County beating themselves up
Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Stadium MK
MK Dons 1 (Collins 1)
Newport County 0
Attendance: 7,444
Match Rating: **
Form:
Newport County LdWLLWLLdL
MK Dons WDLDLWWWDW
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
MK Dons have good home record, have technical prowess to make a big pitch even bigger. County need to take care of the ball, cut out mistakes, but be bold final third when invited
CONDITIONS
Cool, sunny spells and light breeze
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Struggled to impact after calamitous early goal and fluffed limited chances
TURNING POINT
Even though goal conceded was early, it made the challenge much harder for County.
THE MATCH
County were forced into a change with Davies not in the squad and Glennon returned as left back. There was another change in midfield with Cole Jarvis making his first start since joining from Merthyr Town replacing Biggins who was substitute. County also sacrificed Opoku up top in place of Crole as they maintained their 4–1–4–1 formation. County made a calamitous start to the game conceding inside the first minute when a rash clearance down the middle from Wright was seized upon by Collins. With Wright in no mans on the edge of the area he rolled a low shot from 25 yards into the right corner beyond Glennon near the line. County struggled for a response despite seeing plenty of the ball a lot of the approach wide sideways and backwards allowing Dons to recover. On 10 minutes, another County move flattered to deceive and they ended putting themselves in trouble when Kamwa lost the ball cheaply left side. Collins was quick to slip a pass into Wiles left side of the area and his crisp effort was well blocked by Brennan. On 12 minutes, County conceded a needles free kick when Spellman was a slow to react to a loose ball just inside the County half and Kelly had awareness to pinch the ball and he was checked. From the resulting free kick into the box, County allowed Ekpiteta a free header from 10 yards which parried smartly around the left post by Wright. From the corner left side by Kelly, County were again caught napping coming second best in an aerial dual when Nelson saw his header from 8 yards saved low down in the left corner. County eased their way into the game with sporadic breaks from deep with Crole carrying some strong runs right side. On 15 minutes, County worked a decent move right side when Thomas threaded a decent move down the right channel and Crole latched onto a ball in behind. He cut back in an excellent cross across the six yard box but County had nobody showing enough desire to get on the end of the move with Kamwa leaving his run back post far too late. County struggled for cohesion on time in midfield with Jarvis showing some neat touches under pressure but several moves got stifled quickly with Kelly and Gilbey alert. On 22 minutes, County had Spellman in the book for dissent contesting a decision which went against County when Thomas was caught late. MK kept probing away and with County coaxed into some rash challenges they caused problems on set pieces. On 25 minutes, County had another warning when they struggled to clear their lines effectively and Kelly dinked back into a decent cross and Nelson was again allowed acres of freedom but his header from 10 yards was saved low in left corner by Wright. MK were close to a second goal on 30 minutes when another non sensical decision in midfield saw Garner turn into trouble and Gilbey drove forward to release Collins through the middle. He carried his run goalside but Brennan made a brave recovering tackle to deny him as he addressed his shot from 12 yards. Brennan received treatment after the challenge but was unable to resume and replaced by Delaney. On 45 minutes, MK forced County deep and despite County the clearance to the edge of the box, Ekpiteta saw his first time effort from inside the “d” deflected over the bar by Sprangler. Five minutes of injury time were played with County assuming some better control of the ball but MK kept them at arms-length with Crole often isolated and lacking support.
County made a double substitution at half time with Crole and Jarvis replaced by Opoku and Biggins. MK started where they left off asserting their territorial dominance early in the second half and had chances to kill the game. On 47 minutes, MK worked a quick move right side with Wiles getting on the ball and his low cross to the front was read by Patterson but he scuffed his shot from 10 yards wide of the right post. With County struggling for cohesion, MK were close again moments later when Wiles seized upon another sloppy County pass in midfield. He threaded a low pass through the middle for Kelly but his curling effort from 20 yards went just wide of the right post. On 55 minutes, with County struggling to clear their lines, Sprangler was coaxed into an untidy tackle on Collins near the “d”. Collins took the free kick but blasted a powerful rising effort over the bar. On 60 minutes, a move which captured the indecision impairing County saw them concede an unnecessary penalty. Kamwa took the ball into the left corner and had the opportunity to shoot or cross but did nothing and got bullied off the ball meekly by Ekpiteta. He released a direct hopeful ball forward which Sprangler appeared to have under control but lost possession cheaply and a quick pass from Gilbey was flicked in behind by Collins ahead of Baker. With the County defence static, Paterson raced goalside with Thomas and Delaney on his shoulder he blasted an effort from 18 yards which Wright parried away and Thomas left the ball for Wright but collided late with Paterson. The penalty was taken by Paterson but Wright recovered after treatment and saved the penalty low in the right corner. MK made a change soon after replacing Paterson with Hepburn-Murphy. County appeared to be lifted by the miss and raised their tempo for a short time with some better moves left side with Glennon and Kamwa coming more into the game. On 72 minutes, County had a great chance to equalise when Kamwa did well to combine and slip a pass left side for Glennon. He drove left side of the area and supplied an excellent cross which had venom on it to the back post but Biggins was unable to keep his shot down from 6 yards. MK made another attacking change on 77 minutes with Collins replaced by Matete which saw them press up more aggressively to limit space County were creating. On 80 minutes, County had Sprangler in the book when he tangled with Kelly as he turned in space vacated through the middle. On 86 minutes, County made a double substitution in an attempt to raise the bar in the final minutes of the game with Evans and Lloyd replacing Garner and Kamwa. County adjusted to play a 3–5–2 with Evans, Baker and Delaney back three allowing more width to be spread across the pitch. County finished the game forcing MK deeper with some direct balls to test their nerve. 9 minutes of injury time were played with Opoku getting onto some balls through the middle but the calmness with control let him down when well positioned. On 90+3 minutes, County won a free kick in a decent position when Lloyd won a free kick left side when he was checked by Matete. Spellman delivered a decent cross from the set piece pinpointing Delaney and despite not getting a clean contact a loose clearance was latched onto by Opoku but his shot from 10 yards went in the floor and bounced just over the bar. MK made a late change on 90+5 minutes with Kelly replaced Crowley and were happy to hold the ball in the corner in the final minutes to gain a deserved win despite the late flurry by County.
