Soft County roasted by Crawley (again)

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 0

Crawley Town 4 (Conroy 1, Darcy 26, Maguire 69, Campbell 90+1)

Attendance: 4,643,

Match Rating: ***

Form:

Newport County WLWLWLLWDD

Crawley Town DWWWLWWDWL

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Crawley have put together a late burst of form to force themselves into play off contention. County need to show more desire and aggression off the ball to win it and keep the ball better.

CONDITIONS

Light showers, bright spells and breezy. Pitch was in excellent condition considering the extent of recent rain.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Never recovered from sloppy goal in the first minute, lacked passion and guile final third.

TURNING POINT

Second goal after County had squandered some decent chances.

THE MATCH

County made one change following the Good Friday defeat at Colchester with Payne being sacrificed in defence for the more attacking option of Palmer-Houlden uptop. County adopted a 4–3–3 formation with Baker right back and Bondswell left back alongside Bennett and Jameson in central defence. County started slowly and Crawley were ahead inside the first minute following a quick move right side initiated by Crawley right back Gordon. He darted down the right flank with Bondswell failing to make the tackle but Morris recovered to divert the cross for the corner. Wright cut back the delivery but with the County defence static, Conroy ghosted in to stab a low shot into the right corner from 8 yards. To their credit, County responded well with some cohesion and good switches of play. On 7 minutes, Palmer-Houlden did well to seize a pass left side by Bondswell and turn inside and his diagonal pass found Evans in space right side of the area. He cut back inside and attempted to curl a shot from 20 yards but Addai was equal to it. County kept pressing right side with some energy to force Crawley back but they remained vulnerable to quick balls pinged in behind with Baker getting turned back to defend. County had a decent opportunity on 12 minutes following a direct move which Evans contested well but was shunted over by Maguire. From the resultant free kick Evans drilled a decent low effort from 20 yards which appeared to strike Bennett when it was going towards goal. County kept pressing a had an even better to equalise on 15 minutes from another neat switch of play when Palmer-Houlden clipped a decent ball over the head of Maguire finding Evans in acres of space and he had time to pick his spot inside the Crawley area but his low effort struck the legs of Addai. Crawley then had Addai needlessly in the book for delaying a goal kick with Crawley looking to take the heat out of the game. County were interrupted by some cynical fouls with Zanzala being targeted by several fouls. On 18 minutes, Zanzala turned away through the middle and pulled back Gordon as he drove goalside and the referee awarded the free kick and the same thing happened within 2 minutes with Tsaroulla this time interfering with his movement but the referee kept the cards in his pocket. Crawley continued to persist with direct balls left side and low passing moves right side to test County with Gordon pushed up high to test Bondswell. On 23 minutes, County had another warning when Gordon found space right side of the area and whip over a cross which Tsaroulla was more alert to but his low header from 10 yards was saved by Townsend. On 26 minutes, Crawley extended their lead following a move left side which saw Lolos and Kelly combine well. With County ball watching, Darcy made the most of the space invited across the face to drill a low shot into the right corner from 16 yards. Crawley remained on top as half time approached with County struggled to find the appetite or gear to pressurise. On 32 minutes, Darcy was again close making the most of the charity County offered in midfield to receive a pass from Orsi. He adjusted quickly to drill a low shot from 16 yards which clipped the outside of the left post. County were forced into a change on 40 minutes with Bennett pulling up and he was replaced by Bright who went right back with Baker slotting inside to right centre back. County had a better spell on the stoke of half time with a move across the face of the area and despite Morris having his first effort blocked, he quickly got another low shot through the crowd from inside the “d” which flashed inches wide of the right post. Zanzala continued to cause problems with some direct runs and there was an overdue booking on 45+4 minutes when he broke from deep only to be crudely blocked by Williams.

