Very late equaliser papers over cracks in below par performance

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Cherry Red Records Stadium

AFC Wimbledon 2 (Smith 12, Stevens 20)

Newport County 2 (Spellman 26, McLoughlin 90+7 pen)

Attendance: 6,519

Match Rating: **

Form:

Newport County LLLWdLLLdd

AFC Wimbledon WLLWLWDLWL

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Wimbledon have inconsistent form but County can expect a reaction after their shock FA cup defeat at home to Dagenham on Saturday. Need match their work ethic first and foremost.

CONDITIONS

Partly cloudy, mild with slight breeze. Pitch in decent condition but slippery in corners.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Slow start, switched off on too many set pieces but never say die attitude got a point.

TURNING POINT

Offside goal to put Wimbledon three up rocked their composure.

THE MATCH

County were forced into one change at right back with Cameron Evans suspended Joe Thomas made his first start of the season. There were a couple of surprise changes in midfield with Whitmore sacrificed for Antwi and Greaves also forced to the bench in place of Bony. There was an early warner for County when they conceded a cheap free kick inside their own half. Tilley whipped in a decent delivery and Johnson showed determination to win the header ahead of Baker from 10 yards but the effort went wide of the right post. County started patiently with some thoughtful moves from deep with Wimbledon happy to sit and set traps to win the ball by pressing them into mistakes in central midfield. County continued with the self-inflicted errors allowing Wimbledon to steal possession and break and force some corners left side with Tilley angling his runs well. County snapped out of their shell on 10 minutes and should have been ahead when McLoughlin probed well with a run left side and threaded an excellent low pass for Hudlin left side of the area. With the Wimbledon defence static Hudlin struck a low powerful effort from an acute angle which went wide of the right post. Wimbledon kept forcing moves left side with Tilley dictating play and they won another free kick on 12 minutes when Evans mistimed a challenge on Harbottle left corner of the area. Tilley curled a decent delivery into the area and with County sleeping O’Toole stole in to direct his header back post for the unmarked Smith to stab home from 6 yards. County made effort to pick up their game with Morris initiating some moves from deep but some sloppiness with passing in midfield allowed Wimbledon to counter attack. On 15 minutes, County were close again when they worked a more efficient low move left side with straighter passes. Spellman turned provider this time with a slide rule pass for Hudlin to latch onto. His pace took him around the advancing keeper Goodman but the effort from an acute angle was inches wide of the right post. Wimbledon remained a threat left side on the break with County slow to read the danger when they lost the ball. On 20 minutes they won another free kick left side when Bony got the wrong side of Kelly. Tilley took the free kick from almost a similar position to the first goal and this time the cross flashed deep and appeared to deceive Townsend and ricochet off Stevens head and drop into empty net from 6 yards with nobody on the front post. County were in disarray and were close to going further behind on 24 minutes when Tilley delivered another free kick right side this time and Bugiel stole in front post past ahead of Baker but his header from 10 yards was narrowly wide of the right post. County kept building moves from deep well and when they got the ball final third they looked threatening. On 26 minutes, they were back in the game when a move from deep initiated by Antwi saw him link well with Evans who supplied Morris near the “d”. He played a precise pass in behind and Spellman timed his run well to beat the offside a finish with a neat low shot from 12 yards. County gained confidence from the goal and when they limited their touches well to move Wimbledon around they continued to threaten. On 30 minutes, a move through the centre carved open space and Antwi had time to pick a pass right side for Bony but the weakness of the pass allowed the ball to stolen with Wimbledon stretched defending. On 36 minutes, a patient County move going through several players prised a half chance for Kieran Evans but his half volley from 20 yards went high and wide of the right post and bar. Wimbledon opted for some more direct play to test County with Bugiel an aerial outlet and Stevens quick to the loose ball but County managed to recover well and squash the danger. On 40 minutes, there was another warning for Wimbledon when County played them at their own game when a direct ball went through the middle despite missing contact from Hudlin and Spellman ghosted in but his low shot ifrom just inside the box was held by Goodman. The game became increasingly scrappy as half time approached and Bugiel was booked on 45+1 minutes for a clumsy tackle from behind on Evans as he drove forward right side.

