County cave in meekly to Oldham aggression

Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Boundary Park

Oldham Athletic 3 (Hawkes 53, 89 , Quigley 75)
Newport County 0
Attendance: 7,056
Match Rating: ***


Form:
Newport County LLWWLWWLLL
Oldham Athletic WLLDLDWWLd


PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Oldham have adapted well to life back in league two but their home form has been indifferent.
County need to match their work ethic and be decisive final third

CONDITIONS
Cloudy mild, with light breeze. Pitch looked in decent condition.


SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Fluffed chances invited, lost too many key 1v1 duals and got turned over

TURNING POINT
Oldham were untroubled after opening goal.

THE MATCH
County made two changes with Whitmore returning after suspension to replace Antwi who was substitute. There was another surprise change with Lloyd sacrificed to the bench allowing Kamwa an opportunity to play just behind Garner and Baker-Richardson. County maintained their 352 system and started purposefully with Ogunneye seeing plenty of the ball right side. Oldham were keen to work some hopeful passes left side in behind to test Evans and this set a precedence for much of the first half. On 5 minutes, County responded with a decent move from deep with a quick shift of play left to right with Braybrooke finding Evans. His early cross to the back post forced a nervous clearance from Oldham and Kamwa seized the ball but dragged his shot wide of the right post from 8 yards. On 7 minutes, County won a corner left side after a strong run by Kamwa from the half way line. The corner was worked short quickly catching Oldham napping and Braybrooke pinpointed Kamwa edge of the area but the snapshot deflected off Garner for a goalkick. Oldham kept probing left side with Evans having to recover back to stifle Hannant runs left side. County did create some good situations moving the ball through the middle third but the final ball was lacking in transition with passes overplayed. Oldham switched focus to build moves right side with Garner angling runs right side of the box in tandem with Caprice. On 20 minutes, County had a warning when an early cross from Pett right of the area was headed over by Mellon from 8 yards under pressure from Jenkins. Moments later with County losing their composure a direct hopeful ball left side was only half cleared by Jenkins heading under pressure. Hawkes was quickest to the loose ball and his low shot from 20 yards was saved well by Wright. County countered with some bright moves right side with Ogunneye breaking the lines beyond Oldham left back Robson to win some corners. County lacked quality with delivery of crosses on set pieces allowing Oldham to counter and the hosts looked the more likely to score with better execution final third. County held out with some stout defending inside the box but were dealt a blow on 30 minutes with Odimayo pulling up to be replaced by Brennan. County settled and withstood some pressure with some more cohesive moves left side involving Glennon and Kamwa. On 33 minutes, Glennon did well to overlap and cut back a neat pass for Baker-Richardson just inside the box but his snapshot was well blocked by Hannant. On 38 minutes, County had another decent situation following a free kick right side which Braybrooke curled immaculately to the back post and Jenkins saw his header parried away by Oldham keeper Hudson but County had nobody alert following up to punish. With County forcing the issue more as half time approached Oldham were fortunate on 38 minutes when Hannant escaped with just a yellow for a dangerous low tackle on Glennon. Oldham made efforts to pick up their game with Garner whipping in some early crosses right side but County kept their focus to clear and stifle the danger. On 42 minutes, County worked a good move through the centre to exploit Oldham with Whitmore threading a low pass for Garner in space. He adjusted well to fend off a challenge from Monthe but his shot from inside the “d” was intercepted. Oldham responded forcing County deeper as half time approached and Melllon was denied with a couple of shots near the edge of the area which were well blocked. On 45+3 minutes, County had another warning allowing Hawkes far too much space to seize upon a loose clearance. He adjusted with a quick shot from 16 yards which flashed just wide of the left post.

