County fail to find the balance

Eastleigh (Walsh own goal 22 – Rivere 42, Groves 64)

Newport County (Cooper 45, Rose 80)

Attendance: 787

 

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

With captain Ian Hillier missing the game, the inexperienced Nick Skelton comes into the side to make his debut. We do not have much cover at the back, looking at the bench and will need to defend a lot better tonight as Eastleigh are likely come at us. If we can do that we might actually nick something from the game 

CONDITIONS

Most of the earlier rain has blown away and the pitch looks in decent condition. It was mostly dry during the game but cool with a gusty wind that was blowing across the pitch away from the main stand

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Inside the first minute we were exposed at the back when they got in behind with ease and you felt that Eastleigh always had enough to score more goals than we did when they raised the bar.

TURNING POINT

Eastleigh third goal killed off any thoughts of a likely comeback

 

THE MATCH

County made a few changes with captain Ian Hillier not fully fit after a groin injury, he was replaced by Nick Skelton and Phil Walsh replacing Jamal Easter. Richard Evans made his first start for the season with Danny Rose having to be content with a place on the bench. Eastleigh made their intentions clear inside the first couple of minutes lofting direct balls forward. Marshall went down their left channel with ease brushing off a challenge from County right back Stephens and his low cross to the front post was not cleared allowing Baker to stab first time half volley from 6 yards which Thompson made a great reflex save to parry away. Eastleigh continued to dictate matters with County nervous in their approach and struggling to thread a few passes together. Marshall was proving to be a constant thorn finding space to drop off and with the space offered, County were continually on the backfoot. Eastleigh were awarded several early corners as County struggled to clear their lines effectively from balls down the channel and went close again on 10 minutes with Jordan having his header from 8 yards cleared from near the line. County offered most threat on the counter attack with Richard Evans looking to have the measure of the full back. On 13 minutes, County went close when Evans did well to reach the byline and drag the ball back to Duffy and his delicate chip from 12 yards was tipped onto the bar by Matthews. Eastleigh continued with their tact of testing the County full backs with Collins under pressure from direct balls. County went close on 16 minutes, Evans delivered a good cross from the byline into the six yard box but it was just beyond reaching Duffy at the back post. Eastleigh had a goal ruled out for offside moments later when they opened up County ruthlessly on the right channel but got the goal their play merited on 22 minutes from a somewhat fortunate source. From a free kick on the right channel which looked harmless the ball was not headed clear by County and in the confusion the ball struck the foot of Walsh deflecting it past Thompson. Eastleigh refused to sit back after the goal and with County struggling to find cohesion it gave them further confidence to push on. Eastleigh made a change soon after with left back Challis being replaced by Mason. The bombardment to channels continued with Taggart a constant menace to Collins on the right channel. Eastleigh added a second goal on 42 minutes with Countys defensive frailties again rearing their ugly head. A direct ball forward saw Groves put Skelton under pressure and the loose ball was only half cleared by Davies. Rivere did well to anticipate the uncertainty and lashed home a first time half volley from 16 yards giving Thompson little chance. County got a goal back on the stroke of half time, exposing Eastleigh on a quick break when they maintained possession well with Duffy linking well to find Cooper who exposed space well on the right channel to guide the ball past Matthews from 10 yards.

The second half saw Eastleigh resume a grip on the match after a bright spell after half time by County when they had claims for a penalty turned down after Jordan appeared to handle the ball. County continued to be forced back with the overworked Collins and Stephens prone to defensive errors. On 53 minutes, Eastleigh looked certain to score when a bright move involving Taggart saw him dance past some weak challenges on the right channel before crossing dangerously into the area and Groves was denied back post by a late intervention by Skelton. County made a change on 60 minutes with Easter replacing Evans. Eastleigh tightened their grip on the match forcing the tempo and got a third on 64 minutes with a flagging County defence sitting deep and allowing Groves the luxury to dance inside the six yard box and stab the ball past the despairing Thompson. County made another couple of changes with Danny Rose replacing Kevin Cooper and Paul Hall replacing Robert Duffy. County had a better spell of pressure for a time as they maintained possession better in the final third with some good approach play. On 72 minutes, some good enterprise by Rose on the left flank saw him link well with Walsh before chipping a good cross from near the byline that had Matthews backtracking and was thankful that it hit the top of the net. Eastleigh looked unsettled for a time with receiving a couple of booking and County got a deserved goal back on 80 minutes. It came from an excellent move involving several players with Rose combining well with Walsh and the move was finished when the ball was squared inside and dummied by Hall before Rose placed the ball into the right corner beyond Matthews from 18 yards. County made a good effort of it in the final ten minutes forcing several free kicks but often the delivery was not good enough to concern Eastleigh. After some disjointed pressure, the closest they came was in injury time when a snapshot from Hall from 20 yards went just past the right post.        

COUNTY STATS

Thompson (6) – made a couple of smart instinctive saves to keep the score down but was forced to punch on times unnecessarily

Stephens (4) – worked hard to contain Marshall but showed no sense of positioning on times leaving holes in behind.

Collins (4) – was targeted in the air struggling to head and got pulled about looking unsure and failed to make timed tackles  

Giles (5) – does not look fully mobile on times and did his best to stem the flow showing up well in the air.

Skelton (3) – struggled to deal with direct play and was constantly giving away free kicks. Looked jaded at the end

Davies (6) – competed well in the tackle but passing was littered with mistakes and second best in the air.   

Harris (6) – put in his fair quota of good challenges but had little time to make things happen

Evans (6) – did alright when he demanded the ball and made some good crosses. Faded out of the game after the break

Cooper (6) – showed some clever thought when he had the ball and awareness but not in the game enough

Duffy (6) – showed up better in spells and was prepared to challenge and harass defender. Restricted on chances

Walsh (5) – was prepared to contest the ball but was often let down badly by poor touch and trying to do too much.

Referee: M Scholes (7) – kept game flowing well in general and punished players for cynical play. Missed an odds on penalty for County    

OPPOSITION

No nonsense approach. They played a mainly direct game utilising the channels with probing balls to the corners. They had the ability to work the ball around well in the final third though with clever players such as Marshall and Taggart. Upped the tempo in spells which County struggled to deal with

MAN OF THE MATCH

Mark Marshall – left sided attacking midfielder was difficult to pick up and gave Stephens plenty to think about with his enterprise

 

IF YOU WERE DEAN HOLDSWORTH WHAT WOULD YOU DO

The full backs look totally shot of confidence and Skelton had a nightmare debut. All these three players need to be dropped and we need to stop leaking goals. The balance in the side is also not there with Harris and Davies too similar and tied together on times. One of these needs to be dropped to allow Rose to play in his more familiar central midfield role. Hughes and Evans deserve a chance.