Report by Mark Vickery at Spytty Park

Newport County 0

Luton Town 1 (Crow 90+)

Attendance: 1,511

Another late goal undoes good work

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Strong wind today is not going to make it pretty but if we defend as well as last week we have every chance

CONDITIONS

Light rain and strong wind, pitch looked short but still heavy.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Defended and competed well across the pitch but key moments went against us   

TURNING POINT

Missing the last of decent chances

THE MATCH

County were forced into a couple of changes with Nat Jarvis returning to Cardiff City after his loan spell ended and Tom Miller was not in the starting line-up. However, County were boosted by the return of Danny Rose who slotted into midfield and returned to the side Sam Foley.  County had the benefit of a strong wind in the first half and started with plenty of purpose working the Luton defence. On 5 minutes, Buchanan did well for County cutting inside from the right strong after a strong run and his low firm shot from the right corner of the area was well held by Pilkington. County competed well across the middle of the pitch restricting Luton to play direct on times with Hand showing a good eye for a quick pass over the top which the County defence dealt efficiently with. Luton were happy to absorb pressure but County were bright coming forward from deep when they got the opportunity with Foley and Buchanan providing a good outlet on the channels.  On 15 minutes, County had a glimmer of a chance when some neat exchanges down the middle gave Luton food for thought and Pilkington could only divert the danger into the path of Foley. He unleashed a decent effort from 25 yards which went just over the bar. Luton were snappy going forward when they got the opportunity often capitalising from County losing possession in the final third. On 23 minutes, County showed promise when a decent cross from the right side of the area was cut back by Rodgers towards Buchanan who adjusted well to shoot from 10 yards only for his shot to be blocked by Pilkington and Foley poked the rebound straight at the keeper. Luton offered most on the break with Dance providing the best outlet on the right channel but Hughes marshalled him well. County were finding it hard to retain possession on times in the wind with a number of overplayed passes. As half time approached, County were awarded a couple of corners after some better penetration and retention of the ball in the final third but Luton remained resolute defending the high ball. County were nearly caught out on 40 minutes when a quickly taken free kick from deep found Fleetwood and he was allowed space to turn and release a pass inside for Lawless to latch onto but Potter was alive to the situation and did well to parry the shot inside the area. County had a great chance to forge ahead on the stroke of half time when Buchanan linked well to find Rose overlapping on the right channel. His cross into the six yard area caused problems for Luton with the keeper stranded and Matthews looked certain to pounce only for Pilkington to take the ball of the top of his head with a flying clearance and County had nobody alive to the loose ball. In injury time, a Rose corner from the right side was glanced past the left post by Yakubu.

The early stages of the second half saw neither side take control with Pipe and Docherty making some combative challenges in midfield. County flirted with goal on 52 minutes when they moved the ball quickly to right channel and Buchanan floated over a decent cross but Matthews was stretching too much and forced to head over from 10 yards. County were given a warning on 55 minutes when a clever move by Luton down the middle saw Lawless release Fleetwood who jinked into the area and was forced wide but Potter recovered to make a good save. Luton made their first chance moments later when Brunt replaced O’Connor. County absorbed pressure well from Luton and gain some confidence to push on more as the half progressed. On 63 minutes, County had a decent opportunity when the won possession well just inside the own half with Docherty finding Rose. He threaded a great through ball for Foley to race onto and his pace took him goalside but right back Osano made an important intervention as he addressed his shot just inside the area. There was another change for Luton on 68 minutes with Wilmott replacing Taylor, a more offensive change for the Hatters which gave them more presence up front. On 70 minutes, a good burst forward from midfield again by County with Foley driving forward into space and he unleashed a good effort from 25 yards which the keeper plucked out of the air. County then made a change with Craig McAllister replacing Elliot Buchanan up front and Luton made their final change with Crow replacing Fleetwood. County became increasingly threatening going forward in the final ten minutes and a Foley run was crudely halted on 82 minutes when Lawless scythed him down as he approached the face of the area. From the resultant free kick from Rose the ball went deep and Foley looked certain to score but could only stub his effort and Dance hooked the ball clear. County stepped up their approach in the final minutes with some searching balls forward and McAllister provided a decent outlet and Luton were forced to make some important interceptions. The game looked to be drifting to a draw but County were punished deep into injury time when they allowed too much freedom for Luton to attack down the right and Dance cut inside to find Brunt inside the area and his neat flick inside found Crow who managed to hit a shot on the turn from 8 yards low into the right corner. County were given a good reception at the end of the game with most supporters keen to show the injustice they were dealt with leaving the pitch empty handed

Potter (8) – kept his side in the game with some excellent saves closing angles well, distributed effectively in difficult conditions.

Rodgers (8) – got tight when he needed to and let little goalside. Defensively sound and distribution continues to be his main weakness

Yakubi (9) – robust in the challenge, dealt with everything in the air and well positioned throughout with his marking

Hatswell (8) – made some towering headers, cleared effectively and timed his tackles well        

Hughes (7) – put under the most pressure, worked the ball forward well when he had a chance but crossing was weak on times

Docherty (7) – made his presence felt with some tidy challenges and worked the ball around efficiently.        

Rose (8) – worked hard throughout, made several important contributions from set pieces which deserved better

Pipe (7) – looked fresh until the final ten minutes, got to the ball and made some biting challenges and passed well  

Buchanan (7) – offered plenty of energy with movement, carry ball well into some good areas and set up crosses but restricted on chances           

Matthews (7) – won some good headers which were not always picked up on but given little to feed off from crosses into the box   

Foley (6) – honest game, worked hard to bring the ball forward but lacked thought perhaps with his chances, finishing let him down today

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS

Strengths – they were well organised at the back and made several good recoveries, got men into the box well when they had the opportunity

Weaknesses – by passed the midfield on times, overplayed a lot of passes and central defenders did want a lot of time on the ball          

Opportunities – will probably say two offensive subs changed it for them, they could have accepted a point as they struggled to find much quality   

Threats – Few to note day Dance was quick footed, Lawless made some good runs from deep and late on Crow.

OFFICIALS

T Robinson (7) – got deceived over several challenges with players going down weakly but got key decisions right.   

MAN OF THE MATCH

Curtis Osano – saved them several times with some recovering challenges and contributed well going forward positively from deep

IF YOU WERE JUSTIN EDINBURGH WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

If anything, County looked the more likely winner today as the game progressed until the cruel twist at the end. County played pretty well today without reward and for me it was probably the best defensive performance of the season aside from the last minute. The manager would have had a difficult post match talk to give today because we could and should have nicked the game with better finishing but we switched off again to concede a late goal. When County did have the nerve to keep possession they looked capable today but in the first half they perhaps forced play too much in the final third which allowed Luton to come out and look for the sucker punch. In the second half, we broke up play well especially in midfield and got forward more decisively with men inside the box. County now have an important spell of games and need to just keep doing what they are doing and surely their luck will change.