the more obvious aerial targets McNeill ghosted in front post but could only head over the ball when he should have worked the keeper. In a series of presentable chances, County had another chance to get back in the game on 60 minutes when a low move saw McNeil link well to find Zanzala but his effort from 16 yards was blocked by Goodliffe. County made another change on 62 minutes with Zanzala replaced Bogle. County kept things ticking over with Moriah-Welsh stemming some good moves together with him enjoying space to dictate play. Sutton kept absorbing pressure with some aggression and caught County cold on 65 minutes when the worked a low patient move and Smith was given too much space to drill a low shot from 25 yards into the left corner with Day slow to get down to the ball. County were immediately on the charge up the pitch with Bogle making a strong run through the middle and his low powerful effort from 25 yards was pushed around the right post by the alert Rose. County made a double substitution on 70 minutes to gamble with Kavanagh replacing Clarke and Charsley sacrificed for Evans with County switching to 4–3–3. On 72 minutes, Evans was close to making his mark with a good late run back post to connect with a Norman cross but the glancing header dropped wide of the left post. Sutton made another change on 80 minutes with Angol replaced by Dennis with a like for like change and Angol got a needless booking for delaying his walk off the pitch. County kept plugging away with moves into wide areas with Evans offering an outlet left side. County had a couple of good situations on following crosses into the box but slowness to anticipate and punish Sutton weak clearances saw the game slip away. Sutton held on comfortably despite five minutes of injury time with Bogle offering the best threat from some forceful direct runs.

Day (5) — kicking and distribution was slow on times allowing Sutton to recover, didn’t react on both goals, sat on his line on the corner for the opening goal and slow to get down on the second goal

Norman (6) — got forced back early on by Randall left side when he needed to assert game but grew into the match. Offered plenty of variety with intelligent low passes and crosses second half.

Aaron Lewis (7) — bright in transition and gave an outlet first half when County were passive right side. Delivered some decent crosses and set pieces and unlucky with some shots blocked edge area

Farquharson (7) — dealt well with Angol even when he was climbing on his back. Didn’t have his way on headers but mopped up well and cleared effectively under pressure.

Demetriou (6) — won some good tackles when play was stretched and cleared danger well. restricted to fewer long throws, struggled in some of the aerial duals and little leggy later in the match

Clarke (6) — got tight and stifled threat early. Went close on a couple of set pieces but slow to react. Did well in the air and had some decisions go against him before he was sacrificed

Bennett (5) — lost too many battles in the middle and number of games close together possibly caught up with him. Did well when he got the ball and read the situation.

Baker (6) — got amongst it but lost too many 50–50 challenges, showed capability when he won the ball with some slick low passes to turn the Sutton defence around.

Charsley (6) — tenacious competing and did well reading the second ball. Was bright box to box and with more clinical heading inside the box would have had a brace.

Zanzala (5) — offered plenty of running and had moments with runs through the middle anticipating mistakes well. should really have scored today and needs to be more clinical when set free.

McNeill (6) — shaped link play in and around the area and went close with a couple of snapshots. Needs to focus less on dribbling and more on power to get shots in early looking for too many touches

SWOT ANALYSIS (Sutton United)

Strengths — centre backs broke up threat early and they worked hard to press up aggressively as a unit winning the midfield battle. Front pair(s) offered pace and strength to keep ball.

Weaknesses — County unsettled them from low exchanges around the area which better sides would have punished. When forced deep they were vulnerable and got away with some fouls.

Opportunities — never really changed tact and didn’t need to. Worked left side first half to keep Norman quiet and just upped off the ball work to protect lead.

Threats — Angol had strength to keep ball and link runners with Ajiboye offering pace. Randall was tricky with runs left side and pick a pass. Goodliffe aerial threat on set pieces.

OFFICIALS

T Nield (6) — very passive and lenient interpretation, allowed clambering and pulling throughout and then got fussy picking holes on a corner being two inches outside the circle.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Sutton keeper (Jack Rose) — made several important instinctive saves to deny County when they were threatening to level. Kept concentration and claimed well under pressure.

IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Had County won today, the manager would most likely have won February manager of the month ahead of Sutton manager Matt Gray who has admirably got them to challenge for the play offs after a poor start. County were passive for 20 minutes, allowing Sutton to build momentum and confidence. Sutton didn’t need any encouragement and County need to start their home games specifically a lot faster and be more intimidating. Sutton got the early goal stemming from moves left side, which gave them the platform they needed and when you have a tired legs from a number of close games, it is not the required prescription for success. Despite that County had several decent chances to punish before Sutton extended their lead. County did get their approach play working with several low intricate passes to open up a Sutton defence which looked less assured when turned, but at the end of the day Sutton deserved their win for being more clinical and more alert. Next up is play off pushing Salford City who gained a comprehensive 5–2 win at Mansfield today. Salford are likely to play 4–3–3 attacking formation with right sided Watt a key provider in league two for assists, which County need to stifle and McAleny late runs left side. Salford’s pitch is in atrocious condition and with the forthcoming dry cold weather it is likely to be bobbly and erratic. County need to keep their verve in wide areas, chase lost causes to force passing errors and forgot about being too precise and pretty. Play ugly, set pieces and long throws will be key and with lack of height in Salford side, it is something they can profit from.