There were no changes at half time and Crawley remained on top moving the ball efficiently and County not winning enough first contacts. On 50 minutes, there was another warning when a quick Crawley move right side saw Wright link with Gordon. His cross into the box was met by Lolos at an acute angle but the shot was clipped wide of the right post. County offered little threat and poor retention did little to help their cause. There was another County change on 62 minutes with Bondswell sacrificed for Payne who went left back. County flirted with goal moments later following a free kick won right side of the area. Wildig played the ball short to the edge of the area but Morris was unable to keep his effort from 25 yards down. County made a double substitution on 68 minutes with Zanzala replaced by Bogle and Palmer-Houlden coming off for Jephcott. County gambled going 3–4–3 with Payne slotting into right midfield and Morris left midfield. Before County had the chance to up the ante, they fell further behind on 69 minutes switching off from another set piece. Wright took the free kick deep just inside the County half which was angled to the back post and with the County defence static, Maguire made the most to poke his shot into the top right corner from 8 yards. Crawley made a change on 72 minutes with Orsi replaced by Campbell. County worked some better moves left side with Bright and Payne combing well. On 75 minutes, Bright overlapped well right side of the area and dinked over a cross into the area which pinpointed Jephcott but his header from 8 yards went straight at Addai and was comfortable. County were put in a difficult position on 76 minutes when Payne was unable to continue and they couldn’t make another change after using their allotted 3 substitutions in one half. Crawley responded introducing Kelly for Williams on 77 minutes and remained in firm control for the final 15 minutes working the extra man well. County then had Charsley booked on 82 minutes for a late tackle on Kelly as frustration crept in their game. County forced a couple of late corner and supplied some hopeful crosses but lacked quality to trouble the Crawley defence. On 88 minutes, Crawley made a triple substitution with centre back Conroy replaced by Mukena, Roles on for Lolos and Khaleel for Darcy. Crawley added a fourth on 90+1 minutes, exposing a stretched County defence with Kelly walking the ball into the right side of the area and his cut back was stabbed home by Campbell from 8 yards. There was a late booking for Crawley on 90+4 minutes with Roles catching Wildig late but they held on without concern to reestablish their place in the top 7.

Townsend (6) — made a couple of instinctive saves but well beaten on all goals but given little protection. Kicked well and distributed quicker

Baker (6) — did a job at right back but switched off to some long balls allowing ball to drop. Did better when he tucked inside but ended up firefighting.

Bondswell (5) — never looked comfortable at left back, didn’t win a tackle, tormented by Gordon and saw little of him inside Crawley half and was replaced early.

Jameson (6) — dealt with the high ball but allowed himself to be turned too easily and didn’t win enough first contacts. Cleared effectively when forced back.

Bennett (5) — another square peg in a round hole. Coped in the air but lacked pace to cover the ground and ended up backing off too many challenges getting forced deep.

Morris (5) — never asserted his game, forced back to cover Bondswell too much and ineffective with link play. Squandered too many passes but did flirt with shots from distance

Wildig (6) — quiet game, looked off the pace and lack sharpness final third not taking care enough of the ball. Set pieces and crosses were disappointing by his standards failing to hit the mark.

Palmer-Houlden (6) — had a decent spell with County pushing to equalise, sprayed some good passes with vision and was the best striker on the day so surprising to see him sacrificed early.

Evans (5) — lost too many aerial duals especially against Maguire and when he did find space in behind choked on his chances. Dropped deeper to play left back late on.

Zanzala (6) — busy game, did his best to prise opening and hold the ball often not getting the call with decisions. Need to up his sharpness to limit touches and get an earlier shot in.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Crawley Town)

Strengths — did nothing spectacular, recycled ball well and worked wide areas varying passes. finished chances clinically and kept County at arm’s length.

Weaknesses — left gaps wide of the area several times with players overzealously pushed on. Got away with the clambering and pulling riding several decisions.

Opportunities — never needed to change 3–4–3 formation, kept personnel fresh which was key not allowing County any respite.

Threats — Gordon pace and verve with crosses right side, Tsaroulla guile and link play left side, Darcy eye for snapshot edge of the box, Kelly dropped off to dictate play and was hard to pick up.

OFFICIALS

M Woods (6) — lenient interpretation of cynical play, let a lot of the pulling and interfering go unpunished particularly on Zanzala and Bogle.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Jeremy Kelly — American player that gave an outlet in midfield taking up positions to influence play that made Crawley tick and will be needed to maintain their play-off challenge.

IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

April fools day ended up being one to forget for County and whilst the manager will look at some of the decision making made by his own defenders, especially on set pieces, he may need to reflect on his own game management and selections which back-fired completely. Last September, County were well beaten at Crawley in the summer heat but were in a similar situation, when they had injuries in defence but opted for a four man defence. Unfortunately, County did not learn from this experience, going four at the back again and to impair their chances, they also put round pegs into square holes with Bondswell not strong enough to contain at left back and Bennett is better served to sweep in a three centre back formation. To their credit, County did respond well after the early goal but their softness in front of goals let them down in key moments to get back into the game. Following the second Crawley goal, the reaction was disappointing seeing a side bereft of any passion to turn the game around and clearly changes were needed at half time, but they were left far too late and not made until the hour-mark. County were well out of this game collectively before going down to ten men, lacking desire and quality to work the Crawley keeper into a sweat. County visit Grimsby Town next Saturday with the hosts still fighting against relegation. On current form, this looks a perfect game for Grimsby to pounce. The hosts will adopt a 3–5–2 formation but will have to cope without left wing back Hume who was sent off in their draw with Bradford today. County are lacking confidence and need to get momentum back into their game using their strengths. County need to play more in the Grimsby half and prise out set pieces against a side that lacks discipline and has conceded fouls loosely.