Newport County 0

Cambridge United 1 (Charles 15)

Attendance: 1,515

Too little too late

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

County are boosted with captain Gary Warren available after his suspension but other than that it is a familiar looking side

CONDITIONS

Cloudy, mild and breezy, pitch looked in decent condition     

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Spluttering and lacking cohesion, set our stall out to look like the away side

TURNING POINT

The Cambridge goal gave them something to hold onto

THE MATCH

County were forced into one change with Ismail Yakubi suspended, Tommy Docherty returned from his suspension in central midfield and Tom Miller went into central defence. County had the benefit of strong breeze in the first half but made a reserved start to the game and a number of misplaced passes set to the tone for the game. Both sides struggled to maintain possession but Cambridge were the more cohesive outfit with some good link play in the final third with Berry and Charles working hard to meet the ball. County were struggled to find any penetration the hurt Cambridge and the best they could offer was some searching crosses into the box which Rose did well but there was not enough presence to trouble Cambridge. Kettering continued to probe away with Charles showing plenty of strength and enterprise whilst conversely County were weak and tepid in retaining the ball in the final third. Cambridge got their reward on 15 minutes after bad defending by County on their right channel. Rodgers sat on the floor too easily making a challenge and then the situation was compounded when Buchanan lost possession and a quick through ball found Charles on the left side of the area and he found the right corner with a tidy finish from an acute angle. County made efforts to pick up their game winning a couple of corners from some disjointed pressure. On 22 minutes, Hughes floated a corner from the left side and a tame clearance to the edge found McAllister who blasted a decent volley which was well blocked by Wylde. Charles continued to torment County with his strength and effective use of the ball and Warren was coaxed into a late challenge soon after earning himself a booking. County were struggled to put more than three passes together on times with the rigid system they employed with McAllister often left exposed and a number of overhit passes from deep giving them little feed off. In addition, Cambridge were quicker minded and sharper to the ball and another piece of opportunism nearly paid dividends on 30 minutes when Finn stole the ball and dinked a good ball into the area which Berry glanced just wide of the right post from 10 yards. Cambridge were able to attack down their channel with ease of times and Finn was close again on 38 minutes when a direct weaving run took him inside the left side of the area and he curled a shot just past the right post. Frustration continued to build for County and Docherty was in the book moments later for contesting a decision. County had arguably their best chance of the half on 42 minutes from a Rose corner on the right side which Warren met strongly in the air from 10 yards but his header fizzed just past the left post.

There was an early change for County at the start of the second half with Lee Baker coming on for Docherty, with Sam Foley dropping inside as County appeared to be playing a different format with three at the back, five in midfield and Buchanan pushed up front to support Craig McAllister. County showed more urgency after the break flinging several crosses into the box but Cambridge continued to deal with the aerial threat well. Baker made a good contribution early in the second half and his link play with Foley on 53 minutes prised an opening for County before his deft cross was headed straight at the keeper by McAllister from 10 yards. County came alive for a time down the right channel with Rodgers prepared to push operating more a wing back but a lot of good work was undone by poor quality with crosses. Cambridge set their stall out to absorb play and break quickly with Carew providing a good outlet and they had a couple of decent shots from distance. There was another change by County on 70 minutes with Felino Jardim replacing Elliot Buchanan and Cambridge repaid the compliment with Thorpe replacing Winn in a more defensive change. Carew was booked moments later for pulling when tracking back to win the ball off Rodgers. County had a very decent situation on 77 minutes which was initiated by Rodgers attacking the channel from deep and good exchange with Rose saw him penetrate well down the right side of the area but his cross was weak and easily diverted by Coulson. County were able to maintain some more sustained pressure in the final ten minutes largely through crosses and direct ball forcing Cambridge to defend deeply but Cambridge keeper Naisbitt was not really troubled. In injury time, County were close when a good cross from the right channel by Velez stretched Naisbitt into a weak punch and a nervous clearance to the edge of the area was well anticipated by Rose who rifled a great volley which was headed against the bar by Coulson. There was a late change for Cambridge who were happy to run down the clock with Patrick replacing Charles and McAllister squandered a late opportunity when he broke down the left side of the area but instead of shooting overplayed his cross allowing Cambridge to escape

Thompson (6) – put under pressure with some kicks and was a bit erratic with clearances, but handling and positioning was generally good

Rodgers (5) – got brushed off the ball far too easily and showed little care with passing. Improved second half and looked better going forward

Warren (6) – did a decent job in the air but a little slow anticipating tackles today and needs to start winning the ball first

Miller (6) – filled in again and made himself hard to beat but perhaps a little slow to read the play on times       

Hughes (5) – looked uncertain throughout much of the first half, erratic with distribution and made few challenges, did better in second half in more central role 

Velez (6) – better on the floor than in the air, had a bright start to game passing efficiently and seeing a lot of the ball

Docherty (5) – pretty anonymous display and lacking influence expected, another booking for dissent

Foley (7) – didn’t look comfortable out wide, worked hard throughout and had a better spell in the second half when he was able to pick holes and link play      

Rose (7) – our most creative threat and looked most capable to score, marked tightly throughout and often forced back today          

Buchanan (4) – just didn’t look comfortable today being asked to play out wide, dwelled too much on the ball and passing was poor today

McAllister (5) – was made to look poor today with the distance left between him and the rest of the team. Did his best in the air but often not on the same wavelength                

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS

Strengths – The central defenders dominated and covered well and they used the ball effectively coming from deep with the front two working well on and off the ball

Weaknesses – Were nervous dealing with some crosses into the area, full backs looked ordinary and were time wasting from the moment they scored        

Opportunities – they used the ball well coming out from deep and were prepared to get men into the area for crosses.  

Threats – a lot of their play went through Carew, Charles had an eye for goal and Berry dropped off to play some neat ball in.

OFFICIALS

S Martin (7) – got the key decisions right, did blow up a couple times when he should have let play go on  

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ashley Carew – took up some intelligent positions and showed plenty of strength to keep ball when it was needed.

IF YOU WERE ANTHONY HUDSON WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

We need to be positive today from the offset especially with the wind behind us but strangely adopted a negative format as we were the away side with McAllister an isolated lone man and our two best offensive players Rose and Foley out on the flanks and unable to influence play. The players also seem to be struggling with this format and when it was changed we did look a better side in the second half for spells. Buchanan has shown his prowess is inside or just outside the area and to have him positioned outside the box just didn’t seem to be a benefit to him or the team.  Far too many balls today were directed down the middle of the pitch today and the predictive nature of the way we took that easy option made it far too easy for the Cambridge defence. County offered the best threat today when they played low measured balls down the side of the area and with better delivery in the final third they would have got a least a point.