Well beaten County struggle to find the gears
Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Rodney Parade
Newport County 1 (Evan pen 90)
Notts County 3 (Langstaff 22, 59, McGoldrick 35)
Attendance: 4,426
Match Rating: ***
Form:
Newport County WDDDWWWLWL
Notts County LLLLWWDDLL:
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Notts County have dropped out of the play offs and not won in 2024. They have plenty of prowess and technical ability so key County stifle momentum and use ball efficiently when they are in possession.
CONDITIONS
Mild, light rain on and off with keen breeze. Pitch slick on top and maintained excellent condition.
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Hesitant and lacked teeth. Lost too many key battles and indecisive final third.
TURNING POINT
County still had chances when one down but charitable second goal made chasing the game tough
THE MATCH
The early stages were even with both sides seeing pressing with County the more direct and Notts patiently building from the back. This set a precedent with Notts the more cohesive with Jones providing an outlet right side in transition in a fluid 3–4–3 formation. County tested Notts with some direct balls right for Evans which put left back Cameron under pressure but he coped with the aerial duals well. Notts set their stall out to absorb pressure and play on the break with Jones and Macari working well in tandem right side. On 10 minutes, County were given a warning when Jones cut inside near the right corner of the area and curled a decent low shot towards the left corner which Townsend held well. County responded with some more aggression to press up right side with McClouglin unsettling Cameron left side. On 12 minutes, Bennett did well to direct a ball right side of the area for Evans but his snapshot from 16 yards went well over the bar. Notts kept persisted with passes from deep with goalkeeper Hammond initiating some moves. Notts shunned the left side and kept probing right side with Jones menacing with his pace which forced Lewis deep. On 18 minutes, County were given another warning when a quick break saw Robertson break up play and thread a pass right side for Jones. Despite calls for offside, Jones drove forward and cut back a decent pass across the box and with County defence slow to recover McGoldrick had the opportunity to shoot first time but blasted over from 10 yards. Notts kept chipping away and got their reward on 22 minutes following a break right side. Macari appeared to have his pass intercepted by Lewis near the byline but indecision proved costly with Jones prising the ball away. He found space to clip back a decent cross right side of the area and Langstaff got between Baker and Clarke to head into the left corner from 10 yards. County made efforts to pick up their game but they were lacking impetus in midfield and reliant on direct balls to gain territory. On 24 minutes, County had a half chance when Charsley clipped a decent ball right side in behind and Evans got the better of Cameron but his volley right corner of the box was blocked by Baldwin. County kept pressing and were close again on 27 minutes with Charsley this time angling his run well right side to receive a clever pass from McCloughlin. He adjusted well but dragged his shot wide of the left post from 16 yards at an acute angle. Notts continued to cause problems through the middle with Robertson alert in picking up the debris. On 30 minutes, a quick Notts move caught County sleeping and McGoldrick thrashed a decent low effort from 20 yards wide of the left post. County asked more questions when they gripped the ball and a better move on 33 minutes saw Palmer-Houlden show strength to pull away from Warner left side of the area and switch play to the right side. McCoughlin ghosted forward right side and the early cross into the area just eluded Evans at the front post. Notts keeping probing away with McGoldrick dropping off to link play and with County slow to squash the ball they kept building patterns of play. On 35 minutes, Notts switched play quickly with a move from deep with Jones finding Langstaff right side of the area. He made the most of the space invited to cut inside near the byline leaving Lewis static and his low cross was turned in back post by McGoldrick. County worked some better moves right side and forced a couple of corners as half time approached. On 42 minutes, Lewis delivered a decent corner right side which appeared to catch on the wind and Delaney was well positioned back post but the header eluded him. On 45 minutes, County worked another decent low move right side of the area and this time the cross was delivered early catching the Notts defence static and Lewis anticipated well but his shot from 10 yards under pressure went over the corner of right post and bar.