The early stages of the second half remained untidy with Wimbledon increasingly inpatient with a lot of balls in the air which County marshalled well but they found momentum hard to build from. Wimbledon had O’Toole in booked for another foul on 52 minutes when he caught Hudlin late. Wimbledon worked hard off the ball to unsettle County but it was unforced passing error by Brennan on 52 minutes that put County in trouble. Kelly was quick to thread a pass to the feet of Stevens but his snapshot from 20 yards went over the bar. Wimbledon forced a corner left side of 55 minutes and when the ball dropped deep O’Toole was quickest to the loose ball directing a low shot goalwards but Hudlin did well to intercept for a corner. On 56 minutes, Wimbledon had goal ruled out following another corner right side but Townsend appeared to be fouled by O’Toole before the ball was directed into the empty net. County made a triple change soon after with Bony, Spellman and Antwi replaced by Greaves, Whitmore and Glennon. County had a better spell for a time and were close on 62 minutes when Morris picked out Thomas who overlapped with well-timed run down the right flank but his effort from distance went over the bar. Wimbledon regain control with County lacking cohesion and conviction final third. On 72 minutes, Wimbledon forced an error forcing County to defend deeply and Kelly drilled a low snapshot from 20 yards which Townsend held well in the left corner. County made their fourth change on 75 minutes with Hudlin replaced by Jephcott up top. County made efforts to build more penetration left side with Glennon getting on the ball and he coaxed an untidy challenge from Neufville moments later which got him a booking. County had a better period of possession in the final ten minutes forcing Wimbledon deeper and went close on 82 minutes from a quick move right side. Thomas did well to find Greaves with a quick pass hugging the right touchline and his early cross to front post was anticipated well by Jephcott but his header from 8 yards fizzed just wide of the right post. Wimbledon made some late changes on 84 minutes with Piggot coming on up front for Bugiel and Furlong on for Kelly. Wimbledon continued to test County with some crosses into the box but they got the ball to safety despite being under pressure. On 88 minutes, County worked a patient move unsettled Wimbledon and Morris did well to caress an opening for Evans inside the “d” but he curling effort went wide of the right post and bar. County made their final change moments later with defender Jameson replacing Thomas and he went up front to beef up the attacking threat. Wimbledon responded with their own change replacing right wing back Neufville with Biler. County pressed higher in the 5 minutes of injury time with some disjointed pressure. On 90+5 minutes, Jameson carried a strong run outside the box from right to left and coaxed Biler into a clumsy challenge just inside the right corner of the box. The referee pointed to the spot and McLoughlin took the penalty with a composed low finish in the left corner with Goodman going the wrong way. The referee blew up almost immediately with Wimbledon manager Jackson red carded in the protests around the decision.

Townsend (6) — put under pressure on set pieces and was at fault missing punch on second goal. Kicked well under pressure and made some good claims low down second half.

Baker (6) — was comfortable with ball at feet but got bullied on times contesting direct play and lost too many 1v1 duals second half. Got hurried but managed to get ball safe.

Thomas (6) — had difficult first half and allowed Tilley too much space to roam and pick crosses. More composed second half and asserted game better pushing up to influence higher up pitch.

McLoughlin (7) — got forced back by Neufville on times first half but still had his moments combining well with Spellman and set up some neat moves to prise openings. Took his pen well.

Brennan (5) — given a difficult time by Stevens and lost too many first contacts especially in the air. Played in the wrong areas and put side in trouble with some short passes.

Morris (7) — got forced deep early on but was the catalyst of some better moves before half time and set up first goal well. finished strongly with some bright bold passes late on.

Antwi (6) — needs to improve his positional awareness defending and tracking danger. Got brushed off too many 50–50 tackles but when he got on the ball showed capability with quick feet.

K Evans (6) — does a job in central role and competed well but needs to come out more cleanly on top with the ball. Getting nearer to the first goal with shots in and around the box going close.

Bony (5) — naïve on times offering ball back cheaply to the opposition. Needs to make ball stick more final third and not force play. Replaced early.

Spellman (6) — did well first half, taking goal well and was always a threat with his pace and movement when he got the right pass. Needs to chase down lost causes more aggressively.

Hudlin (6) — frustrating game, worked hard but dragged two decent chances wide of right post when he needed to work keeper. Struggled to impose aerial game and lost marker on opening goal.

SWOT ANALYSIS (AFC Wimbledon)

Strengths — offered strong work ethic and were effective in transition to find front men quickly. Set pieces were effective

Weaknesses — centre backs switched on several times lacking pace to deal with direct play and never looked assured with ball at feet. Lacked discipline as a team.

Opportunities — stuck rigidly as 3–5–2 unit and mixed up game with crosses and direct play. Never overplayed and were happy to force passing mistakes which County obliged

Threats — Stevens was alert in and around the ball knitting play well. Tilley angled runs left side and set piece delivery accurate. Neufville verve and crosses right side.

OFFICIALS

L Swabey (7) — made some odd calls ignoring some blatant fouls but got key decisions right allowing a low quality game to flow best he could.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Matty Stevens (Wimbledon №14) — never allowed County defence to settle, key outlet for Wimbledon, demanded ball and will be probably scratching his head how he didn’t score more goals.

IF YOU WERE NELSON JARDIM WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County were somewhat fortunate to grab a point tonight and will know they need to improve on their level of performance. The changes made to the starting line-up made County weaker defending their right flank and they switched off on several set pieces from Tilley in the opening 20 minutes which could have killed the game off in truth. Wimbledon employed a tactic of leading County into a false sense of security, allowing them to play out from deep. However, they used a more aggressive press through the middle of the pitch with both Antwi and Bony struggling with the efficiency of their passes dribbling too much or losing too many of their 1–1 battles. As a result, in transition County were often vulnerable doing too many square passes and will need to protect themselves better when they lose possession as they lacked alertness and aggression to recover. However, when they keep their patterns of play efficient, often playing straighter passes, limiting their touches they did ask questions final third. Spellman looked much sharper and you feel if he gets an early pass and the right service he can start to hurt sides. To their credit, despite lacking cohesion, they never gave up the ghost and it was boldness of changes late on got them reward. County need to have Whitmore starting in his central role and push Kieran Evans wider and this should give them better protection and balance going forward. Next up is a Carlisle United at home this Saturday who have shown shoots of recovery with three draws against sides higher up in L2. Carlisle are likely to play 3–4–3 and will offer plenty of energy top end with former Cardiff City striker Kadeem Harris put straight in the fire and Sadi complementing on the right side. Carlisle like to play football and the good surface at Rodney Parade may encourage them out, so key County up their aggression and not allow them to settle into any rhythm and confidence.