Wright (6) — never looked comfortable with feet passing “short” from deep. should be kicking ball “long” and wide using players strengths. Read pen well and saves low down.
Thomas (6) — struggles at full back and much more assured and confident at wing back. Distributed well from deep but was forced to defend 2v1 on times first half and got exposed
Glennon (7) — best defender on the day, limited threat right side and got clearances safe. Came more into the game 2nd half with prowess from crosses that unsettled MK defence
Brennan (6) — doesn’t have capability to play consistently at centre back. Does best job disrupting in midfield but suffered with poor marking and distribution and replaced by:
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Delaney (7) — coped well with Paterson to stifle and intercept. Dominated in aerial duals and caused some problems on the limited set pieces County won.
Baker (6) — lost too many aerial duals allowing ball to drop in behind. Got sucked in on the goal which lead to the penalty and needs to show more aggression to win first contacts
Jarvis (6) — offered composure on the ball and recycle but got bogged a bit needing extra touch and lost too many 1v1 duals and replaced at half time by:
Biggins (6) — got on the ball and initiated some of the better moves second half. made attempts to make runs in behind but didn’t get pass. Should have scored inside 6 yard box.
Sprangler (6) — competed well and prised ball away but too defensive on times turning back when space to attack. Lost too many key battles and faded late on.
Garner (5) — played in midfield and struggled in deeper role. No clarity in his role today, had little impact with the ball, keep passing safe and struggled to recover when ball lost.
Spellman (7) — made some bold runs and offered some energy but ran into too many dead ends. Provided some decent set pieces second half but restricted with no shots on goal.
Kamwa (6) — did well in attacking phases when he took care of ball and worked well in tandem with Glennon. Less convincing defensively in recovery off the ball.
Crole (6) — continues to struggle playing a lone man up top and left too isolated. Was effective with some runs in behind but too casual, let down with poor touch and replaced by:
Opoku (6) — showed alertness to pick up on loose ball, was forceful when he got on the ball but another player that treated the ball like a grenade. Snatched a late chance.
SWOT ANALYSIS (MK Dons)
Strengths — nothing spectacular, kept defensive resolve and organisation dominating aerial duals. Passed ball accurately and were effective attacking in transition.
Weaknesses — gave up opportunities in wide areas and crosses into the area which better sides would have punished.
Opportunities — used large pitch to spread and make pitch bigger to stretch County first half. after early goal kept game simple and effective in turnover.
Threats — Paterson link play and eye for a snapshot. Collins energy and drive. Kelly set pieces and crosses. Nelson aerial prowess on set pieces.
OFFICIALS
H Blair (8) — managed game well letting it flow and got key decisions and booking correct. Rarely noticed him.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Liam Kelly (MK Dons 6) — despite diminutive small size, competed well and always in right position to effect play. Dominated midfield and provided several measured set pieces
IF YOU WERE CHRISTIAN FUCHS WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
County persisted with a 4–1–4–1 formation which has now yielded just one goal in 7 hours. Playing just one player up front is not working and creating enough concern to other sides and it was easy for MK to push their wing backs high with both Thomas and Glennon oppressed and overloaded first half. Both players struggle to impact in full back roles and they clearly have more pro’s than con’s operating as wing backs. County actually finished the game playing 3–5–2 but the change was made far too late with the pressure coming too little too late and MK were good value for their win. There were also some puzzling changes today with Delaney not starting in defence and Garner employed in an anonymous role dropping into a deeper midfield. County were negative and rarely in the MK box, often turning back or sideways until they figured late on they needed to go more direct and get earlier crosses in which unsettled MK. The move that lead up to the MK Dons penalty also showed explicitly what is impairing County all over the pitch with Kamwa running into a dead end, before losing the ball cheaply and the turnover ruthlessly killing County and then the indecision not winning first contacts and clearing their lines. County need to eliminate the indecision on and off the ball and get the ball more quickly into opponents boxes to ask questions. The approach comes across as too casual and there are too many unforced errors being made allowing other sides to punish in transition. Next up is Salford City away on Tuesday. Salford have spent big this season with lots of new signings and will ask questions with N’Mai an forceful outlet left side with pace and creativity and Graydon and Stockton having guile inside the box. Salford are likely to play a 3–1–4–2 formation demanding N’Mai and Longelo to push up as wing backs. County need match up to their system, nullify their threat in wide areas, and look to eek out opportunities through the middle with better awareness and craft switches of play
