Too little too late

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 1 (Evans 58)

Harrogate Town 2 (Thomson 42, O’Connor 52)

Attendance: 3,357

Match Rating: **

Form:

Newport County LWWLDLDLLW

Harrogate Town LWLLWLDWWL

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Harrogate have been inconsistent this season but not easy to beat letting in few goals but lacking potency up front. County need to get the basics right, compete and earn the right to play.

CONDITIONS

Warm sunny spells. Pitch in excellent condition.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Lethargic from the offset until goal energised team, but lacked quality final third to work keeper.

TURNING POINT

Second goal made game more comfortable than it should have been for Harrogate.

THE MATCH

County were forced into one change with Declan Drysdale suffering from a knock, McCloughlin returned to the side and went right back with Seberry slotting into central defence. County kept faith with their 4–1–2–1 formation with Harrogate slightly more defensive 4–2–3–1 formation. The early sides were not encouraging with Harrogate sharper in body and mind winning some key midfield duals. There was a warning on 2 minutes when some snappy Harrogate play in midfield saw Daly release a low pass in behind and March threatened right side of the area but he was adjudged offside. Harrogate maintained their drive right side with Thomson seeing plenty of the ball. After being under pressure, County snapped out of their shell on 10 minutes with a good move from deep switching the ball from right to left finding the supporting run of Bondswell. He showed his capability to find a measured cross pinpointing Bogle who caressed a neat pass to Bennett edge of the area but the low effort from inside the “d” went straight at the keeper. Harrogate were happy to sit in and pack the midfield to stifle County but they used the ball well when they had possession with Thomson having an eye for a pass and Cornelius winning some good tackles. County struggled to impact the game through the middle and opted for some direct play right side with Bogle and Evans offering and outlet to stem some moves together. On 15 minutes, County had a half chance following a ball to the right side of the area was well won by Evans directing a header into path of Wildig but he scuffed his shot wide of the left post from 12 yards. Harrogate persisted with some direct play to use March up front who despite his lack of size and presence managed to cause problems for the County defence. On 20 minutes, Daly supplied a neat cross right side of the area with County ball watching and March again was the more alert but his effort from 12 yards was intercepted by Seberry. County continued to probe away with Morris and Wildig looking for short passes but Harrogate remained resilient. County were more effective from some kick outs by Townsend right side which unsettled Harrogate centre back Burrell but they managed to hook the danger clear. On 33 minutes, County had another half chance following a long throw right side of the area which was glanced on well by Evans at the front post. The ball sat up invitingly for Seberry but his first time effort from 20 yards was well blocked by Ramsay. Harrogate kept chasing lost causes and got their reward on 42 minutes exploiting some dithering by County right side when they should have cleared the ball. Daly advanced into space leaving McCloughlin static and showed good vision to cut back a ball to edge of the area. With County struggling to recover, Thomson punished them blasting a low shot from 25 yards into the left corner. Despite four minutes of injury time there was little response in anger by County and Harrogate saw out the half comfortably.

Harrogate remained on top after half time with some direct searching balls for March to chase down which he did with plenty of verve. County struggled to make clean clearances and struggled for momentum. On 52 minutes, County were punished again this time from a move from deep allowing Harrogate left back Gibson too much time to measure a pass left side. County were immediately under pressure being put on the back-foot and Bennett managed to scurry across to intercept a cross from March and concede a corner. From the resultant corner, County imploded not defending the front post flick on by March and O’Connor stole in to head home from 8 yards. County made a double substitution soon after with Rai and Payne replacing Waite and McCloughlin. County had a better spell off possession with Rai doing well to pressurise Gibson with some strong runs. On 58 minutes, County were back in the game following their first real cohesive move of the game. Rai and Wildig started the move with a neat combination and found the run of Payne right side and he burst past Gibson. His low cross from the right side was decisive and caught Harrogate centre backs O’Connor and Burrell out with Evans ghosting in to finish at the back post. County upped their efforts offering more tempo and aggression but Harrogate marshalled the danger well using March as an outlet to buy time with some direct play. County had Wildig in the book on 65 minutes, somewhat harshly when he collided with Cornelius after winning the ball. County kept pressing right side with Rai proving some decent crosses but County were slow to get across front post and Harrogate escaped. There was another yellow card shown on 70 minutes when Delaney appeared to obstruct Daly running right channel. On 73 minutes, County won a corner right side which was out-swinging and found Morris in space but his header from 10 yards was claimed comfortably by Oxley. With the game getting more feisty, Harrogate then had Ramsay in the book for the clipping the legs of Evans as he burst forward left side of the area. Harrogate made a substitution on 82 minutes with Armstrong replacing March up front and County responded by sacrificing Bennett for Thomas as they gambled and went 4–3–3. County kept pushing the right buttons with some low neat moves right side and were close to an equaliser on 86 minutes when Payne showed a yard of pace to beat Gibson and dink an excellent cross into the area and Wildig anticipated well but his header from 8 yards struck the left post. Harrogate made another change on 89 minutes with Sivi on for Daly. County pushed Delaney forward in the 5 minutes of added time to add some presence and Sivi was booked for handing the ball. County had another decent chance to make amendments on 90+4 minutes when a low move left side saw Wildig find Thomas. He did well to cut back a low cross into the six yard which caused chaos and Harrogate could only half clear but County had nobody to slam the ball home. Harrogate remained resilient despite some late pressure to seal a win they deserved on merit across the whole game.

