Another early goal conceded but this time no recovery
Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Whaddon Road
Cheltenham Town 1 (McCann 5)
Newport County 0
Attendance: 4,471
Match Rating: ***
Form:
Newport County DDLLDdWdWD
Cheltenham Town DWDDWLLDLW
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Cheltenham have scored freely this season but also conceded several goals. County need to start faster and tame threats but key they manage the conditions well.
CONDITIONS
Cloudy, light rain but very gusty wind. Pitch in excellent condition.
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Passive start allowed Cheltenham to assert their game and didn’t punish in key moments.
TURNING POINT
County missed penalty.
THE MATCH
County made one change from the side that drew 2–2 at Rotherham United mid-week with Bamba coming in for Merritt who was not in the squad which saw them switch formation from 3–4–3 to 4–2–3–1. County had the benefit of the wind first half but Cheltenham were first to show working some moves right side to get Evans on the ball. On 3 minutes, County stifled quicker winning the ball in midfield and Biggins struck an opportunist effort from 40 yards which went over the head of Cheltenham keeper but flashed well wide of the left post. Cheltenham kept probing right side and took the lead on 5 minutes when Evans darted right side of the box and bumped off a weak challenge by Thomas. He showed good vision to cut back a cross to McCann who made a late run into the area untracked and caressed a shot from 12 yards into the top right corner. County responded with some direct play into Garner who played as a target man but gained little momentum. County were reliant on the industry of Adu-Poku right side and did well to coax some clumsy free kicks well inside the Cheltenham half. On 12 minutes, County won a free kick centrally around 30 yards out and Biggins curling a decent effort which flashed inches wide of the left post and bar. Cheltenham were content to build from deep using centre backs Sweeney and Wilson to spray passes into wide areas. County also had a reluctance to press which put them on the backfoot allowing Stevenson and Evans to craft crosses out wide which they dealt well with. County made efforts to pick up their energy levels to win the ball in midfield and force Cheltenham much deep. On 23 minutes, County won a free kick left side in a decent position when Thomas was clipped by Evans. Biggins whipped in a testing cross which was only half cleared and Brennan directed a header back into the area and Carmeron reacted well to poke a shot from 10 yards which the keeper tipped over the bar. County were let down by poor retention on times allowing Cheltenham to counter and they continued to menace with Otchere coming more into the game left side. On 30 minutes, County had Garner in the book when he recovered back after losing the ball cheaply but tangled with Wilcox. Cheltenham continued to cause problems left side and had a great chance to extend their lead on 32 minutes when a low move left side caught County ball watching. Evans initiated the move and linked well threading a ball inside for Weimann and play a return pass before picking out McCann but he placed a low shot from 10 yards narrowly wide of the right post. In the build-up, Dibley-Dias took a knock and was unable to resume allowing Smith to stake a claim in the side. County had a better spell as half time approached showing more nerve to keep the ball and work openings. On 38 minutes, Adu-Poku carried a strong run near the edge of the box and appeared to be shunted from behind but the referee made an odd decision to book him for simulation. On 40 minutes, County had an excellent chance to level the score when Bamba did well to unsettle Sweeney into a loose pass left side of the box. With the keeper off his line and out of position Garner seized the loose ball but lacked composure scooping a shot well with goals vacant. County gained some confident from some better approach play final third and were close again on the stroke of half time. Bamba did well jinking inside left corner of the box switching play to Norman right side and his first time cross was dangerous but diverted for a corner by Wilson. Biggins got in a better delivery this time from the right side pinpointing Norman but his header from 10 yards under pressure flashed wide of the right post. Three minutes of injury time and County kept persisting left side with Bamba doing well to test right back Tomkinson. On 45+3 minutes, Bamba won a free kick left side and Biggins curled in a teasing deep cross which Jenkins anticipated well but his header from 6 yards under pressure went wide of the right post.
