The Good the Bad and Ugly
Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Gresty Road
Crewe Alexandra 4 (Demetriou 8 , 57, Long 66 pen, Nevitt 71)
Newport County 2 (Evans 21, Charsley 75)
Attendance: 3,619
Match Rating: ****
Form:
Newport County LWW
Crewe Alexandra DWD
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Crewe have fought-back strongly in the last and proved to be a fit side. County will need to use their bench wisely and match their endeavours and limit their threat in wide areas
CONDITIONS
Mild, cloudy with slight breeze. Pitch quick on top in excellent condition.
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Matched Crewe first half, creating decent chances but faded badly second half following defensive lapses.
TURNING POINT
Charitable Crewe second goal just after half time
THE MATCH
County kept faith with the same side that won handsomely at home on Saturday and started with purpose with some direct play to test with the referee setting an early precedence ignoring some pushes and clambering. County worked some snappy low moves which caused more of a problem for a Crewe side but the decisions continued to reign against them with Wildig denied an host looking appeal for a penalty. Crewe spung into life with some moves right side involving Cooney who forced Lewis deep. On 7 minutes, Lewis caught Cooney late right side of the area and from the resulting free kick by Powell into the six yard box, Townsend was unable to get a clean fist on the ball. The ball sat up conveniently for former defender Mickey Demetriou to stab home into the left corner. Crewe were keen to measure some quick long balls left side for Long to chase down but County recovered well to clear. On 12 minutes, Crewe were given a warning when County switched play well with McCloughlin pinpointing the run of Wildig left side of the area but he failed to trap the ball at the vital moment. County kept pressing and got their reward on 21 minutes when Charsley run right forced a mistake by Williams. He angled his run right side of the area and delivered a decent cross into the six yard box which Evans won in the air beating keeper Davies to the ball and his header crept into the left corner. County were boosted by the goal and continued to offer some neat patterns of play inside the Crewe half but they managed to protect their penalty box well. On 28 minutes, County were close to a second goal when Lewis and Morris combined well left side of the area. An early cross caused problems for Crewe with ball stretching their defence and Palmer-Houlden ghosted in but his header from 10 yards was tipped over by Davies. Crewe were keen to shape moves through the middle with Tracey offering strength and pace of the ball. On 30 minutes, County were given a warning when Bennett lost possession cheaply being pickpocketed by Tracey. He turned inside to dart through the middle but the shot from 25 yards was high and wide of the right post. County then created a flurry of chances which should have put them ahead with the Crewe defence looking increasingly hesitant. On 33 minutes, County switched play from left to right with Delaney still up field from a throw in and he directed a good header into the path of Evans. He set up Wildig for a low snapshot from 12 yards which went straight at the keeper. Then on 35 minutes, a decent move left side saw Palmer-Houlden thread a pass in behind Cooney who was caught up field. Charsley burst in left side of the area and his low shot from an acute was saved by Davies legs. Crewe were forced to absorb pressure and use Tracey on the break with Adebesi and Long being well marshalled in wide areas. County were dealt a blow on 42 minutes when a quick through ball turned the defence and with Tracey powering his run goalside Jameson made an excellent recovering challenge but appeared to pull up after a knock to his knee. Seberry was introduced in his place in central defence with County retaining 4–2–3–1 formation. County had another chance 45 minutes, when a loose pass by Offord was seized upon by Morris but he rushed his effort blasting well over from 25 yards. In first half injury time, Crewe were progressive right side when Cooney stole the ball off Lewis in the corner and cut inside near the right byline but his effort from an acute angle drifted just wide of the left post.
Crewe came out second half offering more patience in possession to work wide areas. County kept their shape well breaking from deep and Lewis wasted a decent chance breaking left side in support but this effort from 25 yards was well over the bar. On 54 minutes, Crewe were able to shape a move right side with Cooney again causing problems with his movement receiving a pass from Tracey but his shot come cross right side of the area went wide of the left post. Crewe continued to build momentum with County slow to press and they worked some good patient inside the County half. On 57 minutes, they got their reward following a clumsy challenge by Bennett right side of the area. Tabiner took the free kick and picked out Demetriou unmarked who stabbed a low shot left side of the six yard box into the right corner. Crewe were energised by the goal gaining confidence with their passing and movement final third. They added a third goal on 65 minutes when County invited a cross into the area from the right side which Seberry made a panicky failed clearance and Delaney mistimed his challenge on Devitt as he was about to pull the trigger. Long took the penalty and blasted home down the middle into the roof of the net. With County all over the place, Crewe were denied a fourth on 68 minutes when Tracey was given far too much freedom to spin and pick out the run of Adebesi left side of the area. He powered a low shot from acute angle which Townsend reacted to superbly to parry away. Crewe got their fourth on 71 minutes following a quick break through the middle of the pitch initiated by Tracey. His precise pass found Nevitt who brushed Seberry aside and carried his run into space and a low strike left side of the area arrowed into the right corner. County responded with an equaliser on 75 minutes when a low move on the break right side saw Morris play a neat pass for Charsley who burst into the area and clipped his shot from 10 yards over Davies. County made a triple change moments later with Charsley, Bennett and Palmer-Houlden replaced by Waite, Bondswell and Wood. County changed to a 4–3–3 formation with the subs just in behind Evans with Wildig dropping deeper. Crewe responded bring on O-Riordan for Powell in midfield but County lost their impetus with Crewe going increasingly direct to counter their approach. County had another call for a penalty call on 83 minutes following a corner right side by Wildig which flashed deep and Bondswell struck an excellent first time volley from 10 yards which appeared to strike an outstretched arm. The referee showed little interest and Bondswell was booked for dissent. Crewe made a double substitution soon after with former County striker Baker-Richardson. County huffed and puffed in the ten minutes of injury time but looked tired in body and mind. Waite came close with a couple half chances inside the area with a decent cross from Wood cut back right side into the six yard box but Waite saw his header go straight at Davies. Another move on 90+7 minutes, saw Waite strike a half volley wide of the right post and bar from 12 yards. Crewe made a late change to run down the clock with Griffiths on for Tracey but held out strongly for their first league win of the season.