Townsend (6) — made some decent kicks from deep first time to pinpoint wide areas. Didn’t have a massive amount to do but claimed well under pressure and could do little with both goals.

McCloughlin (5) — deserved to come back into the side after performing well mid-week but was way off the pace again defensively, lacked aggression and missed too many tackles.

Bondswell (6) — doing a job at left back but didn’t look comfortable, made little headway and looked reluctant to push on. Put one decent cross in today and got pushed off the ball too easily

Seberry (6) — won majority of headers, but got too easily turned and not aggressive enough with the first contact. Distributed well when he limited touches

Delaney (6) — covered danger well and dominated the aerial duals but less comfortable when ball played low and struggled to deal with runs of March when he switched off dealing with the pass in.

Wildig (7) — struggled to make impact first half and did better when made late runs to steal into the area. Kept plugging away and provide fair quota of crosses. Unlucky with late header hitting the post.

Waite (5) — anonymous for large parts, when got to the ball first he was effective with passes but lost too many battles and was brushed aside on several tackles with ease.

Morris (6) — did his best to string some stability with low moves in midfield but looked leggy and unable to impact enough final third. Second best on too many second balls and faded late on

Bennett (5) — another player that looked a yard off the pace especially first half. Didn’t really assert any grip on the game and behind the play on the opening goal. Replaced early

Evans (6) — missed too many headers and did better when he played off the last man later in the game. Took his chance well but struggled to get out his marker and let down with some passes.

Bogle (6) — offered the brighter moments first half from some individual runs when he span off the defender but shots were blocked. Needs to do more off the ball to close down clearances.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Harrogate Town)

Strengths — both centre backs defended box well and were strong in the air. Full backs recovered well to avert danger. Midfield worked hard to get ball back and used ball well in transition

Weaknesses — when County raised the bar, they were forced into passing mistakes shifting ball long and hopeful. Got away with several sly off the ball challenges

Opportunities — never really had to change tact. March played up front as false 9 and did a good job and they sat in to stifle with discipline and play on the break

Threats — Thomson eye for a pass, James Daly was bright with runs left side and intelligent crosses. O’Connor set pieces

OFFICIALS

R Welch (6) — ignored several clear shoves off the ball and got drawn into giving fouls for some of the cheap falling down. Got the key decisions right

MAN OF THE MATCH

G Thomson — was given a lot of freedom by County taking up some good positions and passed ball very well. worked hard box to box and took his chance well.

IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

It was understandable, why County stuck with the side that performed well second half against Colchester mid-week, but arguably the changes could and should have been made earlier, at half time or arguably before that. County were clearly off the pace first half and needed to reset and energise but the slowness of changes didn’t help today. Both full backs again looked lightweight and missed too many tackles so whilst County remain open and inviting in wide areas, they are going to be under pressure. Harrogate were also eager to snap up the loose ball in midfield and opt for the quick low pass in behind which has become a problem for County defending cleanly. The second goal captured all the problems County had today defending front to back with a quick ball left side not closed down or the ball cleared before the corner was actually conceded. The defending on the corner was then as charitable as the Salford goal last weekend missing both the first and second contact. County rallied late in the game with Payne and Rai making a good impact and they should be contention for the Swindon game. County now have the Cheltenham Town trophy away on Tuesday where they can rest players before the Swindon away match next Saturday. Swindon managed by former County manager Mike Flynn have had a decent start to the season and will operate with a 3–5–2 system. They are missing the influence and bite of former County loanee Jake Cain in midfield but will throw in crosses at will if County invite them. They do carry some vulnerability with their full backs sometimes hesitant. County need suffocate their wide areas and close down more aggressively “front to back”.