Cheltenham had the benefit of the wind second half and tested County forcing some untidy clearances which were quickly seized upon. County were soon under pressure having to defend some corners but managed to block and get the ball safe. On 47 minutes, Cheltenham had Evans in the book for kicking the ball away disputing a decision right side of the area. Both sides continued to make passing errors as the conditions worsened and County had a half chance on 50 minutes when a loose pass from deep was seized upon by Biggins. He was quick to set up Adu-Poku who struck an opportunist effort from 25 yards which dipped just over the bar as the keeper scurried back on his line. County gained some confidence pressing up higher with some moves left side which yielded some throw ins. On 53 minutes, Norman worked a short throw in to Biggins and his deep cross invited Brennan to attack and he rose strongly to head from 10 yards which was well blocked by Wilson. The follow up sat up for Brennan but he could only stab his first time effort from 8 yards wide of the right post. With County forcing some momentum, Cheltenham had Otchere booked on 56 minutes for impeding a quick County throw by Norman right side. On 58 minutes, County had Smith booked when he tangled with Tomkinson following a move when Adu-Poku appeared to be obstructed but the referee waved play on. County kept pressing recovering the ball back well and were awarded a penalty on 60 minutes following a bright move right side of the area. Adu-Poku smartly cut back a low cross into the box from a tight spot and Biggins anticipated well to get across Stevenson who caught him late. Biggins took the penalty but his low effort into the left corner was read and parried away by Stanway. The penalty miss knocked the impetus out of County and they made a change on 62 minutes with Etete coming on for Garner and Cheltenham responded soon after with Broom coming on for McCann and Bickerstaff replacing Otchere. County struggled for territory on times with the wind taking the ball and reliant on some direct aerial balls into Etete which were well marshalled by the hosts who remained in control with Stevenson mopping the debris. On 73 minutes, Cheltenham made another change with Evans replaced by Miller who went up front and Weimann dropped behind. County kept probing right side with Norman carrying some strong runs to the byline. On 80 minutes, Norman did well combining neatly with Smith and beat Shipley right side of the box and his excellent cross flashed deep but County had nobody alive to the situation and punish Cheltenham. On 82 minutes, County made a double substitution with Evans coming on for Bamba and Davies going left back in place of Thomas. Cheltenham were happy to release direct balls in the final stages using Miller as an outlet. On 86 minutes, Cheltenham had a chance to make the game safe when a free kick left side saw Sweeney glance a header front post which dropped deep and with the County defence static Miller stole in but stabbed an effort wide of the right post from an acute angle. County huffed and puffed in the 6 minutes of injury time but they looked weary and were kept at arms-length with some balls into Etete not sticking. Cheltenham held on to consolidate their place in the top 5 and County dropping into a congested lower mid table.
Wright (6) — kicked well into the wind under pressure and had little stress from shots on the target. Needs to be quicker with distribution and accuracy out wide.
Norman (7) — gave an outlet in the air and timed his runs well especially second half providing crosses. long throws lacked precision on times being looped short.
Thomas (5)- never looked comfortable, body position defending was wrong and lax. Got bumped off the ball on first goal and lacked confidence using left foot weak clearing.
Jenkins (7) — coped well in aerial duals and used both feet clearing strongly especially against the wind. Tackled and blocked well going close again on set pieces.
Cameron (7) — put under pressure on times first half but had better second half clearing well. went close from free kicks and looked most likely player to punish inside box.
Brennan (6) — competed well but forced too many passes which put side under pressure. Strong with headers in and around box and efforts on goal.
Dibley-Dias (5) — looked a yard off the pace early on and lost McCann in the lead up to the opener. Struggled for impact before being replaced early by:
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Smith (7) — competed well settling side into better rhythm passing accurately and got depth with clearances into the wind. Need to play higher up and influence in and around box.
Biggins (6) — had spells influencing moves with late runs and had vision to slice through in transition. Poor low penalty and let down by several poor crosses which went short
Bamba (7) — bright and purposeful with runs and won some free kicks in decent positions but never really impacted inside the box and needs to get onto debris quicker.
Adu-Poku (6) — frustrating game, won some free kicks but ran into a lot of dead ends. Carried some runs to the byline and work full back but threat faded early.
Garner (5) — struggled with retention bullied off the ball and a yard off the pace pressing. Missed very presentable chance and way off standard. Should have been replaced earlier
SWOT ANALYSIS (Cheltenham Town)
Strengths — functional defending and compressed well limiting space. quick to build in transition and get men purposively into the box.
Weaknesses — gave up number of stray passes in midfield which better sides would punish. Committed several fouls inside own half
Opportunities — persisted with 4–2–3–1 formation and opted to measure quick passes in behind right side. went more direct late on using Miller as an aerial outlet.
Threats — Evans quick feet and crosses right side, McCann runs box to box. Miller aerial prowess
OFFICIALS
B Speedie (7) — ignored some clear fouls and interpretation with advantage frustrating both sides. Got key decisions right.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Jake Evans (Cheltenham No 19) — awareness and vision to punish County lapses defending left side, forceful with runs and created best chances.
IF YOU WERE HAYDEN MULLINS WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
County have now conceded early goals in the four of the last five games and their passive approach starting games particularly away from home means they are immediately put on the backfoot. County have experimented with both Merritt and Thomas at left back and both have been brittle and lacking physicality to deal with pressure. To compound this County also lacked teeth up front especially early on with the reluctance to press collectively when it was clear the Cheltenham defence were not so assured when they had less time to make passing decisions. Garner has been given ample opportunities up front but fails to meet the standard and the easy chance first half that was choked on allowed Cheltenham off the hook. Fine margins with another missed penalty but County faded early with Etete easily contained and left isolated. Often Etete did drag two defenders away to mark him but County were not reactive enough and picking up on the debris cleanly despite having several shots but very few on target to work Stanway. County need to give Etete, Smith and Davies opportunities to stake a claim and offer more conviction. Next up is Chesterfield at home Friday evening who showed their pedigree thrashing Crewe 5–0 at home today. Chesterfield are likely to play a 4–2–3–1 formation and despite not having natural wingers they do have flair with Mandeville an outlet right side and former Orient winger Koroma pace in behind left side. Chesterfield also have McEachran who gives calmness of control in midfield to pick runners. County are unlikely to out-football Chesterfield but they need to keep vigilance to suffocate their passing game doing the off the ball work and make the game more ugly and random. Not a game for ball watching.
