Report by Mark Vickery at Spytty Park

Newport County 0

Shrewsbury Town 1 (Gornell 41)

Attendance: 2,362

Damp squib for TV cameras

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

County probably have their best chance today with the opponents missing a couple of players through suspension and U21 call ups  

CONDITIONS

Mild with sunny spells and little wind, pitch very heavy again and glossy top surface but soon cut up.      

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Patiently probed away but lacked penetration and cohesion to worry them

TURNING POINT

Their goal

THE MATCH

County retained the same team despite captain Gary Warren and Elliot Buchanan being available after injury they were placed on the bench. County made a good start with some neat exchanges in the final third and an early cross from Rose into the area saw McAllister head wide of the right post from 10 yards under close pressure from Sharps. Shrewsbury were quick to release the ball directly from deep to test County with ex-Yeading forward Marvin Morgan robust in the air and Gornell very mobile in his runs off him. County created a good situation on 10 minutes from a direct move of their own with Pipe finding McAllister and he adjusted well to set up a snapshot from Knights from 25 yards which was well wide of the left post. Shrewsbury were quick to get forward and their smothering approach was effective in forcing County into several unforced errors but the County defence did well to fend off threat from crosses. Shrewsbury gained confidence from their mobility in the final third and when County made a meal of clearances inside their box on 18 minutes, Morgan had an opportunity with a low shot from 10 yards which County managed to block and scramble away. County struggled to sustain cohesion to their games with McAllister working an isolated figure up. On 23 minutes, County broke from deep with conviction and when the ball broke free in midfield, County left back rifled a decent effort from 30 yards which went just past the left post. Shrewsbury continued to play directly with some telegraphed passes forward forcing County to defend a couple of corners which Potter dealt well with. County again showed their prowess from distance on 28 minutes when Rose struck a great effort from 25 yards which fizzed just past the right post. As half time approached, Shrewsbury took more control of midfield with County continually showing a reluctance to take responsibility when they had the ball. Shrewsbury utilised the ball well when they won possession with Richards playing some measured passes to turn the County defence but they were able to clear the danger. County were given a warning on 35 minutes when Richards threaded a good ball down the right side of the area for Morgan who drove the byline before cutting a dangerous looking cross which County struggled to clear and Wright drilled a low shot from 12 yards which was well saved by Potter. Wright had started to offer more influence for Shrewsbury on the left channel with him eager to provide a cross and it paid dividends on 41 minutes. County again lost possession in a dangerous position in midfield with Docherty and Rose leaving the ball to one another. Richards threaded a quick pass to the left side towards Wright and he beat Rodgers with ease before crossing to the front post and Gornell was able to nip in and score with a low header.

Shrewsbury were reserved in the early stages of the second half being happy to absorb pressure and the only threat they offered came from long punts out by keeper Neal.  County offered a better tempo with the ball at their feet but Shrewsbury were able to keep them at arms-length. Shrewsbury made a change on 55 minutes with Goldstone replacing Grandison. County had more possession in the second half but were continually being let down by poor passes or final delivery with the crosses into the area. County made change on 62 minutes with Knights being replaced by Jarvis. On 65 minutes, County offered their first real test for keeper Neal when McAllister saw his headed effort from 10 yards deflected and the keeper did well to adjust and tip around the left post. County looked more effective counter attacking from deep and they had a decent opportunity on 68 minutes when Jarvis made a strong run down the right channel to beat the left back and Shrewsbury were facing two versus two. Jarvis somewhat generously played the ball for McAllister when he could have gone alone but the shot from 18 yard was scooped over the bar. County had a better spell for a time with Jarvis offering more energy on a sapping surface and County were awarded a couple of free kicks in decent positions. On 70 minutes, Rose was desperately close when his free kick from inside the “d” fizzed just past the left post with the keeper looking beaten. Shrewsbury made another change soon after with Wroe replacing McAllister. County continued to struggle to hold the ball in key areas especially in central midfield allowing Shrewsbury off the hook several times and a chance to break. On 73 minutes, Rose was booked for a late lunge on Wildig and County made another much needed change to freshen their approach with Docherty being replaced by Buchanan. County pushed on in the final 15 minutes in attempt to force Shrewsbury to play deeper but they always had an option on the break with Morgan and Gornell lively. On 80 minutes, a move that perhaps typified County’s performance saw them exploited after having the ball in decent position but Rose being given few options, he lost possession and a good through by Richards invited Morgan to carry the ball forward and Hatswell was committed to a late challenge that earned a booking. Shrewsbury were happy to run down the clock in the final minutes which they did with relative ease. County had attained little penetration during the game but were awarded a couple of late corners which gave some hope but Shrewsbury were strong in dealing with threat with striker Morgan dropping back to assist. County made a late substitution with captain Gary Warren replacing Hatswell and County’s day was summed up in injury time when they had a free kick in a threatening position on the left side of the area but Foley overplayed the cross into the area.

Potter (7) – kicked well when put under pressure with some short back passes, showed firm hands claiming crosses and made some good saves low down.

Rodgers (6) – not tight enough defending the crosses on their goal, huffed  and puffed up and down the line but never really in a position to provide any quality

Yakubi (7) – solid game, dealt well with the aerial threat and made some good clearances when put under pressure

Hatswell (6) – did well in the air but got pulled around on times with pace. Did well with headers on a couple of set pieces which were not picked up       

Hughes (5) – lacked composure on times to look up, overplayed a lot of balls but did track back to make some good tackles

Docherty (5) – saw a lot of the ball , frustrating on times winning the ball and then played pass poorly put team on the backfoot       

Rose (6) – looked tired late on, found space difficult to find and was asked to do too much on times, went close with a couple decent shots

Pipe (6) – bright start, saw the ball early and drove forward into some good positions but saw little influence after the break  

Foley (6) – made some good bursts forward but held onto ball too much on times, needs to get himself inside box more before shooting.           

Knights (5) – lacklustre and looked leggy on sapping pitch, provided few crosses today and rarely got near the area.   

McAllister (6) – left far too isolated, did his best to orchestrate play but given little space with number five following him into the change room

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS

Strengths – they kept their focus in defence, were strong in the air defending and were quick to get forward as a unit, provided some decent crosses from tight situations

Weaknesses – distribution of defence looked weak when pressed, were reliant on direct play on times and looked like they came for a one nil win          

Opportunities – got men into the box better than County and always had a chance with their ability to keep the ball on pitch

Threats – Gornell took up some good positions and Wright had the ability to provide a cutting cross.

OFFICIALS

D Drysdale (8) – got all the key decisions right and booked cynical play   

MAN OF THE MATCH

Matt Richards – typified the type of player that County are perhaps missing sweeping up the danger and massaging the ball into the right areas

IF YOU WERE JUSTIN EDINBURGH WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

We again looked leggy on a difficult heavy surface today, the fluency we had previously with our football in the final third was just not evident for long enough periods to concern our opponents. We also lacked quality today when delivering crosses and set pieces into the area. McAllister and Rose were closed down quickly today and many of the problems County experienced were brought upon by themselves for overcomplicating play which Shrewsbury were quick to seize upon and break quickly to expose them. County lost the battle in central midfield today and despite having more of the ball in second half they were kept at arms-length and the poor corner count evidences the lack of penetration they had. County will need to offer more mobility as a team in the forthcoming months of potentially difficult pitches to get them out of the hole they are in.