Oldham made a double substitution at half time to pep up their approach with Hannant and Garner replaced by Fondop and Drummond. Oldham elected to go more direct to manufacture opportunities using Fondop as a battering ram. On 52 minutes, a direct pass from deep by Monthe found Fondop. He was allowed space to turn off a challenge by Glennon and his low shot from 20 yards was blocked. With County still recovering, Hawkes set up Pett who dragged his shot from 16 yards just wide of the right post. County failed to heed the warning and Oldham took the lead on 53 minutes. Drummond angled his run right side and had time to pick his cross into the six yard box pinpointing Mellon. He glanced his header on forcing Wright into a good parry but the Hawkes was left unmarked to tap home the rebound. County made efforts to respond causing some anxiety with runs right side and Garner coaxed Robson into a very late challenge on 57 minutes to earn a booking. On 60 minutes, County had another decent situation right side with Ogunneye threading a clever slide pass to play in Whitmore right side of the area. He drove to the right byline and his low cross into the 6 yard box was begging to be turned in but Oldham had Caprice on hand to clear the danger. Oldham continued to be the more threatening team and were close again on 66 minutes when a direct ball gave County problems clearing. Hawkes pounced and caressed a quick pass to Fondop but his from 20 yards was well blocked by Jenkins. County made their first change soon after with Spellman replacing Ogunneye as they gambled changing formation to 442 with Spellman right side and Kamwa left side. On 70 minutes, County had a presentable chance which a quick direct pass right post was glanced on well by Baker-Richardson ahead of Daniels. Garner was well positioned to anticipate and carry the ball forward but inexplicably refused to pull trigger when in space. He choose to set up Spellman with a pass inside but his rushed effort from 14 yards went well over the bar. Oldham made another change on 72 minutes with Quigley replacing Mellon up front. Oldham went increasingly direct in the final minutes to test County. On 74 minutes, County had a decent chance to equalise when Garner made a strong run left side to receive an excellent ball from Glennon. With Oldham stretched the ball flashed across the six yard box and Spellman anticipated back post but his effort went wide of the left post when it looked easier to score. County were punished ruthlessly just moments later when a loose pass in midfield was picked up by Woods. He threaded a quick pass right side to exploit space and Drummond delivered a decent cross which County struggled to get safe and Quigley blasted home from 10 yards. On 80 minutes, Oldham threatened a third goal when a direct aerial ball Fondop. He span off a weak challenge from Brennan to find space but the snapshot from 12 yards drifted wide of right post. County made a double substitution soon after with Kamwa and Baker-Richardson replaced by Reindorf and Lloyd. Oldham persisted with direct moves which kept County occupied but there were some chances to break but poor precision with the final ball allowed Oldham off the hook. On 85 minutes, County had Garner booked when checked the run of Pett. On 89 minutes, a move that typified poor decision making saw County fall further behind. Evans carried the ball up to exploit space right and Whitmore made a clever well timed run right side but the pass was needlessly overplayed. Oldham broke with a quick switch of play from left to right with Fondop left in acres of space right side of the area. He whipped a searching cross to back post for Hawkes who ghosted in late to score with County static defending. Oldham made a double substitution on 90+2 minutes with Daniels replaced by Simeu in defence and Payne coming on for Pett in midfield. On 90+5 minutes, County got a rare shot on goal when they limited touches well to find Reindorf left corner or the box. He cut inside and drilled a low shot which untroubled the Oldham keeper. Oldham held out for a comfortable win and assert their place mid table.

Wright (6) — forced into a couple of smart Instinctive saves which kept side in it. Loose with some punches but got away with it
Ogunneye (6) — given licence to push higher and was more effective making runs from deep using pace. Got brushed off too many tackles.
Glennon (6) — had a good first half dropping in to restrict Garner runs. Linked well with Kamwa but forced deeper second half
Odimayo (6) — coped well in aerial duals and alert headed clearances on crosses before being replaced by:
Brennan (6) — recovered well to clear danger in behind but switched off on direct balls and got dragged out of position
Jenkins (6) — strong in aerial duals and dominated majority of 1v1s. Let down by some poor clearances and loose headers
Evans (5) — got turned back to defend and struggled with precision of passing not keeping ball on pitch. Too weak for centre back and poor marking on 3rd goal.
Whitmore (7) — bright and industrious. Most cutting and threatening moves came through him. Needs to relax with first touch and pass into final third.
Braybrooke (6) — had a good first half getting on the ball and make space to break press. Corners were too short on times. Impact faded late on after doing too much.
Kamwa (6) — never really worked playing in roaming position in behind front two. Had spells first half on ball using pace but choked on chances and crosses erratic.
Baker-Richardson (6) — did his best to contest across the line and won some good headers which were not always read. Saw effort blocked first half when should have tested keeper
Garner (5) — frustrating game worked hard to close down and manufactured some shots which were blocked. Needs to be more decisive and greedy when he gets chances.


SWOT ANALYSIS (Oldham Athletic)
Strengths — aggressive and determined. Had urgency to win ball and supplied some decent crosses
Weaknesses — very right sided with delivery, left back left gaps which better sides would punish. Centre backs lacked pace to recover.
Opportunities — worked wide areas fist half predominantly right side but upped tempo after half time changes going more direct.
Threats — Garner creativity right side, Hawkes eye for shot and awareness around box. Aerial prowess Fondop and Quigley.


OFFICIALS
A Miller (8) — first game stepping up from conference, did very well reading game and got key decisions right.

MAN OF THE MATCH
Josh Hawkes — menace throughout with alertness, anticipation around box and eye for a pass. Took his two goals clinically



IF YOU WERE CHRISTIAN FUCHS WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Getting the side to score first would help.
County matched Oldham toe to toe first half with both sides jockeying to find space in wide areas but lacking quality. County were more thoughtful and precise but lacked cohesion right side with Evans struggling with pass completions and this meant Ogunneye offered less impact higher up. However, they did penetrate more left side but ultimately lacked teeth to punish before Oldham scored from a cross atypical of their first chance warnings. County lacked physicality on times and when Oldham went more direct to disrupt second half they always carried threat. The third goal underlined so many issues which have not been fixed this season when County squandered possession in a pretty good attacking position and ended being ruthless turned over with poor recovery to defend the cross. The physical deficiencies and ultimately poor decision making are impairing performance but they can’t let sides outrun and outwork them. County need to address their poor home form out and get the shackles off not allowing sides to develop rhythm and momentum. Barrow visit Rodney Parade next Saturday and tend to opt for a 3–4–3 formation with Hemmings a key outlet to pivot play up top and bring in able runners like Newby and Whitfield in wide areas and Gordon in behind. County need to deal early with direct balls, stifle their wide play and be more assertive through the middle of the pitch to work chances and vary their supply final third.