The early stages of the second half were more scrappy with County offering less space but Notts continued to cause problems with McGoldrick and Jones dropping off into pockets to link play. On 52 minutes, Crowley combined well left side of the area with Langstaff and his low shot was held well by Townsend in the left corner. County responded with some more conviction to their moves right side and McCloughlin stung the hands of the keeper with a cross come shot on 55 minutes and despite not holding the shot, County were slow to react and the danger cleared. On 57 minutes, County had an appeal for penalty when Morris supported a move right side and his cross struck the arm of Cameron but the referee waved away the protests. County made a change soon after with Payne replacing Delaney. County adjusted to four at the back but whilst still finding their shape they went further behind on 58 minutes. Notts were given the luxury to move the ball from deep with Jones having the pace to drive to the byline and his cross was glanced into the left corner by the unmarked Langstaff. County made a double substitution on 65 minutes with Zanzala coming on up front in place of Charsley and Palmer-Houlden replaced by Jephcott with County adjusting 4–3–3. On 66 minutes, in a move that typified the dominance Notts were having the middle, Robertson brushed off some weak County challenge just inside the Notts half. He threaded a pass to Crowley who played a ball through the middle for McGoldrick who had time to address his shot from 10 yards but Townsend made a smart instinctive save to parry around the right post. Notts made two further changes on 72 minutes with Austin and Nemane replacing Jones and McGoldrick. County struggled for cohesion in the last quarter with Zanzala being shut out quickly and Notts taking better care of the ball with Crowley seeing more of the ball. County made some more changes to freshen their approach on 81 minutes with Waite coming on for Morris and Bondswell replacing Lewis. County forced Notts deeper but struggled to work the keeper and there a triple Notts change on 85 minutes with Macari, Bostock and Cameron replaced by Morias, O’Brien and Chicksen. On 90 minutes, County got a consolation goal when Zanzala when a clumsy challenge by Morias saw him felled as he was about to pull trigger. Evans stepped and blasted confidently into the left corner beyond the grasp of Hammond. County forced some late pressure and were unfortunate not to get another goal back on 90+4 minutes when a patient move across the face of the area saw Waite caress a pass to McClouglin near the “d”. His crisp shot was saved well by Hammond in the right corner and Jephcott pounced on rebound and struck the left post from 8 yards. Notts held out to gain deserved comfortable win that put them back in the play-off contention.
Townsend (7) — kicked well under pressure into wind and despite not being overwhelmed with shots but made a couple of big saves to keep score respectable
Lewis (5) — well off the pace first half and got tormented by runs of Jones not getting tight enough. Lacked aggression and lost too many tackles. Supplied some decent set pieces but forced too deep.
McCloughlin (7) — best moves went through him when he pressed up tenaciously to pressure left back, very thoughtful with ball at feet but delayed some crosses allowing Notts to recover.
Delaney (6) — appeared to take early knock and didn’t have usual dominance in the air. Made some good supporting runs higher up the pitch and effect play but replaced early.
Baker (5) — lost too many first contacts and bullied by McGoldrick allowing him space to drop off. Lost his marker several times on crosses into the area which proved costly.
Clarke (6) — put under pressure by direct ball and was robust in the challenge. Got rushed into some passes but did a good job to steady defence and reduce threat after Delaney went off
Bennett (6) — got beaten in too many tackles not reading the ball quick enough and did better in the aerial duals. Took over captain role after Delaney went off and did his best to organise.
Charsley (5) — looked laboured and didn’t get on the shoulder enough in midfield to deny space. Lost too many key battles and offered less influence top end of the pitch today.
Morris (6) — another player that looked to be running on empty and clear in the first half, alertness and aggression was lacking. Passed well when he did ball but forced to deep and passive today.
Palmer-Houlden (6) — did his best to buy time and link play under pressure but left too isolated. Needs to be used more on set pieces with Delaney and Clarke both closely marked.
Evans (6) — had less joy off direct balls and did better when he went on shoulder of the left back to pinch second ball. Kept working off the ball and maintained energy but restricted on clearcut chances
SWOT ANALYSIS (Notts County)
Strengths — had players comfortable with ball at their feet and were composed under pressure. Worked hard to get on the ball and used it effectively with pace in behind.
Weaknesses — very right sided in build-up play and when County forced them to use left side much less assured. Allowed ball to drop in behind several times which better sides would have punished
Opportunities — they switched system from 3–5–2 to 4–2–3–1 which gave them more balanced. Mixed up long play with moves from deep which they crafted well.
Threats — McGoldrick dropped off pick holes with link play. Jones pace wide right and crosses. Langstaff clinical inside box and Crowley precise with passes.
OFFICIALS
C Breakspear (7) — let a lot of cynical play go unpunished but remained consistent. Didn’t look like he wanted to book all game and encouraged to flow.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Macauley Langstaff — took his chances well and set up the other goal with a bit of magic. Clever with runs and movement and rarely wasted a pass.
IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Another mid-week game where County looked disinterested and they were way off the pace and standards they set in Walsall game on Saturday. Notts changed their formation to play four at the back tonight for the first time this season and were a side possibly lacking confidence, but County were flat and far too passive from the offset allowing them to build momentum. Notts were able to shift play too easily in transition throughout, whether it was from County moves that broke down or moves initiated by the keeper with a press up top or through the middle needed, but they did neither. Lewis will get some criticism for not getting tighter and more aggression to deny crosses on both first half goals, but the root cause came from build up play often through the middle with County allowing McGoldrick and Jones to drop off into the pockets and dictate the game. When County get their midfield trio firing they are a decent unit, but there are apparent flaws in the system when the team are collectively low on energy. The side lacks a true ball winner and that would have made the difference no doubt today, but instead they allowed Notts to build momentum and patterns of play which engaged pace and guile up top that they supplied in abundance. Next up are Gillingham at home this Saturday who have shown an improvement under new manager Steven Clemence. Gillingham will sit in, frustrate and counter attack using their wing backs at will with Hutton and Clark bold forcing territory and pinpointing crosses into the towering frame of Hawkins. County need to suffocate their wide game, possibly play them at their own game but more importantly get midfield firing again.