Townsend (6) — kicked well but got caught out on the first goal not making the punch and well beaten by low shots into the right corner. Made a couple of instinctive saves from close range.
McCloughlin (5) — had a decent first half measuring passes well but got forced back after the break and was made to look vulnerable on times. Too passive defending crosses.
Lewis (5) — gave away several cheap free kicks in dangerous areas, never really asserted his game and allowed Cooney to dictate the right side second half. Did better when Bondswell came on.
Delaney (6) — coped well in the air and stern in the challenge. Got forward with some clever runs when County switched play and also looked the most capable on set pieces.
Jameson (6) — did well in the air and mopped up well in behind, clearing effectively until his unfortunate injury and replaced by:
Seberry (4) — showed his lack of experience and was bowled off too many challenges and did not win his first contacts enough. At fault with two of the goal second half
Charsley (7) — by far the best player in the County side, had an excellent first half channelling well timed runs and had a say in both goals. Not sure why he was replaced so early.
Wildig (6) — decent first half, orchestrated some of the best moves in and around the area. Provided some good set pieces but they were limited second half with him sat much deeper.
Morris (6) — got on the ball first half and made County tick with some intelligent low passes. had a couple of half chances in and around the area but shots were weak. Faded early second half
Bennett (5) — struggled to get a grip of Tracey and gave away some needless fouls in threatening positions. Looked off the pace by the hour and should have been replaced earlier.
Evans (6) — took his one real chance well. offered plenty of energy for an hour and knitted play well when ball was kept low. Faded early in second and was running on empty by the end.
Palmer-Houlden (6) — got little change in the aerial duals and did his better work when he opted to give and go. Went close with a couple of headers inside area but tired early after big shift on Saturday
SWOT ANALYSIS (Crewe Alexandra)
Strengths — they were efficient in possession limiting touches and created some good patterns of play in wide areas. Took chances well inside area.
Weaknesses — defenders were casual with some passes and got away with several clumsy challenges. Gambled in wide areas to overload and left gaps in behind especially defending right side.
Opportunities — never really changed tact were happy to press up high and created some good moves in transition. Played more patiently after the break.
Threats — Long made some intelligent runs and decent delivery on set pieces. Tracy dynamic runs box to box. Cooney gave balance right side and Demetriou set pieces.
OFFICIALS
A Herczeg (5) — seemed to adopt the strategy of ignoring everything and missed an obvious penalty on Wildig. Never really adopted the new rules properly
MAN OF THE MATCH
Shilow Tracey — County struggled to deal with his power and pace. Was at the heart of three goals and went close himself with some decent shots
IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
There was an argument that the side should have been changed a bit before after a tough shift Saturday but the slowness of changes did little to help. County made a good fist of the first half and may have gone in ahead half time, but they became increasingly ragged defending after losing Jameson. Seberry was drafted in but does not appear to be strong enough defending central positions and looks better suited at right back. County were too passive after half time allowing Crewe to build momentum and some of this can be attributed to the energy levels dropping and defending become more erratic. Once Crewe had gone ahead, changes were needed and they came too little too late. There were positives again tonight with some of the patterns of play final third, but conceding 3 and 4 in the first two away games is a concern. County will need to be more watertight in away games and be prepared to scrap more and earn the right to play. They may need to adjust to 3–5–2 despite looking effective play 4 at the back with Jameson injured and lack of defensive cover. County potentially need two more players to bolster the team — a centre back and striker to take the burden off Palmer-Houlden and Evans who were running on empty tonight. Next up is the short trip to Forest Green Rovers away. This is a game that will be difficult to hide in and key that County dog for every ball across the pitch, recovery of the ball will be key. Forest Green have a similar starting record to County and in a similar shape embedding a new team this season. Rovers are likely to adopt a conventional 4–4–2 system with McAllister a creative cog right side in tandem with Bernard with Omoteye an aerial robust outlet up top that will need stifling.
